Best books on Irish music?

Subject: Best books on Irish music?
From: Thompson
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 04:11 AM

What would you say are the best five books on Irish music - preferably current, but also of-all-time?

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 05:12 AM

Don't read books about Irish music. Find a good session and play it.

That's from experience. I once got a book about the Chieftains. The first bit was interesting, but once they got famous it was just name dropping. I couldn't care less about how many celebs booked them for private parties.

Well, actually, just ONE book (that's all it took, yeah, just one book... there's a song in there somewhere). Last Night's Fun by Ciaran Carson - and there's a cross- cultural name for you.

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: Thompson
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 05:15 AM

It's for a gift, not for moi.

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 05:41 AM

You'll only get it second hand.

But seriously, it's the only book on sessions that comes within a billion miles of fact. Even though it's as much about food and smoking as music.

If it's song your lucky recipient is interested in, Paddy Tunney's "The Stone Fiddle" is a good buy.

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: Thompson
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 05:54 AM

Thanks very much, PMB; LNF is on hold for me in a bookshop, and I'll see if they have The Stone Fiddle too when I get there.

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: GUEST,Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 05:55 AM

I second Last Night's Fun (which is also the name of a great tune!). I gave away all my tune books many years ago.

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: Thompson
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 06:01 AM

Hope the recipient likes them; a Claire Keegan book was regarded as meh…

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 07:19 AM

There's a bit more to Irish music than 'sessions' and there a library of good books available, depending on the angle you want to take. Last night's fun, nice as it is, is a bit of a cliche recommendation on internet forums these days.

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 07:37 AM

Maybe true, Peter, but if you don't like it, or don't think much of sessions, suggest something better. As for cliches, I don't do much social media. I just suggested a book I enjoyed nearly 30 years ago.

Subject: RE: Best books on Irish music?
From: Thompson
Date: 16 Nov 24 - 09:12 AM

Right, I've got Last Night's Fun, and The Stone Fiddle is on its way from Charlie Byrnes; others, by the way, have recommended Martin Hayes' autobiography, Shared Notes.