 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Guido
Date: 2005-04-18 19:31
Been playing reels, hornpipes, jigs, slipjigs and similar on a clarinet these past few years, finding the experience fatiguing but a growing passion.
'So much so, that I'm headed to SW Ireland next week to vacation, with a clarinet already packed.
Wonder how the group views Irish tunes on clarinet, what recommendations folks have for Irish play and study, and any experiences to share - in Ireland and elsewhere!
Thanks in advance,
G
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-04-18 19:57
Hi Guido - Having visited that nice, friendly "green country" a number of times, longest stay 2 weeks, I've heard quite a bit of Irish pub music, mostly by flute/whistle, violin, harp, drum groups, and the endless repetition of the "malady" somewhat disappointed me, even with Guiness etc for enthusiasm. I'm sure there is more and better available, but didn't find it. In SW Eire, be sure to visit the Kerry and Dingle peninsulas, and Tralee, Killarney, Shannon, Galway to mention a few, besides Cork and of course Dublin. We loved it ! Others, please help re: good music. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2005-04-18 20:06
Well, yes, it is fatiguing to play Irish music on the clarinet--you have to keep up with the harpists, fiddle players, pipers, etc who can roll through the tunes without having to figure out where to breathe. There is some saxophone being played these days. The timbre of the saxophone seems to be incorporated fairly naturally with the other sounds that are going on. That and the fact that the saxophone overblows the octave like the flute and the whistle do. The clarinet does have the advantage of being an open holed instrument for ornamentation. Do you play the tunes on an A clarinet?
My husband and I would LOVE to make it to Ireland. I'm jealous--have fun!
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Author: Steve Epstein
Date: 2005-04-19 02:39
I play for contradances using a C clarinet. Playing clarinet for contradances is not that uncommon, but playing in Irish sessions is a different matter. I assume you play by ear...they allegedly throw people out of sessions who use tune books.
Soprano sax, if you can play it well, has a great sound for keltic music, and despite key transpositions and the lack of as many alternate fingerings as clarinet, there is no "over the break" on sax.
Steve Epstein
Post Edited (2005-04-19 02:40)
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Author: jez
Date: 2005-04-20 12:20
Take an A clarinet as almost all Irish traditional music is in sharp keys, you'll make life much easier for yourself.
jez
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Author: SolidRockMan
Date: 2005-04-21 11:35
Speaking as a native, I would say most traditional musicians are conservative and a clarinet would be an odd sight in a public session. Session players also play tunes in 'sets', running seamlessly from one to the the next so it is very easy to get lost - and tune books are an absolute no-no! If you talk to players individually however they should prove very helpful and you should be able to pick up as many tunes as you can handle.
If you've been playing for a while you probably already know this but the majority of Irish tunes will be in keys D, A or G so as jez has suggested the Bb clarinet is not the most suitable of instruments. Many tunes are played at speed and are rythmically complex. Ornamentation which is straightforward on a flute or tin whistle can also be difficult if you are playing lots of sharps on the clarinet.
Bring some warm clothes, rain gear and plenty of euros - the weather has been awful lately and we are one of the most expensive countries in Europe...but most visitors seem to have a great time!
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Author: Guido
Date: 2005-04-22 09:12
Thank you all for your remarks and recommendations.
I'll be all ears this coming week.
G
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Author: Guido
Date: 2005-05-03 10:13
Just back, enjoying both fine weather and superb music.
Quality of musicianship was superb, especially in Doolin and Dingle. 'Felt like we sampled broadly, taking in superb fiddles, whistles, flutes, drummers and dancers throughout the southwest.
Late in the trip as I grew comfortable, I sat in, supporting others by playing in form, mostly down low. Folks seemed to enjoy the twist of a different instrument in the mix. I certainly enjoyed it.
Thanks for all of the fine counsel and remarks. Great country and people with a decided commitment to passionate music.
G
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