Who is your greatest influence as a flute player?

[Matt_Celta]

Seamus Egan and, of course, Matt Molloy

[Aanvil]

For example, when I went to the first Flute Meeting I bought about 8 albums - Harry's, Conal O'Grada, Hammy, Paul McGrattan - and if I've found time in two years to listen to each of them three times that is it! Ditto the WFO albums - have them all so far, have probably listened to them twice each. No time!

Jem, no offence, but you've been on this board since 2006 and you've made more than 1600 posts and you're posting clips and YouTube videos. You have time to listen to music, you're just not making the time.

Listening to good players is arguably more important than playing, and is unarguably more important than talking about music or making recordings of oneself. I'd say a good distribution of one's music time would be 70 percent listening, 28 percent playing, and at most 2 percent pontificating, debating, and reading about music. Or maybe 60/39.5/0.5. But you get the general idea.

I'm guilty too -- I know how addicting these boards can be, but if we all shut up and listened more, we'd all be better flute players.

I feel these are wise words.

I'm off to dig into my flute music collection now.

[Denny]

I feel these are wise words.

well, it's not hard to tell what Brad's priorities are

[Ronnie]

Any-one who plays the flute better than I is of great influence. When I listen to my favourite cd's of Lunasa; I don't analyse but enjoy them. I play every day and try to get a good sound which isn't always the case. To be influenced you have to be a top player which I am not. I have played sessions with Christy Barry this summer and was chuffed but saw that I am a novice and he is a monument. As long as I enjoy myself and can participate in a session I'm happy.I love the instrument that's for sure

[BillG]

Skip Healy with no question! Not even mentioned in 8 pages. Holy moly! Then Chris Norman and then long time favorite James Galway.

[MarkP]

been enjoying the John Skelton and Keiran O'hare album 'Double Barrelled' today. Precise, not over-stated and a pleasure.

[celticmodes]

Ian Anderson, Chris Norman, Calum Stewart, Laura MacKenzie, Joanie Madden, Noel Rice

[Sweetbriar]

Matt Molloy, Seamus Egan and Chris Norman. When I was still very young (seven or eight, I guess) and first started playing whistle and then flute, I was definitely hell-bent on being the next James Galway or Matt Molloy.

[JohnB]

Muscians living in London who were around when I started playing - Michael Hynes, Marcus Hernon, Paul Gallagher
Elaine Jeffreys, Siobhan O'Donnell, John Skelton and hearing the music played in Sessions like the Good Mixer, The Telegraph, The Fiddlers Elbow and Mick O'Connor Sessions (steady playing and great for learning). More recently the playing of Tara Diamond and Dee Havlin (I love their playing)

[Jleo Fipple]

Good thread, with much name dropping, bookmarked for future reference

[Akiba]

My current top players I listen to and emulate are:

Michael McGoldrick

John Wynne

Brian Finnegan (a teacher of mine; more a philosophical influence than instrumental, but I do love his fluting)

[crookedtune]

Well, I'm not one to revive old threads. But since it's active again, I'll voice my ongoing admiration for Mike Rafferty.

I listen to everything, but Mike's stuff is elegant, stately, pure drop traditional and somewhat achievable for someone at my level (at least at a stripped down level). I have all of his recordings and Lesl Harker's transcriptions, and spend a lot of time with them. It doesn't always have to be about speed and muscle.

Just can't get enough!

[an seanduine]

It's not that Mike doesn't display a certain muscularity. . .he has achieved a great deal of economy of means. . . .
Put me in the camp of "I Like Mike", as well.

Bob

[Akiba]

I like Mike R, too. I listen to him to keep me grounded and focused--it's about the tune, dumbass, not how hot sh*t you sound playing it.

[Steampacket]

Pat Mahon, Easky, Co. Sligo, Peter Horan, Tara Diamond, Catherine McEnvoy, Conal O'Grada are my biggest flute influences