Piano as a ceilidh band instrument
Frank Hamilton
Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> wrote:
>So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
>Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. They have developed ceilidh piano to a fine
art. Check the Country Music store in Cheticamp. There are loads of
recordings.
Lindsey Hunt
The band I am in have recently started playing tunes (as opposed to
songs) in a more ceilidh band way. The other three instrumentalists are
already proficient in the ceilidh band style, but me, the pianist, I am
not.
I have a vampy style for jigs (of all types) but reels/polkas/hornpipes
are a mystery to me.
So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
However, if anyone knows of any web sites with rhythmic patterns for
ceilidh piano, or would be willing to post/send some, I would be
eternally grateful.
Thanks in advance for *any* info whatsoever,
live long and prosper,
Lindsey
xxx
Craig Cockburn
Ann an sgriobhainn <84598617...@m155.dev.phonelink.com>, sgriobh
Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com>
>The band I am in have recently started playing tunes (as opposed to
>songs) in a more ceilidh band way. The other three instrumentalists are
>already proficient in the ceilidh band style, but me, the pianist, I am
>not.
>
>I have a vampy style for jigs (of all types) but reels/polkas/hornpipes
>are a mystery to me.
>
>So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
>Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
Natalie MacMaster often appears with a pianist.
--
Craig Cockburn ("coburn"), Du\n E/ideann, Alba. (Edinburgh, Scotland)
http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/~craig/
Sgri\obh thugam 'sa Gha\idhlig ma 'se do thoil e.
Andy Howell
In article <54iro7$9...@camel1.mindspring.com>, Frank Hamilton
<URL:mailto:ham...@atl.mindspring.com> wrote:
>
> Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> wrote:
>
>
> >So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
> >Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
>
> art. Check the Country Music store in Cheticamp. There are loads of
> recordings.
Yes - you can get a feel of this in a pretty well accesible format by
listening to the work of the Rankin Family.
--
Andy Howell
Birmingham, UK.
Jon Rouse
Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> wrote:
>
>So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
>Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
>
At Beverley last year Beryl mentioned the idea of holding workshops for
people wanting to learn folk piano. I don't know if anything came of this,
I left my name and address, but I've heard no more.
--
Personal email: J...@timewarp.demon.co.uk
Usenet comments do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer.
Gervais Currie
Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> wrote:
>The band I am in have recently started playing tunes (as opposed to
>songs) in a more ceilidh band way. The other three instrumentalists are
>already proficient in the ceilidh band style, but me, the pianist, I am
>not.
>I have a vampy style for jigs (of all types) but reels/polkas/hornpipes
>are a mystery to me.
I tend to think that the 'vampy' style is entirely appropriate for
ceilidh/session accompaniment.
With an instrument like the piano, there might be a temptation to
branch out into a more 'florid' accompaniment, but I think the simple
approach (offbeat - almost 'reggae') rather than dominating 'noodling'
is more effective & allows space for the other musicians - the old
"Less is More" maxim applys...
Check out Shetland player Violet Tullah (SP?) & John Coakley (Boys of
the Loch (SP?) - both good examples of tasteful & descrete 'comping'.
Jon Rouse
Gervais Currie wrote:
>
> I tend to think that the 'vampy' style is entirely appropriate for
> ceilidh/session accompaniment.
Beryl Marriott made a very good observation i her workshop at Beverley.
Its going ot be very hard to use this sort of keyboard to demonstrate
however, but I shall try. What she pointed out was that a lot of vamping
emphasised the downbeat, and this tended to make the dancing heavy. She
managed to show how you could emphasise the upbeat, which made the dancers
lift their feet, and left them eager for more at the end of a dance,
rather than tired out.
>
> With an instrument like the piano, there might be a temptation to
> branch out into a more 'florid' accompaniment, but I think the simple
> approach (offbeat - almost 'reggae') rather than dominating 'noodling'
> is more effective & allows space for the other musicians - the old
> "Less is More" maxim applys...
