Convention
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- ComhaltasLive #252 - 2: Fiddle solo by Dylan Foley
- 22 April 2008
A solo by New York fiddle player Dylan Foley, who took 2nd place in the U-18 fiddle at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2007. Dylan plays two reels: “The Steeplehouse” and “Black Pat’s”.
The music was recorded at the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention.
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- ComhaltasLive #252 - 1: Fiddle duet with Rose Flanagan and Dylan Foley
- 21 April 2008
A fiddle duet by Rose Flanagan and Dylan Foley from New York, with guitar accompaniament by Donal Clancy, son of the legendary Liam Clancy of the Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem. They play two reels: “The Lads of Laois” and “The First Month of Summer” which is this week’s tutorial. Dylan learned his music from Rose and her brother Brian Conway. At the end of the selection we see Donal’s wife Mary and their two young children together with Mary’s father, the legendary Mike Rafferty, who emigrated from his native East Galway in 1949.
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- ComhaltasLive #251: More From the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention (Full Programme)
- 19 April 2008
This week we bring you music recorded at the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention, held in the Hilton Hotel at Parsippany, New Jersey between the 26th and 30th of March.
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- ComhaltasLive #251 - 5: Trio from the 2008 Comhaltas Convention
- 18 April 2008
A set of reels played by Galway natives Charlie Coen (New York) on concertina and Ena O’Brien (Toronto) on box together with Larry Mc Cullough (Woodbridge, New Jersey) on whistle. At the end of the clip, we see Comhaltas statwart Bill Mc Evoy and his wife Lilly. The Reels are: “Kitty Goes a Milking”, “Music in the Glen” and “Green Fields of America”.
They were recorded at the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention, held in the Hilton Hotel at Parsippany, New Jersey between the 26th and 30th of March.
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- ComhaltasLive #251 - 4: Two Hornpipes from Fiddle Player Dylan Fole
- 17 April 2008
Another fiddle solo, this time by Dylan Foley, from Highland, New York. He plays two hornpipes: “Dunphy’s” and “Cooley’s” which was composed by Paddy O’Brien and is this week’s tutorial. The notation represents the tune as Paddy composed it during the 1940s — note the subtle use of the F natural note in the 5th bar of the second part. Incidentally, Dylan took 2nd place in the Under-15 fiddle at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2007 and learned much of his music from Brian Conway.
He was recorded at the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention, held in the Hilton Hotel at Parsippany, New Jersey between the 26th and 30th of March.
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- ComhaltasLive #251 - 3: Box player John Whelan with Felix Dolan at Convention 2008
- 16 April 2008
A selection of reels from box player John Whelan (Connecticut) with piano accompaniment by Felix Dolan (New York), commencing with “The Old High Reel” and concluding with “The Galway Rambler”. At the end of of the selection we see well-known writer/lecturer Earle Hitchner (of the Irish Echo and The Wall Street Journal) and John with his family.
They were recorded at the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention, held in the Hilton Hotel at Parsippany, New Jersey between the 26th and 30th of March.
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- ComhaltasLive #251 - 2: Slow air and a reel from the fiddle player Shane Cornyn
- 14 April 2008
From New York, fiddle player Shane
KiernanCornyn plays a slow air: “Were You At the Rock?” (“An raibh tú ag an gCarraig?”) followed by a reel: “Farewell to Ireland”. Harp accompaniament for the reel is by Alex Reidinger from North Carolina.They were recorded at the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention, held in the Hilton Hotel at Parsippany, New Jersey between the 26th and 30th of March.
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- ComhaltasLive #251 – 1: Accordion player Jimmy Keane and Fiddle Player Seán Cleland
- 14 April 2008
A set of jigs by piano accordion player Jimmy Keane and fiddle player Seán Cleland, both from Chicago. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann lovers will remember the great duet between Jimmy and Liz Carroll when they won the Duets title in Buncrana in the late 1970s. Here they play “The Ships in Full Sail”, “The Bohola Jig” and “The Irishman’s Heart to the Ladies”.
They were recorded at the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention, held in the Hilton Hotel at Parsippany, New Jersey between the 26th and 30th of March.
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- ComhaltasLive #250: The 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention (Full Programme)
- 12 April 2008
This week we bring you some music from the 2008 Comhaltas North American Convention.
