In praise of Cillian Vallely

TnWhistler · Post by **TnWhistler** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:01 am

Alright, I have just purchased my fourth Lunasa CD and just bought Callun Bridge a duo CD with his brother Niall, and I must say...

Cillian is just damn awesome!!!

He plays so clean, no missed notes, dropped octaves, squeaks, squawks, and ALWAYS in tune. HIs cut and rolls are flawless, I just can't say enough. He is slowly becoming my favorite piper. I was only aware of him as of a year ago.

I still love some of my previous picks, but Cillian is incredible. In case some of you newbies, like myself, aren't familiar, get some of the later Lunasa cd's or his duet album with his brother.

Keep on piping

Timmy

benwalker · Post by **benwalker** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:59 pm

Cillian is a wonderful piper, but I bet even he drops octaves and squeeks and squawks fro time to time. DIGITAL RECORDING is a wonderful thing

uilleannfinlander · Post by **uilleannfinlander** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 1:34 pm

Perhaps one of the best "newtype" jigs i've ever heard "Muireanns" from that same album. If U like that kinda UP playing/tunes , check Calico's first 2 cd's Cellanova Square,Song Dogs,l + live cd "red Hat Band" (Lunasa has Moynihans compositions on theirs CD's too).
E. Dillon from KILA , great solo album " Third twin" so F*****g good new compositions indeed., same type playing as Cillian.. good movements, nice simple way to create great variations of theme..
Cheers,
M

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 2:42 pm

benwalker wrote:Cillian is a wonderful piper, but I bet even he drops octaves and squeeks and squawks fro time to time. DIGITAL RECORDING is a wonderful thing

I've heard him do it, maybe once or twice, at the 2004 Florida Tionol. But, if you didn't know what you were listening to, you never would've noticed.

smithand · Post by **smithand** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:57 am

Joseph E. Smith wrote:
I've heard him do it, maybe once or twice, at the 2004 Florida Tionol. But, if you didn't know what you were listening to, you never would've noticed.

I've just been listening to Jerry O'Sullivan's O'Farrell CD, and he drops the octave there a few times but it always sounds like a variation or ornament rather than a mistake.

Andrew

giles b · Post by **giles b** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 1:42 am

For more Vallely brilliance you should check out Niall Vallely's cd. You will hear some wild concertina and some great arrangements of his own tunes with his brother Caoimhin on piano and Paul Meehan on strings.

Check It Out!!!

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 3:32 am

smithand wrote:
Joseph E. Smith wrote:
I've heard him do it, maybe once or twice, at the 2004 Florida Tionol. But, if you didn't know what you were listening to, you never would've noticed.
I've just been listening to Jerry O'Sullivan's O'Farrell CD, and he drops the octave there a few times but it always sounds like a variation or ornament rather than a mistake.

Andrew

I'm certain that is one the skills one needs to become a better piper, I call it the "I meant to do that" recovery.

... something like the three rules a rock guitar player must know when playing a wrong note on stage:

1) Do it again so it sounds like you meant to do it

2) Stand next to the bass player and give them a really dirty look

3) get on your knees and plead for the audience's forgiveness.

TnWhistler · Post by **TnWhistler** » Tue May 02, 2006 9:21 pm

"E. Dillon from KILA , great solo album " Third twin" so F*****g good new compositions indeed., same type playing as Cillian.. good movements, nice simple way to create great variations of theme..
Cheers,
M

Do you mean Eamonn Dillon? Eamonn is a good friend and in my estimation a GREAT PIPER. Such a nice guy too.

Timmy

totokots · Post by **totokots** » Wed May 03, 2006 3:02 am

Eoin Dillon.

(Plays Dillon pipes)

Joseph E. Smith · Post by **Joseph E. Smith** » Wed May 03, 2006 4:07 am

Matt Dillon? Famed lawman and gunslinger?

seisflutes · Post by **seisflutes** » Wed May 03, 2006 11:03 am

Back to praising Cillian Vallely for a moment here if I may...
I've been to about 10 Lunasa concerts and one "LunasaLite" concert(him, Kevin, and Paul) and heard him mess up maybe twice in all those times. He's nice too.

lundblad · Post by **lundblad** » Fri May 05, 2006 7:02 am

In any craft there is but one rule...
"anyone can make mistakes, but the pro can hide them"
Rob