Oh but Beryl's embellishments are part of the joy - keep the left hand
thumping and let the right hand soar!
--
Jon
Jack Campin
Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> writes:
> The band I am in have recently started playing tunes (as opposed to songs)
> in a more ceilidh band way. The other three instrumentalists are already
> proficient in the ceilidh band style, but me, the pianist, I am not. I
> have a vampy style for jigs (of all types) but reels/polkas/hornpipes
> are a mystery to me.
> So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
> Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
Get pretty much any Jimmy Shand record. He had a pianist in the band
throughout his career, Norrie Whitelaw in particular.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack Campin ja...@purr.demon.co.uk
T/L, 2 Haddington Place, Edinburgh EH7 4AE, Scotland (+44) 131 556 5272
--------------------- Save Scunthorpe from Censorship ---------------------
Scott Henderson
Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> wrote:
>The band I am in have recently started playing tunes (as opposed to
>songs) in a more ceilidh band way. The other three instrumentalists are
>already proficient in the ceilidh band style, but me, the pianist, I am
>not.
>
>ceilidh piano, or would be willing to post/send some, I would be
>eternally grateful.
>
You might want to check out some recordings of traditional Cape Breton
style ceilidh music. Pianos are a standard instrument at ceilidhs in
Cape Breton Island. Much of the rhythmic patterns for piano tend to
mirror the rhythms of the local style of step-dancing. Some recordings
that I would recommend which feature piano playing in this style are:
"Fit As A Fiddle" - Natalie MacMaster
"The Traditional Album" - The Barra MacNeils
"Fosgail An Dorus" - Jamie MacInnis and Paul MacNeil
"Close To The Floor" - Ashley MacIsaac
"Fine, Thank You Very Much" - Ashley MacIsaac
"Stepping On The Bridge" - Hamish Moore
These recordings serve as an excellent examples of rhythmic piano
accompanyment to celtic music. I hope this helps you out.
Slainte,
Scott Henderson
Frank Hamilton
Etienne Ozorak <etoz...@alleg.edu> wrote:
>I've heard the Cape Breton style of piano playing. I wonder to what
>extent the maritime style was influenced by Waldo Munro's more rag-time
>approach? (For those not familiar with Waldo Munro, he was the pianist
>with the Don Messer group out of the Canadian maritimes. The group
>pretty well ruled the airwaves between the 1930s and 1960s in Canada,
>much like Lawrence Welk did in the US).
>Salut,
>Etienne
S'possible, s'pose. But Acadian piano playing has been a part of that
tradition for many years. It's not exactly like Cape Breton but is
similar. On the subject, one of the pianists I admire is Yvan Breux
who used to play with the group "Eritage". That record produced by
Stan Rogers was really great particularly the opening transatlantic
migration of the Chanson to Acadian style. Scotty Fitzgerald played
with Cape Breton pianists and was a figure that may have had some
influence as well.
Frank
Pete Young
In article <84603002...@intlog.demon.co.uk>, Ger...@intlog.demon.co.uk (Gervais Currie) writes:
>Check out Shetland player Violet Tullah (SP?) & John Coakley (Boys of
>the Loch (SP?) - both good examples of tasteful & descrete 'comping'.
I'd also commend the pianist in the much-discussed Transatlantic
Sessions, much to my disgust her name escapes me.
Also the excellent Margaret Fletcher of the Blue Mountain Band (and the
monthly Monday musicians session in C# House, if it's still going
strong).
Charlie Lennon is a pretty fair accompanist, though I'd rather have him
on fiddle any day. I'd give Reg Hall a miss though.
--
____________________________________________________________________
Pete Young pyo...@srd.bt.co.uk Phone +44 1473 640885
"Just another crouton, floating on the bouillabaisse of life"
Anahata
Scott Henderson <swth...@cousteau.uwaterloo.ca> writes
> Some recordings
>that I would recommend which feature piano playing in this style are:
>
A favourite I'd add to that list is John Doonan's "Flute for the Feis".
