Traditional Music

Last night I participated in SIAMSA’s student music recital. We had performances in fiddle, accordion, whistle, bodhran (the instrument I play) and singing. One of the things I like about this music, is not only does it attract people of all ages, it also attracts people of many cultures.

This winter we had a PEI couple taking classes, a teacher from Australia teaching fiddle and a multi-talented 19-year-old singing teacher who is launching her second CD tonight at a fundraising ceili. (Info about this can be found on the school website.) Overall, we have many people of English/Irish/Scottish descent, but also French, Acadian, Polish and German, to name a few.

Following our student performances, we have a great opportunity to let go in the session afterwards. Musicians gather in a big circle, someone starts a tune and the rest jump in, if they know the tune. Last night, a special guest popped in just in time for the session — Gearoid O’hAllmhurain. Gearoid is originally from Ireland and now teaches in the States about the Irish musical tradition. He’s a championship player of the concertina and the Uillean pipes (pronounced Ill-an, they’re a much softer-sounding version of the bagpipes). We also were treated to some lovely harp music by a guest musician who accompanied the singers and then later joined in the session.

Classes are over for the summer, but resume in the Fall, and in the meantime, many Irish traditional musicians from the school and outside of it meet up every Wednesday night at O’Regan’s (on Bishop, south of Ste. Catherine’s) for a traditional music session, from 8pm to 11pm. So, if you know how to play trad music or just like to listen, come on down! We usually have anywhere from 12 to 25 musicians, and the more the merrier. (The pub also serves a very tasty potato pancake with smoked salmon and sour cream. Yum!)