Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BobKnight
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 06:34 AM

Ooops - sorry about the typo, I meant "perfect."

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BobKnight
Date: 03 Nov 11 - 06:32 AM

Well TB - you're in for a treat Muireann sings the song beautifully and Sharon Shannon has a lovely melodeon solo too - prefect.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 09:14 PM

Hi BobKnight,
Hadn't seen the post to which you refer, and haven't yet watch episodes 4 or 5 - got them to look forward to as I've recorded them!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Peter C
Date: 02 Nov 11 - 06:06 AM

Thanks Murray MacLeod for the links - they will keep me going until the DVD is released!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BobKnight
Date: 01 Nov 11 - 09:12 PM

I said virtually the same thing on the thread about "The Leaving of Liverpool," TB. With her song on programme five, the "Leaving of Limerick," being very similiar.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 01 Nov 11 - 08:51 PM

The best singer of this series for me has to be Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh from Danu: beautiful voice and totally unaffected delivery of songs.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 30 Oct 11 - 07:13 PM

No matter which part of the world you live in, you can view, in their entirety, the first four programmes of the 5th series of Transatlantic Sessions by visiting the following links.

Programme 1
Programme 2
Programme 3
Programme 4

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Johnny J
Date: 04 Oct 11 - 09:40 AM

Now you all know how we felt after the Folk Britannia series....

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: melodeonboy
Date: 04 Oct 11 - 03:04 AM

I really enjoyed it. Good all round, but I particularly liked the Dirk Powell/Sam Bush song, the lady with the wonderful voice singing in Gaelic (sorry, I can't remember her name!) and the Bela Fleck tune.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 08:23 PM

Point!!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 07:43 PM

It might be interesting to consider the following:

A great many numbers of Irish and Scottish people emigrated to America (Some would consider they were forced by English oppression). Quite a number of my own ancestors were displaced and made the journey across the pond from Scotland. And to my knowledge most of the songs of exile, transportation and emigration have their origins in such. That said I'm sure there are some of english origin which somebody will popint out to me before long.

There were undoubtedly some English who made the same journey. However, I have no idea what percentage in relation to Scots and Irish were forced to make the journey through oppression in England. (No doubt someone will know)

If by any chance that percentage is very small compared to the Scots and Irish. Then maybe that's why there isn't much English music incorporated in the programme.

Regards from someone who was born in Germany to an English mother and Scottish father who spent the first four years of his life in China followed by various short sojourns in Scotland and England with fourteen years in Wales three years in Shetland followed by another three years in Wales and who now lives in the Sovereign country of Yorkshire.

CC

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: GUEST,The Lamenting Whelk
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 07:26 AM

"Seems to me that the English feel that their tradition needs to be included in every facet of folk music (folkie colonialism?)"

Yawn - change the record - the folkie equivalent of Godwin's Law. Those days are gone, and very few English hold a candle for colonialism, just the tory toffs and their cohorts running the country. We just want to join in on an equal footing (actually, I don't as I love Irish trad bestest) because it looks great fun. I love the American musicians, and can watch Lunny and McGoldrick until the cows come home. Jerry Douglas is brilliant.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Will Fly
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 04:16 AM

Seems to me that the English feel that their tradition needs to be included in every facet of folk music (folkie colonialism?)

Well now you're drawing from the particular to the general - which is not what I meant when I made my initial comment about the lack of English music/musicians in the Transatlantic Sessions.

Given the cross-cultural musical links between England and the US, and given the cross-cultural musical links between all parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland - links which go back hundreds of years, I'm just mildly irritated that the Transatlantic Sessions weren't truly "transatlantic" when they were devised, and haven't evolved in their attitude since then. As I said clearly, I love the sessions (on the whole), but I think they've missed an opportunity here.

I certainly don't believe that "my tradition" needs to be included in every facet of folk music - why on earth should I? "My tradition", by the way, includes ancestors from Lancashire and East Anglia in England, Kildare in Ireland and Kinross and Edinburgh in Scotland. Remember - when you say "English" think of that, because it applies to a huge number of my fellow "Englishmen".

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 04:10 AM

Well I thought it was fine, a great start to the new series and I'm looking forward to the next programme.

