European Mudcatters?

Subject: European Mudcatters?
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 06:29 PM

Are there any French Canadian or Continental European Mudcatters? So far it seems like I've only noticed people from English speaking areas. Thanks.

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: Yo
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 06:44 PM

Well, I don't speak French, but I am from the continent. Holland good enough? Where are you from CarolC? Yo.

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 06:52 PM

Yo,

I live in West-by-God-Virginia, but I'm originally from Rhode Island (both, as you may know, in the U.S.). I'm interested in getting to know some non-English folk music people because I'm starting to get Celtic-burnout. I was inspired to learn how to play the accordion by a Belgian fellow who lives in the states now. The music he was playing was enchanting, and I understand that it is from continental Europe. I've been having trouble locating good sources of this type of music. Got any tips?

Carol

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: Yo
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 07:33 PM

Maybe... I can't play the accordion but I bought one just the other day. We are starting a band but can't find an accordion player yet. The man who I bought it from plays like heaven. But not my style of music. We'd like to start a Cajun/MardiGras type of band. But I'm still learning about it. Do you play yourself?

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 07:46 PM

Carol, I am not a Welsh speaker but there are plenty of people in Wales who's first language is Welsh not English. This varies from area to area, the Llandudno area where I live being mostly English.

I'd imagine that a similar situation exists in parts of Scotland and Ireland.

Also there is a debate in another thread about Celtic music. It's origins are certainly not English.

Jon

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 08:14 PM

I apologize to all of the Celtic people who's first language is not English. Personally, I would love to be able to learn to speak Gaelic, Goidelic, or Welsh, (etc.). I was speaking musically. It seems that in areas where the official language is English, music from the British Isles (including the music that comes by way of Appalachia), is the only traditional music that anyone knows about, other than some areas where people play some Scandinavian or Eastern European folk music. Again, I apologize if anyone was offended.

Carol

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 08:27 PM

Yo-

I forgot to respond to your question. I'm just learning to play the accordion. I've only been at it for about four months. I don't have the kind of that Cajun music can be played on. Mine is a regular old piano accordion with (I think), 74 buttons on the left side. I'm pretty much teaching myself because I don't know anyone who plays my kind of accordion around here.

Do you know what type of music the man you bought your accordion from plays?

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: Yo
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 08:34 PM

He played from Bach to country. Unbelievable! I wanna learn to play myself to, but the one I bought is with another bandmember.... What music do you wanna play then, Celtic or non-Celtic/ Or something else? i like an accordion when it makes a lot of ritme, it realy turns me on ! (in a descent way!)lol

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: CarolC
Date: 01 Aug 00 - 08:47 PM

Yo-

Part of my problem is that I don't know what the kind of music I'm trying to find is called. I just know what it sounds like. I'm probably going to sound like an ignorant American when I say this, but it's the kind of music we in the U.S. associate with French bistros, or music from the Godfather Movies, things like that. I'm looking for music that is moody and maybe sometimes darkly ironic. I have been surprised to discover that some Finnish music has a similar sound and I have fallen in love with Finnish music. Still, I know there is more of what I'm looking for out there and if I keep looking long enough, I may just find it.

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: GUEST,Fingers
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 05:34 PM

Well a lot of accordion music sounds stylistically similar, particularly when played on the big continental chromatic jobbies - the ones with acres of buttons on both sides- but that's the nature of the beast. I think the 'French bistro' music you are looking for is probably what is called Style (pronounced steel) Musette which means Bagpipe Style and is particular associated with Paris. It originated from the interplay of Auvergnat bagpipe players and Italian accordion players in the bars and dance-halls of late 19C Paris and is now played almost solely on accordion.

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 07:07 PM

Oh, Guest Fingers, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK, YOU, THANK YOU!

You sound like you actually KNOW something, which is far more than I can say about myself. Can I please glom on to you for information? Do you know where I can get sheet music or music books for the style of music that you're talking about? (Please, please, please, pretty please!)

(Musically in your debt forever), Carol

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: Burke
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 08:11 PM

Carol, Is there any Recreational International Folk Dancing in your area? If they use live music instead of recordings they may know of accordian music sources.

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 09:23 PM

There is a short history of the development of Musette style, written by Pierre Monichon, here:  Le Genre Musette  (in French, of course...)
BR>Malcolm

Subject: RE: European Mudcatters?
From: CarolC
Date: 02 Aug 00 - 10:33 PM

Thanks Burke. This is a Contra and Morris dance town. Wendy Morrison comes here from time to time and she's a pretty amazing accordion player, but I haven't seen her around here since long before I decided to learn to play the accordion. I'll keep your suggestion in mind if I see her again, though.

Malcolm D. Thanks for the info and the link. I think I'll print it out and have a friend of mine who speaks French translate it for me.