Traditional Irish Music Sessions and Gigs in South East London

The Music we play

"The Music"

The Music - as it is colloquially known throughout Ireland and Scotland - is an unpretentious musical form, which comes ultimately from the heart.

The Music as we know it, is a huge collection of tunes such as jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and slides... and occasionally traditional songs. Many of these pieces date from hundreds of years ago, and are played on acoustic instruments, the way they were played by our Irish and Scots ancestors.

When you sit in on a session with our group of friendly musicians, you may well make that connection to your own Celtic ancestry, whilst witnessing part of an ongoing thriving musical heritage.

Though proud, we remain true to the tradition, and we guard our 'treasure' to ensure it remains as hugely popular as it has become in recent years in South London.

Yet, at the same time, we know The Music needs no introduction. Once a set of tunes takes off, there's a power within it that makes people realise that The Music has subconsciously always been with them.

The Musicians

We are a gathering of both tight-knit and loosely connected friends whose skill portfolio ranges from 'keen improver' to 'virtuoso' and 'composer' status.

But, mostly we are a number of solid accomplished musicians, and that's the core of us, good people, great company!

The acoustic instruments played by our musicians are typically:

Fiddle - the same as the Violin but played faster! ... and in a less staid, more gutsy, style.

Flute - two varieties - the traditional Irish unkeyed blackwood flute and the keyed modern Boehm system flute. Traditionally the simple system wooden flute is preferred, but it is possible to get the ornamentation, ie the rolls and cuts, on the Boehm system.

Tin Whistle, often thought of as a learner's instrument, is, in the hands of a skilled player, a very central component to the sound of a quality session.

Other instruments vital to the "session sound" include Banjo, Mandolin, Accordion, Melodeon and the Irish goatskin drum, the Bodhrán. Spoons and Bones also provide rhythmic accompaniment. We have even been known to tolerate *skilled* guitar accompaniment!

Again, the style of playing is from the heart. The notes are not merely lifted off the page of a music book, the written tune is transformed into a living entity.

We are of course available for hire so get in touch with me at

D.Mackay@iop.kcl.ac.uk

in the first instance. Our rates for ceilis, gigs and concerts are competitive.

The Blythe Hill Tavern

The Session at the Blythe Hill Tavern, on the corner of Stanstead Road SE23 and Blythe Hill Lane SE6, takes place every Thursday night from 9.00pm onward.
We have been there every Thursday for four years now, so we must be doing something right....

The session

http://www.thesession.org/index.php
Music on AOL.co.uk
Some samples of The Music - check Pingu