Monday, December 29, 2008

Pangea, Tommy Makem, Mouth harp/Jew's Harp, learn to drum,

Pangea
Pangean Ocrhestra
Colin O’Donohoe
12/29/08

What’s new:
I hope you have all had a nice holiday! I hope none of you are too upset about missing your weekly installment of your favorite blog (my blog!)
In my streak of being the last to find out about things, I just learned that Tommy Makem died (last august I believe ’07). Man, I am sad about that. I loved his music and concerts. I’ve seen him live twice and he was a great perormer. He had a wonderful ability to connect with the audience. I will make mention of him again later in the songs I adore section.

What I want to learn about: Mouth Harp/Jew’s Harp
I love youtube! Are there any mouth harp players out there? Is it really Jewish? Forgive me but I always thought it came out of the Appalachians. I always heard it in American Folk music going twang twang twang, or boing, boioing, bioioioing :)
I’d love to know who the top artists are out there.

What can I share:
Hmmm. I’m running out of idea’s. ok here’s one...
Ever want to know how to play the full drum set with your arms doing different things? Here is how you do it.
Count to 4. that’s all you really have to do.
On beat 1, tap your right foot and tap your right hand on your leg.
On beat 2, tap just your right hand on your leg
On beat 3, tap your right hand on your leg, your left hand on your tummy or some other surface, I use the tum tum drum.
On beat 4, tap your right hand only.

That’s it. Count as slow as you’d like. Then speed it up. Good luck!


Songs I adore:
The “Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy” albums.

As a kid I listened to a lot of music, mostly current rock/rap/ and yes “glam” bands. However, I also listened to a lot of Irish music. My favorite “band” of Irish music when I was little was the duo of Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem.
I loved how they wove poetry and history into the songs. I was very moved by “Willie McBride”, and “Patriot Game” as incredible anti-war songs. I also loved “Whiskey yer the divil” and “The Moonshiner”.

For me and my family, “The Irish Rover” was a rite of passage. You had to learn the lyrics to it and sing it. It made long car rides much more tolerable in the days before portable dvd players, ipods, and even.... FM radio (yup, that’s not a typo kiddies, I mean FM, not XM, FM! Cars actually didn’t have that once)

Anyway, This music is more than sound, it is life. It is a bridge that connects me to those who brought my DNA over the Atlantic. As an adult I really admire Tommy Makem’s attention to the details and history that made the songs so incredible. I will lift up my drink tonight for him, “A parting glass”

For him, I hope that he entered the gates to a jam session already in progress, and an empty seat beside a snug turf fire!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Pangea, Thank God I'm a Country Boy, Blues, Sally Goodin, Fragile

Colin O’Donohoe
Pangea Orchestra

What is new:
This week I rediscovered John Denver and the song “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and then from that I started listening to recordings of “Sally Goodin” on youtube. It made me realize that I was guilty of something I’ve seen from various people as I’ve been performing. When I perform traditional music from other countries I have always met people from that country who respond to me with such a perplexed look and ask “why are you interested in that?” They go on to say how ‘that’ music is so old and isn’t very popular any more, and even they themselves don’t know much about it.

I always feel sad like they’re ignoring or denying such a beautiful heritage. With me being born and raised in the U.S., I never really spent much time at all listening to old American folk and traditional music. My dad would play it often but I never spent much time paying attention to it.

So, I met Sally Goodin. Not my Sally Goodin, but THE Sally Goodin. I’m amazed at how similar some of these songs are to traditional Irish jigs and reels. I’ve had fun listening to traditional American musicians and Southern all-stars such as Earl Scruggs and others. I ain’t a Country boy, but I do love the tunes!

***I’ve had a few glitches with the email list sign up. I’m trying to get it fixed asap. In the meantime, email me at wmenyc at gmail.com and I’ll sign you up. Did I mention that I have an amazing new MP3 just waiting to be sent to you? I love my list, very much!! The music is yours if you are interested in getting on the list.

Music I want to learn about: Traditional Southern music!! I want to know the names of people to check out, albums that are amazing, songs that I can’t live without. Please, if you know about traditional southern music from the USA, please send me an email or just post to the blog so the world can read about it! Thank you!!!

Music I can share: Ever want to know what a real blues form was? Since I’ve been talking about American music I think I should try to let you in on the pieces of Americana that I do know about. While Blues today means a lot of music that isn’t really the blues form, I’ll let you in on what that form really is.

The blues is a 12 bar (measure) form. This means that every 12 measures the song form starts over again, like a loop from the ice age (a reference for all the youngins out there who write loop based music)

Anyway the form is broken into thirds and goes basically like this
Part one: the first four measures
One chord (literally the 1 or root chord) for 4 measures
Part II:
The four chord for 2 measures, the 1 chord for 2 measures
Part III
The five chord (1 measure)
The four chord (1 measure)
The one chord (2 measures)
You can also play the five chord at the end of this third part if you’d like.