Not all the accompaniments are piano, but there are some good and varied
examples. Anyway the whole album is excellent, and a lesson in playing
for dance on any instrument.
--
Anahata ana...@freereed.demon.co.uk ana...@cix.compulink.co.uk
http://www.freereed.demon.co.uk/ 0976 263827 Orange mobile
ana...@locust.ml.org email to my mobile phone 8 line messages max
Fiona Frank
Coming back to England, I have always rated Heather Vyger (Viger?) who
now plays with Token Women....
Etienne Ozorak
I've heard the Cape Breton style of piano playing. I wonder to what
extent the maritime style was influenced by Waldo Munro's more rag-time
approach? (For those not familiar with Waldo Munro, he was the pianist
with the Don Messer group out of the Canadian maritimes. The group
pretty well ruled the airwaves between the 1930s and 1960s in Canada,
much like Lawrence Welk did in the US).
Salut,
Etienne
On Tue, 22 Oct 1996, Andy Howell wrote:
> In article <54iro7$9...@camel1.mindspring.com>, Frank Hamilton
> <URL:mailto:ham...@atl.mindspring.com> wrote:
> >
> > Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> > >So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
> > >Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
> >
David Wigg
In article <84603002...@intlog.demon.co.uk>, Gervais Currie
<Ger...@intlog.demon.co.uk> writes
>Check out Shetland player Violet Tullah (SP?) & John Coakley (Boys of
>the Loch (SP?) - both good examples of tasteful & descrete 'comping'.
>
I recently went to an Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham performance, where the
accordion had a gismo fitted to synthesize a piano. It was a superb
evening, but IMHO it would have been better without the piano effect.
I'm not suggesting pianos shouldn't play in sessions etc, (I'd get shot
for a start) but it's not my personal cup of tea.
--
David Wigg
Roger Gawley
On Thu, 24 Oct 1996, Anahata wrote:
> A favourite I'd add to that list is John Doonan's "Flute for the Feis".
> Not all the accompaniments are piano, but there are some good and varied
> examples. Anyway the whole album is excellent,
No it isn't: it is much better than that. However, as far as I know, it
was only ever available as an LP and probably not even in that form any
more so you may be reduced to scanning boxes of old vinyl.
RodStrad
In article <54o45s$c...@info1.lancs.ac.uk>, F.F...@lancaster.ac.uk (Fiona
Frank) wrote:
>Coming back to England, I have always rated Heather Vyger (Viger?) who
>now plays with Token Women....
Yes - and also Old Swan. I wasn't sure if English dance music fitted into
the 'ceilidh band' descriptor but, as Fiona has broached it ...
Richard Valentine (ex Old Swan) has my vote for favourite English joanna
in a modern style. Going back to the tradition, Scan Tester's daughter
Daisy Sherlock plays delightfully with her dad on several tracks of 'I
never played to many posh dances' (Topic 2-12T455/6).
It's interesting to remember that (in the main) the piano was a relative
latecomer to traditional music (due to its costliness). There are several
early, and shaky, attempts on Reg Hall's excellent 'Irish Dance Music'
(Topic TSCD602). As a result, while piano style has developed fully in
traditions which have continued through to the present day, there were
still relatively few practicioners by the time the English tradition died
out - and very few of those were recorded AFAIK. Most of the examples we
do have are of quite recent vintage - 1950' and '60s.
Rod
George Seto
Frank Hamilton (ham...@atl.mindspring.com) wrote:
: Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> wrote:
: >So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
: >Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. They have developed ceilidh piano to a fine
: art. Check the Country Music store in Cheticamp. There are loads of
: recordings.
Check out Tracey Dares' CD Crooked Lake. Some of the other CD's she is
currently on are
Natalie MacMasters No Boundaries
Dave MacIsaac Nimble Fingers
Also look for Hilda Cormier-Chiasson. She's on a number of recordings
from Cape Breton and is on JP Cormier's latest.