I can only apologise for such uncalled for positivity.

And yes it would be fantastic to see a similar setup involving more English musicians, but I'm afraid I've certainly not got the experience, expertise and contacts to get such a programme commissioned.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BTNG
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 10:54 PM

Seems to me that the English feel that their tradition needs to be included in every facet of folk music (folkie colonialism?)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BobKnight
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 09:57 PM

Where were all the Scots on the "Folk Britannia" programmes last year? To say there is some sort of anti-English bias is nonesense - they probably didn't even think about it.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 09:18 PM

CJB you're paranoid. How can the first programme demonstrate "a dire ignorance of anything remotely English" when the subject is not touched upon? You're reading stuff into it which is not there. Be thankful that there's a folk music programme on TV at all. Or should Scots complain about there being no Scots on the Percy Grainger prom?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 08:46 PM

Well - not as good as the other programmes by a very long way. The aims and objectives of the series is now beyond me, and the agenda of demonstrating the similarities of American (whatever that is) with Scottish and Irish folk music and song was well diluted. AND what a bunch of male chauvinists - ALL the musos were male. The few females (3?) were relegated to singing one song each. Also I don't think any English trad. musos or singers would have a place in the proceedings. I simply couldn't see the likes of the Watersons or Carthys or Coppers or Bellowhead or any of the likes of Oyster or Albion etc., fitting in at all. The first programme demonstrated a dire ignoring (ignorance?) of anything remotely English. What on earth is the Beeb thinking of. Poor start to the new series.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: michaelr
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 08:15 PM

Well said, Jeri.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Jeri
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 07:53 PM

Tradsinger wrote "Americans like to see their folk/country/old timey music as all coming from Ireland and Scotland,..." So you know ALL of us then? Funny, I know some who like to think their music has African roots, or French, or, dare I say, English. We have so many twigs from Child ballad branches growing here. We have murder ballads, sea shanties, hymns and other types of song, and many are linked with English music.

The more I read here, the more I think any anti-English bias (when it comes to music) is perpetuated mostly by English people. Either you simply don't think your music is good enough, or you think that's how other people see it. It baffles me. I love English music. I also believe that music lovers who judge a song by its nationality are idiots.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Stanron
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 07:29 PM

What do people in other countries think of as American music?

Ragtime
The Great American Songbook(s)
Origins of jazz
Country
Blues
Bluegrass
The unfortunate tedium of most modern jazz
In the same way that psychology has a silent P, rap has ......

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BTNG
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 07:24 PM

who do I think of when I think of American music? Iris Dement for one, Emmylou Harris for another, The Flatlanders, Wilco,

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 06:23 PM

What do people in other countries think of as American music?

I would guess most people here would think of Stephen Foster, cowboy songs, music hall songs...not sure what else. That would be the most widespread. mg

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BTNG
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 06:14 PM

and Sean Lakeman is married to Kathryn Roberts, I believe. I have no idea what their favourite colours or favourite foods are though

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 05:43 PM

Didn't Sam Lakeman get in by marriage? To Cara Dillon (Irish).
(Sorry, I'm following the rather cynical trend here, slightly tongue-in-cheek): no offence to Sam, who is a fine musician).

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 04:55 PM

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Bonzo3legs - PM
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 12:48 PM

I downloaded the wmv file from the iplayer and so far it is converting to DVD compliant VOB format in SUPER © - never used to be able to do this without a clever little programme, and for the last year or so not at all!!!

===

But this failed .....

Unfortunately any official download from the iPlayer web pages also comes with DRM which time-life's the file for about 30 days. Then it gets deleted from your hard drive, or the file wont unscramble when played. Either way after 30-days the file is unwatchable and is simply wasting space.

Within the 30 days though you can watch the programme. The sound track can be recorded with Audacity using 'Stereo Mix' then saved in FLAC, WAV, or MP3 format.

The video and audio can be captured by a 'screen scrapeing' app. such as one from NCH or Applian. This basically records the data from the graphics card that is mirrored on the screen.

You'll need a fast and rock steady broadband connection for this.

===

Or you can use Get_iPLayer which downloads the raw file from the iPLayer server in WMV format sans DRM.

From overseas you'll need to set up a VPN with ExpatShield first.

