Pennknivsmördaren

Pennknivsmördaren (Penknife Killer" is a traditional Swedish tune. Kruzifinger learded it from Ken P, a member of "Mandolin Cafe", who learned it from Swedish group Vasen. Kruzifinger plays it on his Zouk tuned GDAD, Capo 2.

Andy Irvine - Blacksmith Live

I haven't posted anything for more than a month. How time flies, but I did not find anything, that I thought is so interesting to post. But now my friend Tom gave me the hint to a new video of Andy Irvine.

First there's a video from January 24, 1999 in New Zealand, Christchurch. Live at Maddison's . Andy plays his solo version of the classic "The Blacksmith". Not the best quality but really worth watching.

Tim Browne - The Bold Thady Quill (The Bould Thady Quill)

Another fine song by Tim Browne, one of my favourite Bouzouki players. This is what he writes about the song:

This is a version of the great Cork song written over 100 years ago by Johnny Tom Gleeson. I recorded this version on Mutiny in the County a solo album I made in 2003. The lyrics were published in the 1993 edition of the wonderful Seanchas Duthalla Magazine in an article written by one James Chisman.

It is a mighty song and many versions of it, even one in the Irish language, are known. I particularily like this version because of its Land League component and Chisman mentioned in his article that this version is thought to be the nearest lyrically to the original version. The song has undergone many changes and additions since the original believed to have been written in the 1880's and first published around the early 1920's.

It is a much favoured drinking song possibly due to the references to drinking black porter as fast as you'll fill etc., Some extra lines have been added to this version so perhaps in one hundred years time or so Thade Quill will have become an internationally recognised academic, and maybe even an assissinated President of America................!!!

O'Donoghues covered by kyle25rs

Inspired by the version of Irishlike kyle decided to post his own version. Very interesting to listen to various approaches to one song. Good work!

Irishlike - O'Donoghue's

A new video my friend Irishlike posted. Andy Irvine's song O'Donoghue's. Just the first verse. I like your version a lot, Tom.

Tim Browne

Tim has posted some new videos, so I'm really happy to include them here.

On the first video he plays a guitar shaped bouzouki made by Heiner Dreizehnter a few years ago. As far as I know Tim bought this zouk from my friend Tom from Munich. The newry Highwayman



The Ballad of Ned Jones Toyota


A Youth That's Inclined To Ramble


The Handsome Cabin Boy

Never Tire Of The Road - Andy Irvine with Donal Lunny and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh

Dingle 2009. This is a real short but powerful version of Andy's classic.

New book for Irish Bouzouki out now

Ralf Wackers, German musician with Band Curragh
http://www.currach.de/
has release a tutor's book for the Irish bouzouki. As far as I know it is the first book at this topic which is addressed to beginners and intermediate players of the bouzouki. Unfortunately this book is available only in German. So it could be a little difficult to understand all the things said in this great book. But if you have ears and eyes you can learn a lot by listening to the examples on the cd and look at the notation.

For example here is the tune "Toss the feathers":



Click on the picture to see a larger version. Be careful, the chords are for GDAE-tuning! And here's the audio file which goes with it:

MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

If you want to buy the book or like to have more information got the Ralf's website at:

http://www.currach.de/ralf/Bucher/Irish_Bouzouki-Buch/irish_bouzouki-buch.html

It's a self-pressing, so it's only available directly from him. Many thanks to Ralf for allowing me to publish a sample of his book.

Another example page is to be found at Ralf's website:
http://www.currach.de/ralf/Bucher/Irish_Bouzouki-Buch/B-Buch-2728.pdf

Templates for Reels and Jigs

Some time ago I made some templates for Jigs and Reels where I could just fill in the chords needed. This helps a lot when attending a workshop.
You can download them here:
Reel-template
Jig-template

Find Chord shapes for different chords on GDAD

Some time ago I made this little helper. This shows all the position of the notes wich are in a specified chord. So it helps to find out different positions of the chords.

Freshwater Streams (for Dave Freshwater)

This is a nice instrumental tune in honour of Dave Freshwater, the builder of this octave mandolin. Enjoy!

Jon Sanders & Dave Alley

Jon Sanders is known for his guitar playing, i think. He mostly plays in DADGAD and Dropped-D tunings. On these great videos he joins with Dave Alley.

More information at:
www.jon-sanders.com
www.davealley.co.nz.

Dingle Day


Pure Afghan


Pure Afghan - Live Version


Big Ben

jonathan sells his Freshwater Octave Mandolin/ Irish Bouzouki on eBay

Jonathan posted a message that he is currently selling his freshwater Octave Mandolin on ebay. Therefore he posted a new video:

Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny - Live 2009

Feel like a kid in a candy store. Lots of videos by Andy and Donal. Many thanks to DaraghOwens, the uploader.

Empty Handed


My Heart's tonight in Ireland


Never Tire Of The Road


Arthur McBride


The Blacksmith


Tom Joad


Plains of Kildare


And finally The West Coast Of Clare


All fantastic live versions. Sadly there is no new song.

Duncan Fig - The Mickey Dam

Duncan has made a fine video, in which he plays bouzouki, Bass, Flute and sings a song called The ickey Dam. What a complex video, must have been a lot of work.



Choux pis des melons, a trad song from Quebec