Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style

Subject: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: donal
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 09:38 AM

Hi - does anybody know anything about Michael Coleman and his Sligo Style of fiddle playing ? Any details on technique or original style would be much appreciated.

Donal

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: winniemih
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 10:32 AM

Greetings Donal. All I know is the little that's in my Mel Bay's Complete Irish Fiddler, where Michael Coleman is mentioned a number of times. to quote, "..he made fiddle recordings which had an enduring influence on the development of Irish music. " He grew up in County Sligo and emigrated to the U.S. at the age of 23. The book refers to his style as fluid and highly ornate, and notes the influence of Michael Coleman's Sligo style on such players as Frankie Gavin. I imagine that some of the 78's that Michael Coleman recorded would still be available, possibly remastered.

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Mar 02 - 12:14 PM

I don't know much, so I'll just quote from Fintan Vallely's Companion to Irish Traditional Music (p. 125):

Sligo: In the Sligo style, the pace is still fast, the playing is rhythmic with the bowing smoother. Rolls as well as trebles are features of the ornamentation. The fiddle music of this region is probably more widely known than any other, mainly from the playing of Michael Coleman, Paddy Killoran and James Morrison. Many of their 78 rpm recordings, made in New York in the 1920s, '30s and '40s, were sent home to Ireland by those who emigrated to America. The remarkable music on these records became a model of playing for many to try to emulate, and in a sense, this style became the 'standard'. The music of Coleman, in particular, has been a source of influence not only for fiddle players, but for others as well. His setting of tunes feature in the repertoire of many musicians.

On the Sligo style of flute playing, see THIS PAGE.

~Masato

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: donal
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 06:05 AM

thanks guys......very helpful....my brother in law (actor) is playing Michael Coleman in an upcoming play and is trying to understand the delicate nuances that made the Sligo style diffferent......thanks again.

donal

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 04:29 PM

Talking about fiddle styles is something like dancing about architecture. All of Coleman's recordings are out on CD, and must be listened to to be appreciated. Even with the lousy piano accompaniments.

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 09:06 PM

If youre seriously interested in the techicalities, David Lyth's two books on bowing of traditional Irish fiddlers are a must. they include some Coleman stuff.actualtranscriptions of recordings with all the bowings and decorations notated.if you cant locate them, send me a personal message and I could supply you with his phone number.

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: InOBU
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 09:21 PM

Also get in touch with Paddy Reynolds of Staten Island New York, who eaither learned from, or from a student of Coleman, I am pretty sure he knew Coleman. He is a bit on in years, but a great fellow great player, very approachable, Liam's Brother may have contact information for him through our mutual friend Brian Conway. Cheers,Larry

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Mar 02 - 09:26 PM

Hi Larry.I just come in from a crap gig, hardly anyone turned up.Mind you, nobody walked out ofthe band (Sorry, offhtread in-joke)

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 03:16 AM

New York fiddler Tony DeMarco and Miles Krassen have an instructional book on Sligo-style fiddling, with a companion tape with tunes played by DeMarco. It's called "A Trip To Sligo: a comprehensive guide to the art of Irish fiddling in the Sligo style." If it's still in print, it's published by Silver Spear Publications, P.O. Box 9020, Pittsburgh, PA, 15224. LOC catalogue # 78-66981. Anyone know if it's still available?

chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Help: michael Coleman - the Sligo Style
From: InOBU
Date: 24 Mar 02 - 06:50 AM

Gee Greg... maybe we can do a swap, my audience for your band! Cheers, Larry ;-)