SOUNDTRACK: MARTIN HAYES & DENNIS CAHILL-Tiny Desk Concert #269 (March 11, 2013).
Even though I have enjoyed much Irish music over the years, I was unfamiliar with Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill.
The blurb says:
You’re about to watch one of the best fiddlers on the planet and a subtle guitar master work their magic. For too many of us, Irish music is something that merely gets trotted out around … St. Patrick’s Day and the coming of spring — and made a cliche by commercialism.
But for a moment, stop, put aside your notion of jigs and reels, and just listen. Martin Hayes plays his fiddle with an exquisite touch and tone, as well as a magnificent sense of melody and rhythm that never ceases to astonish.
Hayes has worked with many accompanying musicians, and some are equal partners, but with Dennis Cahill you get delicate support. It’s a rhythm that keeps the tune in; that accents and colors it but never overtakes it. It’s brilliant restraint that serves the music and perfectly suits his partner. So with fresh ears, come join us in a rare treat with a familiar sound.
And indeed, this is just beautiful fiddle playing and understated guitar work. It’s a fantastic pair.
They play three pieces (some of which are actually made up of smaller independent pieces).
“The Mountain Lark/Tom Doherty’s Reel” I’m not sure when the first part ends, but I love as they get near the end of the piece—the fast bowing is just great. Hayes gets some really amazing sounds.
As with many great Irish players, modesty is the key. He talks about how he learned while watching his father and how he enjoys other players. He talks about how traditional Irish music is not slavishly about the past, but it incorporates new elements into an old tradition. As you can tell by the name of the second half of this next pair: “P. Joe’s Reel/The Barack Obama Reel.”
He also says that it’s good to see you get music breaks. Music breaks should be part of all work—lunch break and music break. The final piece is in fact a traditional piece called “O’Carolan’s Farewell To Music.” It was originally written for harp by Turlough O’Carolan and is rumored to be the final piece that O’Carolan played before he died. The transposition to fiddle and guitar is perfect.
[READ: February 8, 2016] Bad Babysitter
Babymouse continues to delight with the funny stories and amusing spoofs.
This story opens with Babymouse dreaming about “The Old Woman Who Live in a Shoe” (which is instantly transformed into a bunny slipper). She wakes from her daydream about comics to see an ad for a Super Scooter, only $79. There’s no way Babymouse’s mom will pay for this, so Babymouse better save up!
The next day at school one of her friends say that there’s a babysitting job available if Babymouse would like it. Babymouse imagines herself as Mary Poppins until the dream kitten (who looks suspiciously like Felicia Furrypaws) complains about her whiskers.
Babymouse is set to babysit for Mrs Ladybug whose child (she swears) is a sweteahrt and only cries when he is hungry. And, he should sleep the night. Ha! He is up all night and, just like with her goldfish, Babymouse overfeeds the baby until it throws up all over her. This job ends with her watching a zombie movie (called Babysitting Movie) and causing serious damage to the hosts’ house. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 