====

Or you can try GetFLV or StreamTransport. I have better luck with GetFLV.

Again overseas users need ExpatShield first.

====

Or the episode is already on TheBox.bz as a free leach.

====

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 04:39 PM

I have never understood why people need to pigeonhole folk music. All I know is that a lot of so called Celtic folk music can be just as mind numbingly boring as a lot of English and USAian folk music. And yet I have never found any Argentine folklore music to at all boring!!!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: mg
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 04:22 PM

I have never thought of American Music as being basically Irish and Scottish..or pan-Celtic. I think it most undoubtedly has huge English roots, as that is the language that was settled on and as you enforce the speaking of English only in schools, only English songs would be sung, in addition to bad translations of Funiculi Funicula. With an occasional French song thrown in.

German songs were probably somewhat suppressed in WWI. Some town in the midwest had tunnels for German-Americans to get about in as they were so discriminated against in that time.

Certainly huge African and Carribean influence.

Some big pockets of Scandinavian music that still exist.

Spanish.

French.

Melungeon influence huge but unrecognized..read up on old-time and Melungeon music. Appalachain music in general. It does not sound Scottish or Scots-Irish (never quite sure what that is) to me. Sounds totally distinct with Arabic influences, and they claim history in Turkey and Portugal.

I actually don't think of this mountain music as The American Music. It is part of the overall picture. Lots of stuff was music hall and parlor music..some Irish, some Hebrew/Yiddish.
Cowboy..I presume Irish, African-American, Spanish all influenced.

Poles and Czechs...most of us did not speak their language..but we still like the polkas and other instrumental music.

But I would side with people who do believe that their is either ignorance about English music or some bias against it. Some of what we sing without thinking too much about is quite insulting to the English and they certainly are not individually responsible for all the woes of the world..they were serfs and conscriptees and coal miners and factory workers and did not have much to say about how their nation was conducting its business...mg

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 03:26 PM

For those of you with Sky you can watch it, it doesn't matter where you live as all the regional BBC channels are available even though you'll probably be tuned to your local station.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 03:16 PM

Was it just me or was the sound a bit off. What I was listening to just did not seem to be what was being played. Other wise it was all good, Big Edna included, although she went off on her own with her hands flaping.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Tradsinger
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 01:41 PM

TwickFolk wrote:

Anglo and celtic music are essentially separate traditions. This is 'apples and oranges'.

I can't accept that, I am afraid. There is no such thing as a Pan-Celtic music style that binds all 'Celtic' areas together. The nearest musical tradition to Irish and Scottish is, in fact, English, in terms of reportoire, style, stepping, etc, so there is a strong cultural link. Elements of all of these cultures crossed the Atlantic and formed the varied American folklore that we have today. But we are doing a disservice to folk music if we continue to perpetrate the American-Celtic myth.

I won't post any more on this subject as I am sure it will generate more heat than light.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Will Fly
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 12:52 PM

Would be better without the Americans IMHO!

Mmmm... well, I've watched the first programme on the iPlayer and have to say that the highlight for me was the penultimate song, played by US banjoist and mandolinist Dirk Powell and Sam Bush - "Boats Up The River", with some fine Uillean piping to boot.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: The Maverick
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 12:39 PM

Would be better without the Americans IMHO!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BTNG
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 10:50 AM

The Lakeman Brothers originate from the village of Buckland Monachorum, near Yelverton, Devon (this info courtesy of a little bit of Googling)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 10:36 AM

Aren't the Lakeman brothers from Devon, not Cornwall?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Ian Burdon
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 10:00 AM

Stanron, rants work better if they don't contain duff information. Pedantic, maybe, but Sam Lakeman *has* been on Transatlantic Sessions - Season 3. You'll find it on YouTube - for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PZDD_Zt6MA

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: BanjoRay
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 07:23 AM

If the included brass bands and morris music I'd probably stop watching.....(leaves hastily)

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: evansakes
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 07:11 AM

"It's all an anti-English musical conspiracy!"

Anglo and celtic music are essentially separate traditions. This is 'apples and oranges'. Both taste fine but they're not the same. This programme concentrates on the celtic music links and it's funded and made by them. Not much point trying to fit square pegs into round holes. There's no bias and no conspiracy. Let's all get over it and move on. Be grateful and acknowledge the series for all the good things it IS rather than things it isn't even trying to be.