Wendy MacIsaac and Jackie Dunn and Stephanie Wills, all from the Nova
Scotia/Cape Breton region, have recordings out and they all play fiddle
or piano on most of the tracks.
Bidh mi 'gad fhaicinn!!!
<<<<< Gum bi thu beo\ ann an a\m u\idheil. >>>>>
George / Seo\ras Seto
Internet Address: af...@chebucto.ns.ca
url: http:/www.chebucto.ns.ca/~af221/Profile.html
Paul J. Stamler
There's some very tasteful piano backup on Joe Pancerzewski's
recordings, on the Voyager label.
Peace.
Paul
Richard Chaff
In message <We6ddTAL...@peecee.demon.co.uk>
David Wigg <Da...@peecee.demon.co.uk> writes:
> In article <84603002...@intlog.demon.co.uk>, Gervais Currie
> <Ger...@intlog.demon.co.uk> writes
> >Check out Shetland player Violet Tullah (SP?)
> >
> I think it's Violet Tulloch
...........Yes,Dave,it is Violet Tulloch....and she may also be heard
playing piano accompaniment for young 'Fiddlers' Bid'' member
Christopher Stout in the performance of the most beautiful air 'The
Leaving of Lerwick Harbour ' on the forthcoming Veesik Records
release, (a new label established to promote Shetland music and
musicians) ' Shetland Dialect ' , due to be available in early
December. Piano is used extensively in Shetland for dance or concert
accompaniment.
...........This is a Shetland fiddle album- -sub-titled ' Language
of the Fiddle '--a showcase of many of the brightest and best young
musicians playing in Shetland _now_,recorded and produced IN Shetland
and offering music from some of the oldest known Shetland
tunes(unaccompanied duet)to recently composed tunes by the
authors,and containing examples of piano accompaniment from Emma
Johnston(for sister Jeanna),Joyce Reid( for da Filska lasses)and
Isobel Jamieson(for Shobils) as well as Violet, and Christopher Stout
lays aside his fiddle for one track to play piano for Fiddlers' Bid.
Around 20 musicians appear on this 55 minute album.
..........For further information on this CD please contact either
myself ( at cds.s...@zetnet.co.uk)or Alan Longmuir at Veesik
Records( veesik....@zetnet.co.uk ) or post here
Regards
Richard
Richard Chaff E-mail cds.s...@zetnet.co.uk Tel/Fax01806
522500 Snail: CDs Studio,Brae,Shetland,UK.ZE2 9QL
>24 track sound recording with Soundscape digital editing:call for
info< http://www.compulink.co.uk/~route66/support/cds.htm
............................................................................
Phil Katz
sound. One can find _lots_ of great piano backup in American contradance
and OT music, but that's not the same as ceilidh (of whatever ethnic
subgroup or spelling.)
Andy Seagroatt
pyo...@srd.bt.co.uk (Pete Young) wrote:
>I'd also commend the pianist in the much-discussed Transatlantic
>Sessions, much to my disgust her name escapes me.
Molly Mason who plays with Fiddle Fever.
Also worth checking out are Selma Kaplan of the Rude Girls and
any of Rod Miller's albums.
--
Andy Seagroatt, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
George Hawes
David Wigg <Da...@peecee.demon.co.uk> wrote:
<snip>
>I recently went to an Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham performance, where the
>accordion had a gismo fitted to synthesize a piano. It was a superb
>evening, but IMHO it would have been better without the piano effect.
Yup, Phil used this midi thing at Cambridge, too, and I thought
it was perfectly dreadful . . .
>I'm not suggesting pianos shouldn't play in sessions etc, (I'd get shot
>for a start) but it's not my personal cup of tea.
I have to say that it's not the piano but the pianist.
Occasionally I've heard wonderful piano playing in a sesson;
more often it's been dreadful.
