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Solo Concerts... fiddle, guitar, stories
As IÕve been saying to all my fiddle workshop students for years, one of the things that makes Irish fiddling unique is the fact that itÕs essentially a melodic tradition. Rather than being based on chord progressions and the vertical arrangement of notes, itÕs all about stringing notes together horizontally. That one fact, if you consider it, will illuminate many aspects of the Irish tradition that can sometimes seem baffling to newcomers.
Anyway, it seems to me that a really good Irish fiddler ought to be able to get the music across without a rhythm section, should be able to carry all the rhythm and imply all the harmonies in a solo performance. A really good fiddler should be able to draw the listeners into the music every bit as surely as a band on a big stage with a big sound system. ThatÕs the real art of Irish fiddle playing, so one of the ways I like to present my music is in solo concerts, usually small venues or house concerts. I pick the pieces I play in these settings very carefully, to keep the audienceÕs attention and to give the program as much variety as possible, interspersing the fiddle tunes with whatever stories and lore I might have. I also include some guitar solos, mostly harp music played fingerstyle in DADGAD tuning, and very often IÕll have a guest or two in the second half of the concert. IÕve met lots of wonderful musicians in my travels over the years, and IÕm delighted when they show up and offer to sit in.
Since a lot of these concerts are hosted or presented by musicians, I often will give a workshop on the day of the concert or the day after.