Why not concentrate instead on lobbying to get something similar set up which properly investigate and celebrates English musical links with the Americas? I'd be interested to see a series like that as would most other followers of folk music...maybe the EFDSS should use some of their Arts Council funding to try to make it happen.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Tradsinger
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 03:19 AM

But the series perpetuates the myth that all American music is derived from Irish and Scottish music,which is certainly not the case. Americans like to see their folk/country/old timey music as all coming from Ireland and Scotland, and so American music gets this dubious 'Celtic' label. It is not surprising that the Transatlantic sessions musicians can blend their music; after all they are top musicians and ought to be able to. I would like to see some Trans North Sea sessions, where Shetland fiddle players got together with top Swedish/Norwegian musicians. After all, their music has a lot in common. It's all an anti-English musical conspiracy!

Rant over.

Tradsinger

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: michaelr
Date: 02 Oct 11 - 02:31 AM

Anti-English bias? What nonsense. As was explained before, the series explores the connections between Scots/Irish and American music. `Nuff said.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Stanron
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 11:23 PM

I hope not. But explain to me why lots of wonderful English folk musicians never appear on these programs.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Effsee
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 11:14 PM

Absolutely not...the idea of a population of one nation hating the population of another is absurd. My aunt died of malnutrition in a Japanes prison camp...am I to hate the whole Japanes nation ?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Stanron
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 10:53 PM

It might be a sweeping statement, but might it not also be correct?

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Effsee
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 10:34 PM

Stanron..."We all know that the Irish and the Scottish hate the English. The political heritage of the last 2 millennia is unavoidable."...that's one helluva sweeping statement!

I'm a Scots born chappie, with both Irish and English genes so I take offence at such a statement!

I've sung all genres of British folk music in various clubs world-wide, and find that comment quite uncalled for.

The Transatlantic Sessions are exactly what they are...by definition.

The programme is produced by a combination of Scots/Irish companies...what do you expect?

..."There are some fine traditional musicians in England. Perhaps we should make our own programs."... Agreed! So why doesn't the format appeal to English TV producers?

Personally, I enjoy the ensemble playing very much, but I wouldn't expect to see it in any folk club soon, too many performers, but the show they take on the road for concerts are very well attended I believe.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Stanron
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 10:16 PM

I have enjoyed all of the Transatlantic Sessions programs I've seen on BBC 4. Any chance to see Aly Baine and Jerry Douglas playing on TV is welcome.

It has also been obvious from the outset that there is a strong anti English bias to the program. This has not stopped me enjoying what I actually got. Obviously Danny Thompson is English, but his role is in accompanying rather than playing a lead role.

Have I seen one of the Lakeman brothers on the prog? Maybe being Cornish absolves him of his Englishness.

Michael McGoldrick and Dessie Donnelley are from Irish descent but were they born in Manchester? I don't know. Could they actually be English?

We all know that the Irish and the Scottish hate the English. The political heritage of the last 2 millennia is unavoidable. None of us actually are responsible for any of it but we all seem to keep on dramatising it.

There are some fine traditional musicians in England. Perhaps we should make our own programs.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 06:26 PM

Blicky for the above link

Transatlantic Sessions Episode 1

CC

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 04:50 PM

No, it failed again.

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 12:48 PM

I downloaded the wmv file from the iplayer and so far it is converting to DVD compliant VOB format in SUPER © - never used to be able to do this without a clever little programme, and for the last year or so not at all!!!

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: TopcatBanjo
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 12:10 PM

Here's the direct link to Episode 1 on iPlayer as there seems to be some confusion in the posts above.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015frjm/Transatlantic_Sessions_Series_5_Episode_1

Subject: RE: Transatlantic Sessions - Series 5
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 01 Oct 11 - 11:45 AM

During the last series Danny Thompson made a humorous aside about feeling a bit lonely. I can see his point!

I guess as RTE put a lot of money into the programme, and since nobody has coughed up any cash for an equivalent involving a few more people from south of the Tweed, we're stuck with it. Not that it's not brilliant of course, just that it's not enough.