Donncha O Briain

[ams]

Is there any place where one can get hold of Donncha O Briains album or more tunes played by him, Green Linnet hasn't rereleased the album, and I can't find any place that has it, anyone got any clues?

Was listening to the Golden Eagle at
http://rogermillington.com/tunetoc/goldeneagle.html and now I just
want to hear more... What lovely playing!!!

It is sad that such lovely recordings are not more widely accessible...

[Zoe]

I just got a cassette tape of Donncha's green linnet recording from Kenny (thanks, Kenny!). I agree that his playing is masterful. Why is it so underappreciated? I'm burning the tape onto CD. PM me, AMS, or anyone else who is interested in getting it on CD.

Zoe

[Cayden]

Why is it so underappreciated?
Zoe

It isn't. Not by those who know their music anyway. But in general people here on C&F don't seem to go for dead whistleplayers like Donncha, Kieran Collins, Michael Dwyer etc. Too hard-core Irish, for the purists only
It's their loss.

Here's one track put up to serve another forum.

The record was originally on Gael-linn by the way, Green Linnet probably had iit in license for the US.

[colomon]

It isn't. Not by those who know their music anyway. But in general people here on C&F don't seem to go for dead whistleplayers like Donncha, Kieran Collins, Michael Dwyer etc. Too hard-core Irish, for the purists only
It's their loss.

Right. It's such a shame no one here on the C&F ever appreciates dead Irish traditional whistlers like Micho Russell and Willie Clancy. (end sarcasm)

I'd cry tears of joy if I got more whistle recordings of Donncha or Jim Donoghue -- or any recording at all of Patsy Judge or Bill White. But I've barely ever heard of the other two guys you mention, and in fact, didn't realize that either of them was a whistle player.

[Cayden]

Right. It's such a shame no one here on the C&F ever appreciates dead Irish traditional whistlers like Micho Russell and Willie Clancy. (end sarcasm)

I'd cry tears of joy if I got more whistle recordings of Donncha or Jim Donoghue -- or any recording at all of Patsy Judge or Bill White. But I've barely ever heard of the other two guys you mention, and in fact, didn't realize that either of them was a whistle player.

We can get sarcastic about it but I'll be happy to agree we disagree.

That you have barely heard of the others, is hardly the players' (or my) fault is it? I would rank these men as among the most influential on the present generation of whistleplayers.

[Zoe]

Wow, based on the number of people who have responded, Gael-linn (yes, Peter was right, I meant Gael-linn and not Green Linnet) needs to think about re-issuing this on CD.

As the whistle gets more popular and respect as a solo instrument, perhaps more of these older albums will be reissued.

Peter, is Michael Dwyer any relation to Richie Dwyer? I just learned a tune called "Richie Dwyer's" and it's a great tune for the whistle.

On Donncha's album, about half of the tracks are pure unaccompanied whistling, and the others are with pipes or guitar. Fabulous, unpretentious, full-of-lilt stuff. According to the session.org, the piper is Donncha's brother, Mick O'Brien. And on these tracks, the whistling doesn't come through as well, but then, hey, it's a young Mick O'Brien playing the pipes!

[feadogin]

Is Donnacha O Brien (sp?) related to Mick O'Brien? That's interesting. I love that Donnacha OBrien recording.

There are a couple of tunes around here that get called Richard Dwyer's; the one I know best is not too whistle friendly but a beautiful tune (from Paddy Carty's recording).

Justine

[Cayden]

In fact more family was brought in for it: Mick and two more brothers Tomas (fiddle) and Adreais (bodhran) and the father Donncha sr (accordeon) in addition there's Mark Kelly playing guitar

Michael, Finbar and Ritchie Dwyer were all related but I keep forgetting if there were two brothers and the father or three brothers. The mother, Ellen Dwyer played the concertina, I used to see her at the recitals of the early Willie weeks.

I have some DOB tapes, one of himself and Mick playing tunes on whistles, from 1975, couple of youngfellas

[feadogin]

In fact more family was brought in for it: Mick and two more brothers Tomas (fiddle) and Adreais (bodhran) and the father Donncha sr (accordeon) in addition there's Mark Kelly playing guitar

Michael, Finbar and Ritchie Dwyer were all related but I keep forgetting if there were two brothers and the father or three brothers. The mother, Ellen Dwyer played the concertina, I used to see her at the recitals of the early Willie weeks.

I have some DOB tapes, one of himself and Mick playing tunes on whistles, from 1975, couple of youngfellas

Were the Dwyers from Clare?

The DOB album must be pretty old; you wouldn't recognize Mick's playing alright. (Of course, even then he was still a lot better than me so I guess I should just shut up, huh?! )

J.

[bradhurley]

The DOB album must be pretty old; you wouldn't recognize Mick's playing alright.

Judge for yourself!

http://homepage.mac.com/bhurley/.Public/obrienreels.mp3

One of the things I love about Mick's piping on that track is the lift in his playing...not an easy thing to accomplish yet he perfectly captures the lightness and lift that Denis had on the whistle.

