There was a session in the Edinburgh Student Union bar at Easter 86 when a harper with low whistles sticking out of his pack was asked by Paddy Moloney if he played. So we sat down, he checked, I graced, went to follow-the-leader, I complemented, and we were away. That's possibly the first time the hobbit flutes were played in Irish style, as they were designed by Finbar Furey for Brazilian folk. Quite a masterclass, Paddy of tops, me on seconds, and fun for him because I wasn't playing from the dots in one of the standard arrangements.
My DNA says I'm from all over England, Scotland and Ireland, but I'm blond and blue-eyed so I assume my Norwegian ancestors came down in their longships and took on a few Celtic lasses.
I've just come across this clip. A bit of fun with players who are competent with their instrument. Andy, there's copy-write on the Independent, my version: 1 note difference! A D Schofield AKA: Inky Adrian
You lost the pace, my friends, but the excitement must have overcome the presentation, shame about the lost customs, bring them back, for Old England! Old Father John
tune sounds a little like "maidrin rua" an old tune the "little red fox" but someone else would probably identify it as something else. It has touches of that but doesn't all old music have such connections the world over
PRETTY POINTLESS HAVING A TUINE IN THE FIRST PLACE WHEN YE DECIMATE IT WITH SEMI-DEMI QUAVERS; TILL THE FUCKING THING JUST SOUNDS LIKE BENNY HILL ON SPEED ; WHAT A LOAD OF WANK;TECHNICALLY BRILLIANT AND ALL (CLAP; CLAP ;CLAP) BUT SOULLESS AND TUNELASS TO THE POINT OF INSANITY;