O'Carolan

Banbh

Is there an O'Carolan appreciation society?

Banbh

Four years, over 200 views and no reply.
That's a pretty definite answer.
If anyone in the Galway area wants to get something going or just play an O'Carolan tune or two, I'd love to hear from you.

Rakish Paddy

Banbh wrote: »

Is there an O'Carolan appreciation society?

There may be, but I'm definitely not a member... :P

I love my jigs, reels, hornpipes, set dances, slip jigs and so forth, but for some reason I've never really managed to get into O'Carolan's stuff. I play a handful of his tunes but really just because I absorbed them from hearing them so often. Maybe it's just that his stuff sounds so entirely different from the rest of the 'standard trad repertoire'.

Banbh

O'Carolan is definitely Big House and in the European Baroque tradition but there is much of the Irish tradition in it too, though not much of the dance music. I often find pieces that are similar or that can be played in sets. Try Planxty Browne and Three Sea Captains, for example or the march Return from Fingal which can go nicely into Miss McDermott (Princess Royal).

I've also noticed that a line of Marbhna Luimneach (Limerick's Lamentation) is the same as one in Bridget Cruise 3rd Air. I'm not saying that the great man copied it but I wonder which came first.

Regards,
B

bodhrandude

Well there is the O'Carolan Harp festival in Keadue, County Roscommon which kicks off on July 31st - August 3rd, so OP you are bound to find a few O'Carolan devotees at that and possibly at the Fleadh Cheoil in Sligo on 14th - 16th August. http://www.ocarolanharpfestival.ie/

Banbh

Good ideas. Thanks.

Speedwell

Banbh, I'm a classically trained immigrant American pianist/chorister and the newest of beginners to Irish music. But with my background, I have a deep respect for the old musical traditions and I'd love to explore O'Carolan. I don't want to neglect any important part of Irish music as I learn. Maybe you have some thoughts for me. Thanks!

Banbh

Hi Speedwell.
The best O'Carolan sites that I have found are http://www.contemplator.com/carolan/ and http://www.oldmusicproject.com/occ/tunes.html
Here you can hear a melody and read the music in various formats including 'the dots' which I'm sure you can read from you piano playing.

There is also a Carolan appreciation group here: http://tradconnect.com/group/turlough-o-carolan-1670-irish-traditional-music where members post videos of themselves playing O'Carolan pieces and have some discussion.
And finally may I recommend "101 O'Carolan Tunes" pubished by Waltons and available in nearly every music shop.

There are only a handful of O'Carolan tunes that get played at sessions. Planxty Hewlett, Sí Beag Sí Mór, Fanny Power, Planxty Irwin, Blind Mary are probably the most popular.

I look forward to seeing you play on that site soon.