There are a zillion variations, but this is the basic form. As for the vocal arrangement it generally has one statement that is said twice and embellished the third time, I’ll write one right now
I’ll call it the “nobody reads my blog blues” No one touch this, I’m copyrighting this puppy!
Blues lyric form:

“I checked my blog views, and it said there were none
Yeah, said I checked my blog views, and it said there were none
So I called up my brother, made him read it, and now it says 1”

It basically goes like that. Now those lyrics are purely fictional as I don’t know any poor soul who writes week after week for no fans. Man, that would just be terrible!!

Songs that I adore: Fragile
Sting
I know, I should be putting up an Earl Scruggs or John Denver tune for this post, but I had already written this one. I promise I’ll talk more about those good ol’ boys later.

I could probably listen to this song infinite times and still not be sick of it. I love the melody, the words, the performance, it is all precious.
The lyrics of course are very creative, full of imagery, and pierce your soul (unless your Dick Cheney (he sold his soul for an extra chocolate milk in 4th grade *** little known fact***)
When I start rehearsing with the Pangea Orchestra, it is my hope that we can create a great arrangement of this song.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Resonance, Toumani Diabete, U2, Anti-war songs

Colin O'Donohoe
Pangea

What's New:
I was asked last week how I knew that I wanted to be a musician and focus on "World" music. It caused me to remember back to when I was taking an acoustics class. The teacher was talking about how each instrument has its own resonant frequency where the entire instrument will resonate the best at one certain pitch. I remember hating when people would play a b natural, especially the b on the middle line of the treble clef because it would make my snare drum rattle like crazy.
He talked about how you can blow over a bottle too fast and too slow with no sound forthcoming. Then, you blow the air at just the right speed and the entire bottle comes to life and sings. For me, being a musician and focusing on the genre's that I do, just makes my entire being resonate! It is what makes me feel most alive. When I am performing, composing, or even discussing music I feel more alive. All of us have something that makes us truly resonate, the trick is to make that your life's work.

Region I’m looking for: Anyone have some great Anti-war songs? I’m looking to hear any songs from any culture that have anti-war/peace sentiments. Please send me an email or respond to the blog any songs that you think I need to hear!

Region I can help with:
While I am not an expert on the Kora, Toumani Diabete is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOMZ6HWtvUs
Please check out Toumani Diabete, he is amazing!


Songs that I adore: Love is Blindness
U2 Achtung Baby (one of my favorite albums btw)
Cassandra Wilson (new moon daughter)

Achtung baby changed my life when I was about 12/13. One thing that I love about U2 is that they create their songs like a vivid painting. They have such a rich soundscape that it really puts you in the setting of the song. Bono’s lyrics are the most striking thing in the song ofcourse, with lines like “you’re a dangerous idea, that almost makes sense”
Being Irish I always thought that Love was a glass of guiness, good music, and a pretty wench, man was I wrong...

The song builds to a brilliant climax when the electric guitar takes a solo. It isn’t overly virtuosic, but perfect for the song. All parts of this piece are played from the heart and with great precision. I believe it is also in Bb minor which is kind of an odd key for a rock song.(throwing that out there for all you musicians)

The Cassandra Wilson arrangement is nice and has more complex harmonic progressions, flat 9 chords and all, but I like the U2 version more. If you can, take a listen to both.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Scandinavia, Tico Tico, Cipher Notation

Colin O'Donohoe
Pangea

What's New:
Well, first, I hope that everyone had a great holiday and stayed away from too much wine!I was able to spend some time composing and have finished a few new pieces. One of them will be appearing on a new album of mine that should be out in '09. The album is about the Buddhist Sutra's. It will be my first "electronica" album. We'll see how it goes. I'm pretty excited about it. I've found using a computer as my palette of instruments to be exciting. It will never replace people...but, it is a lot of fun, and a great artistic outlet. I'm sure that once you get a chance to hear some of the things I'm creating you will enjoy it.I'll even send out a free mp3 of a track from the album if you join my email list. You can do so by visiting my website, or emailing me.
Check http://www.donohoemusic.com/ for my email or to add yourself to the list.

Regions/styles I'm looking for:ScandinaviaI heard the song "Finlandia" on Mike Moore's new movie and realized something: I know next to nothing about the traditional and folk music from this area! Are you from Scandinavia? Do you know about the music? Play it? if so, please write in and let me know what songs I should be listening to, what are your native instruments, who are some of the greatest musicians in this region? Any info is always appreciated! Thank you :)

Region/Topic that I can share: Cipher NotationPeople have asked me about the "Chinese" notation from my days with New Moon Orchestra as the conductor. This notation isn't only attributed to the Chinese but is found in several other countries as well.What this notation is, is the writing of numbers instead of notes. The numbers are the scale degree's which range from 1-7. There are dots that appear above or below the note to tell you whether the note is high or low. There is a bit more to it, but that is the basic info.

