sligo for all-ireland? - Comhaltas Archive

IRISH MUSIC IN SYDNEYAn Irishman told me once that youcan always tell if it's a German who issinging a traditional Irish folk song becausethey'll get all the words right.The story is symptomatic of the phenomenalrise in the popularity of Irish musicamongst non-Irish people abroad inthe past twenty years or so. Also , itsuggests that Irish people are scepticalabout the way foreigners have come tointerpret the music of their country:that somewhere along the line wemissed out on something.Perhaps that's not surprising whenthose who would play the music are removedfrom its source ; when their maincontact with it is through records and inan age when musical perfonnance is synonymouswith ostentation and pretence.The Irish music scene in Sydney,though, has managed to avoid the wordexcesses of Irish music abroad, becausethe social aspect of the music has beenmaintained and because there is a continuingcontact between Australian andIrish musicians here. It wasn't so longago that pub sessions in Sydney consistedalmost exclusively of Irish-born musicians.In 1983- 84 London-based Irishmusicians John Carty and Brendan Mulkerecame to Sydney with the help ofvarious members of the Sydney Irishcommunity. They gave concerts andregular classes and as a result of their influencethere has emerged a growingnumber of Australians able to play themusic well.The best musician to appear on theIrish music scene in that time, AngelaNoonan, died tragically in February ofthis year. She was more than a technicallyadept fiddle -player: there was aspiritedness and sensitivity in her musicwhenever she played. Angela recordedan album with Roger Hargraves andGraham McDonald ("Airs and Dances",Sandstock SSM- 018).In every other respect, 1986 has beena full and productive year for Irishmusic in Sydney. Dundalk fiddler EilishO'Connor is to be brought to Australiato continue the process started by Cartyand Mulkere. It's hoped she willconduct classes as well as perfonn andjoin in the regular sessions. A dance washeld on St. Patrick's Day to help financeher trip.In January the Boys of the Loughperformed in Sydney with their twonew Irish members. Both John CoakleyNOLLAIG NI CHATHASAIGHand Christie O'Leary, and also CathalMcConnell, joined in the session at theBald-Faced Stag after the concert. InMarch the Guinness company brought aclutch of musicians to Australia, includingChristie Moore, Stockton's Wing,Liam O'Flynn, Arty McGlynn andNollaig Ni Chathasaigh, Joe and Antoin-JOHN CARTY34ette McKenna are expected to arrive fora series of concerts in September.For the most part, though, the Sydneymusic scene consists of Sydneypeople playing music. As well as theregular Sunday night sessions at the'Stag in Leichhard t', which have beengoing for some years, there is now musicmost Wednesday nights at the RiverviewHotel in Balmain. On Fridayslocal band 'The Gingermen' present anenergetic mixture of songs and dancetunes at the White Horse in Surry Hills.Since March local musicians havegiven lessons on fiddle , tin whistle andflute. These have been well attended bypeople from a wide range of age-groups.Some of the newer players are Irishpeople rediscovering their own musictwelve thousand miles from home.In May an uilleann pipers' club wasfom1ed. In the manner of pipers aroundthe world, members meet monthly todiscuss reeds, drones, reeds, hard D's,reeds and the bits of string that youwrap around the chanter where it joinsonto the bag . And they play tunes.A tune is chosen each month and thepipers practise it and present it at thefollowing meeting.One of the factors bearing on theshape of Irish music in Australia is thedistance separating the variouscommunities of musicians. There's noslipping across to Doolin over the weekendfor a few tunes. People do stay intouch though. There are the variousannual festivals- forums for Australia'shybrid folk culture of which Irish musicand dance fonns a significant part. Sydneymusicians also organise impromptutrips to Canberra and the Blue Mountainsto visit friends and swap tunes. Onthe Australia Day long weekend in Januaryword got around that there was tobe some music in Sydney. People camefrom Canberra, Newcastle and theMountains for three days of pub andkitchen sessions.The Irish music scene is evolving herein an uniquely Australian way, whileremaining close to the social and musicalbasis of the tradition. We encourageall people involved with the music whomight be thinking of travelling to Australiato get in touch, so that we canshare a tune and the crack. You'll bevery welcome.PETER WOODLEY