Regards
George
David Wigg
In article <55n82i$i...@shiny.i-cubed.co.uk>, George Hawes
<George...@i-cubed.co.uk> writes
>up, Phil used this midi thing at Cambridge, too, and I thought
>it was perfectly dreadful . . .
Glad you thought so, I was beginning to think I was alone in this
dislike. As far as the pianist not the piano bit goes, I've never really
experienced piano in live folk, so I'll wait until I do before passing
more comments.
--
David Wigg
Graham Gurrin
On Tue, 05 Nov 1996 11:25:45 GMT, George...@i-cubed.co.uk (George
Hawes) wrote:
(cut)
>I have to say that it's not the piano but the pianist.
>Occasionally I've heard wonderful piano playing in a sesson;
>more often it's been dreadful.
True.
At last week's Green Linnet 20th Anniversary bash in Brentford, I was
introduced to the piano playing of Carl Hession, who as well as
playing with Moving Cloud, did a grand job of accompanying Bostonian
button accordion player Joe Derrane.
It was a great evening -- Martin Hayes was just stunning -- and due to
Hession's command of the keyboard, I quickly forgot the oddness of
hearing a piano being played for a ceilidh music, albeit in a concert
environment.
--
Kind regards,
Graham Gurrin,
Surrey, England.
bo...@teleport.com
: I have to say that it's not the piano but the pianist.
: Occasionally I've heard wonderful piano playing in a sesson;
: more often it's been dreadful.
Here in Portland we have a very talented pianist, Teresa Baker, who seems
to have been very positively influenced by the playing of Charlie Lennon
from Co. Leitrim. I'd also hasten to mention that they are both
well-respected players of melody instruments (whistle and fiddle,
respectively). Triona Ni Domnhaill (sp?) also used to play the ceilis
here a few years back.
Personally i think that the piano itself has much to do with whether the
sound is palatable; unless an electric piano REALLY sounds like its
acoustic equivalent, i would just as soon cover my ears in horror no
matter WHO is tickling the ivories!
-Bob Soper
a.k.a. Uncle Cliffy
Portland Oregon--
Home of the 1977 NBA Champion Trailblazers
lvm...@primenet.com
In article <3283a2bd...@news.ukonline.co.uk> graham...@ukonline.co.uk (Graham Gurrin) writes:
>From: graham...@ukonline.co.uk (Graham Gurrin)
>Subject: Re: Piano as a ceilidh band instrument
>Date: Fri, 08 Nov 1996 21:38:04 GMT
>On Tue, 05 Nov 1996 11:25:45 GMT, George...@i-cubed.co.uk (George
>Hawes) wrote:
>(cut)
>>I have to say that it's not the piano but the pianist.
>>Occasionally I've heard wonderful piano playing in a sesson;
>>more often it's been dreadful.
>True.
>At last week's Green Linnet 20th Anniversary bash in Brentford, I was
>introduced to the piano playing of Carl Hession, who as well as
>playing with Moving Cloud, did a grand job of accompanying Bostonian
>button accordion player Joe Derrane.
>It was a great evening -- Martin Hayes was just stunning -- and due to
>Hession's command of the keyboard, I quickly forgot the oddness of
>hearing a piano being played for a ceilidh music, albeit in a concert
>environment.
What's so odd about that? It seems to me that piano is used quite frequently
for ceilidhs. BTW, if you're interested in checking out some albums that
include very tasteful and appropriate piano, you could start with these:
Frankie Gavin and Paul Brock - Tribute to Joe Cooley
Noel Hill - The Irish Concertina
Paddy O'Brien and Seamus Connolly - Banks of the Shannon
Joe Burke, Andy McGann w/ Felix Dolan - Tribute to Michael Coleman
All the best,
Joe Root
lvm...@primenet.com
John Roy Bennett
For some excellent session piano playing, try any Rankin Family
recording. The two earliest ones are my particular favourites.