Songs that I adore: Tico TicoI love playing this song. This is a happy, fun, bright piece of music. if you are in a bad mood you should listen to this. It is near impossible to listen to this song and not smile. Playing it is even better. If you are an instrumentalist, get a copy of this music and play it. Add it to your repertoire, you will not regret it!As always, thanks for reading! If you ever want to contact me you can always visit http://www.donohoemusic.com/.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Taking the first step

Colin O'Donohoe
Pangea

My previous experience conducting New Moon Orchestra has inspired me to move forward and begin the next project. The reasons for this and the following blogs is to find
great songs, players, suggestions, comments as to how best to form this group. The music that we'll be performing are pieces from all over the world.

I will begin blogging today, and every week up to and through our opening performance. Some. Some songs we will likely perform:

El Carretero
Tell me ma
Carrickfergus
Fields of Athenry
She moved through the fair
My funny valentine
Mama said knock you out
Sai Mah
Oyle Sarhos olsum kii
A mi Manera
Shenandoah
Sally Goodin
60 tons
No woman no cry
Finlandia
and so many more from so many other countries.



Region of the week that I want to learn about:
Countries -
Iraq,Iran, Afghanistan
I don't know much about the repetoir from Iran, Iraq, or Afghanistan. Do you? Do you have music from that area? If so, please feel free to leave some comments and educate me and the readers about this music.


Topic of the week I can share with you
Doumbek/Darbuka
I attended a wonderful music convention last week "TAXI Road Rally" and played my doumbek for many people. I was surprised that a lot of the attendees hadn't seen the instrument before. I had a wonderful time playing at some open mic and jam sessions throughout the days of the convention.
The doumbek and darbuka are the same thing. There are multiple names for this instrument as it has traveled from the Middle East through North Africa. I'm actually not 100% sure if it originated in North Africa and traveled East, or if it began in the East and travel south west. I need some of you ethnomusicologists out there to set me straight on that.
What I love about the instrument and that you might as well, is that it is like a portable drum set. You have the bass drum, snare drum, and filler hi hat type sounds all in one small compact unit. To think this came out several thousand years before the iphone! Those musicians must have really been on to something. It had to be compact because the musicians were vagrants/Gypsies/Nomads. Music was an important part of the culture, but they traveled by foot, horseback, and needed something that they could bring with them easily.

A few things that may confuse you about the instrument when you see it:
Some people play it sideways, others put the drum between their leg.
Some Doumbeks are metal, others are clay.

In America i really think it is personal preference. I have seen Turks play it sideways, I've seen North Africans play it vertically. It has a lot to do with what country you are from and what the common traditional teaching is in that country. As the instrument moved around different people adapted different techniques to its performance.
You work with what you have. I remember the great and wise Donald Rumsfeld saying "you don't go to war with the army you want, you go with the one you have" :) Now for those of you offended or afraid that this might have hurt the morale of the troops, it is okay. I've seen his car and he has a yellow ribbon on the back. Consider the troops supported...

Anyway, my point being that if you are in an area that is wooded, your drums will be made out of wood. If you live without trees then clay might be the only option....

If you raise goats, your drum will be goat skin, raise cows? Than you'll have calf skin. What is use to make a doumbek doesn't make it a different instrument. It will drastically change the sound and weight of the instrument, but not the name.


Songs I adore: Carrickfergus

Every blog will include me talking about at least one song that I just love. For my first blog I'll talk about the Irish ballad Carrickfergus. I especially love these recordings
Paddy reilly Paddy Reilly Live
Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem - Reunion
Van Morrison and the Chieftains Irish Heartbeat

My fondest memory of this song is hearing my brother sing along with it the evening before I was to move away. I remember him singing "I'm drunk today.... and rarely sober" He was just messing around and we had a few beers in us. I loved the passion he had for the lyrics. It made me reexamine the words again.
The lyrics are pretty damn good.
It is about a lost love and father time taking us only after first turning us old. While the song title itself is about a specific town in Ireland, the words are universal. This song could easily be sung about Wichita Kansas, Bursa Turkey, or Faluja Iraq. The words are so true and so great. If you haven't heard the song, you need to. The melody will stay with you, and if you're a musician you'll quickly find yourself playing it on your instrument.

If you want the lyrics I'll be happy to email them to you. Just email me at wmenyc@gmail.com, I will add you to my email list and the lyrics will be yours. I'll be assembling a great newsletter with pictures of instruments from around the world as well as more song suggestions, funny stories and some inside info. Occasionally we'll also be able to send out some free mp3's to our mailing list.

Thank you for reading,
Colin