[kenny]

I’d think it’s more probable that the reason Donncha O’Brien, Kieran Collins and Michael O’Dwyer don’t get the recognition they deserve isn’t because they’re sadly not around anymore, but more because of the scarcity of their recordings. [ All 3, of course , were and still are very well-known among the traditional music community within Ireland. ]
Donncha’s recording has been enquired about here several times, but we’d need to convince Gael Linn of the financial viability of re-releasing it on CD, assuming of course that they still have the original recordings. I think it came out in 1979, Justine – not that long ago, [ to my way of thinking, anyway!].
I believe there are a few tracks of Kieran Collins about, and there was supposed to be a CD of his playing coming out, thanks to Joe Skelton who I’m told is a relative. Any information on the progress of that would be gratefully received – Peter ? I’d buy it without question.
The Michael O’Dwyer recording, being on an independent label was probably only released in relatively small numbers. You might get it from Custy’s, Claddagh or some of the more specialist online music stores. Fine whistle playing, but let down by poor accompaniment, in my opinion.
Comhaltas produced a book some years ago by their Clontarf branch where Donncha was a teacher. Lots of photos, stories about the musicians’ travels, and a fair collection of common session tunes, including nearly all the transcriptions of the tunes played on Donncha’s record. It was called “The Golden Eagle”. I have no idea if Comhaltas still sell it. Donncha also appears on 1 track of the “Come West Along The Road “video, although I haven’t seen it myself yet. An analysis of his playing style of “The Flogging” reel is included in Grey Larsen’s “Essential” book, where Donncha is included as one of the players whose playing is looked at in great detail
The Dwyers / O’Dwyers – not sure which is correct – come from Castletownberehaven, in Cork, if my memory serves. I’d have to look at some LP sleeve notes. There does seem to be a lot of confusion about their family tree. I think Michael, Finbarr and Richard are brothers, and their father was John or Sean, who played fiddle with the Dublin “Castle Ceili Band”. I did see you asking about them on another website, Justine, but forgot to reply. I’ll look them up again on the albums, because I'm not 100% sure of what I've written here.

[colomon]

We can get sarcastic about it but I'll be happy to agree we disagree.

Oh, I'm perfectly happy to agree that you feel you can be snidely dismissive of virtually everyone here on the Chiff & Fipple.

But you dodge right past the point of my post, which is that it is perfectly possible to be very interested in the "old stuff" of the tradition and not have a clue who these guys are -- because I'm exhibit one. Frankly, most of the guys I listen to are old enough to be Donncha's father, grandfather, or even great-grandfather, and their recordings are rather more hardcore trad than his gorgeous album.

[Cayden]

Oh, I'm perfectly happy to agree that you feel you can be snidely dismissive of virtually everyone here on the Chiff & Fipple.

If after all these years it hasn't become obvious to you that the musical taste of the average C&F memeber does not extend very deep into Irish music it doesn't mean that those who accept that that is the case are 'snidely dismissive'.

You post on 'Whistle This', read the one where someone came in and said 'thank god a whistle board where people talk about playing, not about buying more whistles'? Ever wonder what she was referring to and thought of that as 'snidely dismissive'? (it was followed by a hearty cheer from the member of that board)

[StevieJ]

Wow, based on the number of people who have responded, Gael-linn (yes, Peter was right, I meant Gael-linn and not Green Linnet) needs to think about re-issuing this on CD.

A couple of years ago I asked Mick whether Gael-Linn had any plans to release his brother's album on CD and he told me that only a few days before he had raised the matter with them again, without success.

[PhilO]

Oh, I'm perfectly happy to agree that you feel you can be snidely dismissive of virtually everyone here on the Chiff & Fipple.

If after all these years it hasn't become obvious to you that the musical taste of the average C&F memeber does not extend very deep into Irish music it doesn't mean that those who accept that that is the case are 'snidely dismissive'.

You post on 'Whistle This', read the one where someone came in and said 'thank god a whistle board where people talk about playing, not about buying more whistles'? Ever wonder what she was referring to and thought of that as 'snidely dismissive'? (it was followed by a hearty cheer from the member of that board)

I happened upon that site a while back and quietly said the very same thing to myself; what a wonderful source of live music discussion, listening opportunities and feedback on actual playing. Alas, because I have aol, I can't get on with a password, which is my loss, but can still access the tunes. However, I've been on this Board a long time and often talk about whistles as well, hopefully in the spirit of sharing and not disparagement. This is a different type of broader Board and hopefully room for both and more.

As to the music, as you know, I'm an American who fell in love with this music long ago and with the whistle in particular quite some time ago as well. I got as much exposure as I could mostly through a wonderful teacher and listened to cassettes and went to see people I knew of and loved (Mary Bergin, Cathal McConnell, Micho Russell, etc.). I never heard of the players noted in this thread either, but not because I'm some sort of dilletante. I checked with Green Linnet and Ossian and Custy's (that's about as esoteric as I can manage) and only found one CD wherein one player accompanies Matt Malloy and not with a major noted accompaniment.

I listened to the one track link you provided and loved it and crave for more. I've found some of the noted artists work sprinkled on some sites but there don't seem to be any cassettes or Cds available now. I've also reached out to my teacher for any possible direction to these recordings.

I'm all for mixing of playing styles and development of individual style, but myself have chosen to try to learn the traditional first - an undertaking that I see may easily take the rest of my meager existence. I find that the better I get at playing and listening and understanding the more I appreciate and feel closer to being able to play with a hint of the spirit reflected in these recordings without merely replicating.

I'm not sure why I'm going on at this point; probably because I may be one of the earliest members of this Board, still appreciate it, there are always new members and players, and I do always very much appreciate the fine advice and links provided by you and others (including your own wonderful CD).

Philo