--
m
Deborah Shaw
In dancing, a piano provides the beat.
If you want to hear some outstanding piano for dancing, watch for the name
Muriel Johnstone. In fact, I read somewhere recently that she and fiddler
Alasdair Fraser were playing for a (Scottish country dance) ball somewhere
on the west coast of the US (San Francisco?). It might be a private
dance, but there's no harm in seeing if it's open to the public (as
spectators). I once danced at a ball with music by Muriel and Alasdair
that was so exhilarating we almost forgot to dance - except that the music
transported us, so we didn't need to think. It was at a lodge in the
mountains of Georgia and total strangers wandered in enthralled and stayed
to the end. There is nothing quite like the total abandon of giving
yourself over to the music, especially with such great musicians, three
feet away from the top of the set. The interaction between the musician
and the dancer is very special.
They don't play together too often, as she lives in Scotland and he in
California, so catch them when you can, or look for either separately.
She has several recordings of pure piano dance music. My favorites are
still the ones she recorded for the Scottish country dance teaching
certificate tests. Dry titles, but very pure piano in perfect tempo.
And, of course, Alasdair has a whole slew of releases, not for dancing,
on his own label (Culburnie).
Other good pianists for (ceilidh and) Scottish dancing: Elma Grech, Stan
Hamilton (great live and on recordings with his band, but watch the mix on
piano-only recordings), and Susie Petrov.
swee...@gmail.com
> Lindsey Hunt <lind...@phonelink.telme.com> wrote:
>
>
> >So far, the only person Ive heard play ceilidh band style piano is Beryl
> >Marriot, which I like, but she is a far better pianist than me 8)
>
> Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. They have developed ceilidh piano to a fine
> art. Check the Country Music store in Cheticamp. There are loads of
> recordings.
Below are best sites, resources to learn piano online in his humble opinion.
BEST 3 FREE AND PAID PIANO COURSES ONLINE:
=>1. LearnPianoIn30Days
Link: http://1monthpiano.com
LearnPianoIn30Days is a 30-day online piano lessons program instructed by singer and songwriter, Rachel James, who has got many years of piano playing on the scene, club around the world. She wants to share her experience as well as her piano playing skills for anyone who has the passion of piano.
Details:
Rated: 4.5* by 9600+ students
+ Online learning method: monthly membership site.
+ Free trial in 14 days
+ Refund policy: 60-Day Money-Back Guarantee
For more details, pls click here: LearnPianoIn30Days online course
=>2. PianoForAll
Link: http://pianoforall.1monthpiano.com
Details:
Rated: 4.6 by 16,000+ students
+ 138,203 students enrolled
+ Total time: 10 hours on-demand video
Here are detail: PianoForAll online course on Udemy
=>3. Free course on YouTube: Andrew Furmanczyk channel
This is a series of lessons that teach you how to play piano for yourself RIGHT from the VERY beginner all the way to the late intermediate/ early advanced stage of piano. These lessons have been RESHOT and these are the new lessons.
Here are the playlist: Learn How To Play Piano (NEW) - YouTube
=>AND BELOW ARE TOP 13 PIANO BOOKS ON AMAZON:
Adult All-In-1 Course: Level 1
2) Alfred’s Basic Piano Course for Adults
3) Piano Scales, Lessons with Elements of Basic Music Theory
4) Adult Piano Adventures All-in-One Piano Course Book 1
5) Modern Course for the Piano
6) John Thompson’s Easiest Piano Course
7) Alfred’s Self-Teaching Adult Piano Course
8) Primer Level – Lesson Book: Piano Adventures
9) Level 1 – Lesson Book: Piano Adventures
10) KP1B – Bastien Piano for Adults, 1 Book Only: A Beginning Course
11) Piano and Keyboard All-in-One for Dummies
12) Suzuki Piano School New International Edition Piano Book and CD, Volume 1
13) Piano Book for Adult Beginners