can accompanists lift the music

Subject: RE: can accompanists lift the music
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 12 - 03:29 PM

I've seen ten-year-old kids, not in Ireland either, who have played Irish tunes so well it brought tears to the eyes. Playing music well is not about "technique." I've seen people with brilliant technique who haven't got a bloody clue about how this music is played. At least one has been mentioned on this thread.

Subject: RE: can accompanists lift the music
From: Stanron
Date: 11 Oct 12 - 03:31 PM

It's rare for me to agree with anything GUEST micheal gill says but this business about technique is pretty straightforward.

The trad fiddle player is almost never required to play beyond first position. All those intonation skills needed to play in tune above B on the E string are not needed.

Flat keys are almost never used. This means that notes that would be on the first fret (if the fiddle were fretted) are not needed.

Vibrato is rarely used and not needed. Notes longer than a quarter note are decorated in a variety of ways, not rendered with vibrato.

There may well be other areas of technique which the traditional fiddler does not need. These came to mind first.

Subject: RE: can accompanists lift the music
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Oct 12 - 03:33 PM

And, in my CD-buying days, I bought tons of Irish CDs made by people with brilliant technique that I played just once. Sometimes not even past about track 4.

Subject: RE: can accompanists lift the music
From: GUEST,michael gill
Date: 11 Oct 12 - 05:40 PM

Stanron, I'm more than happy to chat about things we might disagree about. An I'm more than happy to change my mind about stuff. I do that often.

Subject: RE: can accompanists lift the music
From: Stanron
Date: 11 Oct 12 - 07:16 PM

Me too.