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- ComhaltasLive #250 – 5: Impromptu Session led by Billy McComiskey and Joe Madden
- 11 April 2008
From the 2008 North American Comhaltas Convention, we bring you one of the many impromptu sessions. This session is led by box players Billy Mc Comiskey and Joe Madden and includes musicians from all over North America, Ireland and England. Accordionist Mary Molloy comes from the Isle of Man, which will be represented for the first time ever in the Senior Céilí Band competition at Fleadh Cheoil ha hÉireann 2008.
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- ComhaltasLive #250 – 4: Reels from some young players at the 2008 Convention
- 10 April 2008
From the 2008 North American Comhaltas Convention in New Jersey, a set of reels played on five fiddles and harp. From left to right of picture the musicians are: Shane Cornyn (fiddle), New York, Alex Reidinger (harp), North Carolina, Caitlin Finley (fiddle), Philadelphia, Kathleen Parks (fiddle), New York, Eugene Bender (fiddle), New York and Brian Lindsay (fiddle), New York. The reels are: “Tarbolton”, “The Longford Collector” and “The Sailor’s Bonnet”.
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- ComhaltasLive #250 – 3: A set of jigs from John Whelan and Felix Dolan
- 9 April 2008
From the 2008 North American Comhaltas Convention, well-known box player John Whelan is accompanied by one of the greats, Felix Dolan (piano) for a set of jigs. They start with “Paddy’s Resource” and “The Killavil Jig”.
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- ComhaltasLive #250 – 2: Hornpipes from fiddle player Maeve Flanagan
- 8 April 2008
From the 2008 North American Comhaltas Convention, the talented young fiddle player Maeve Flanagan from Pearl River, New York, who is Brian Conway’s niece. She played the hornpipe “Fly by night” followed by one which she learned from fiddle player Patrick Mangan.
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- ComhaltasLive #250 – 1: From North America, fiddle player Eugene Bender
- 7 April 2008
Eugene Bender from New York was one of the hundreds of very talented young musicians who attended the 2008 Convention. Eugene played the reels: “Paddy Ryan’s dream” and an Ed Reavy composition: “Never Was Piping So Gay” which is this week’s tutorial. Eugene learned much of his music from Brian Conway.
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- ComhaltasLive #247 - 5: Mike Simpson with an Atlanta Session
- 24 March 2008
From the 2007 Comhaltas Convention in Atlanta, we conclude the programme with another informal session of music led by concert flute player Mike Simpson, who was one of the key organisers who did so much to make Convention 2007 such a great success. They conclude with the reel, “The Foxhunter’s”.
The 2008 North American Comhaltas Convention takes place in Parsippany, New Jersey from 27th to 30th March.
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- ComhaltasLive #247 - 5: Session from Atlanta
- 23 March 2008
From the North American Comhaltas Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, a musical session including John and Margie Reynolds (fiddle and flute), Catherine Joyce (fiddle), John Sweeney (fiddle) and Tom Glynn (concertina). They play “The Silver Spear” reel.
The 2008 North American Comhaltas Convention takes place in Parsippany, New Jersey from 27th to 30th March.
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- ComhaltasLive #243: More from the North American Comhaltas Convention
- 26 February 2008
In this week’s programme we bring you some more music recorded at previous years of the annual North American Comhaltas Convention.
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- ComhaltasLive #243 - 6: Session with Boston fiddler Larry Reynolds
- 25 February 2008
We conclude the programme with a selection of reels, commencing with “Jackie Coleman’s”, played by Boston fiddle player and Comhaltas stalwart Larry Reynolds. Larry is joined by concert flute player Mike Rafferty and button accordionist Tara Lynch, originally from Corofin, Co. Clare.
The music was recorded at the North American Comhaltas Convention in Parsippany, New Jersey in April 2004.
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- ComhaltasLive #243 - 5: Erin Loughran plays two Ed Reavy tunes on Fiddle
- 24 February 2008
Next, two Ed Reavy reels played by fiddle player Erin Loughran from Pearl River, New York. Erin learned her music from Brian Conway and Rose Conway Flanagan. The reels are: “In memory of Coleman” and “The Wild Swans of Coole”.
The music was recorded at the North American Comhaltas Convention in Parsippany, New Jersey in April 2004.
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- ComhaltasLive #243 - 4: Colleen Shanks playing Slip Jigs on Whistle
- 24 February 2008
From Detroit, Michigan, Colleen Shanks plays three slip jigs on whistle. Colleen learned a lot of her music from Mick Gavin, who emigrated from Co. Clare in the 1960s having played with the Dalcassian Céilí Band. Over the decades fiddle player Mick has taught the music to many young musicians around Detroit. The second tune played by Colleen, called “The Whinny Hills of Leitrim” is unusual in that the first part is played once and the second part twice.