captbanjo - Posted - 09/01/2017:  16:35:58

Here is a perky tune from great composer/harper, Turlough O'Carolan:

Wayne

Edited by - captbanjo on 09/02/2017 06:43:24

VIDEO: George Brabazon on Fingerstyle Irish Tenor Banjo
(click to view)

 

captbanjo - Posted - 09/01/2017:  16:37:46

Here's the actual music you may have heard behind my banjo.

youtube.com/watch?v=Y_pGlgV0iLg

And here's the version I learned it from, the inimitable Chieftains:

youtube.com/watch?v=yWZW_0J8-vo

robobanjo - Posted - 09/01/2017:  20:46:46

A beautiful tune it is.  Thanks Wayne.  Will try to learn it ... !

DSmoke - Posted - 09/02/2017:  03:38:52

Very nice Wayne, love the shirt!

captbanjo - Posted - 09/02/2017:  06:48:42

Thanks Dan. I chopped off my right hand (not literally) but I wanted to get a tune posted so I left it. The shirt was a gift from one of my daughters.

Wayne

LakeMonster - Posted - 09/03/2017:  08:44:16

Here's mine. Love some Carolan on Banjo!

George Barbazon

 

captbanjo - Posted - 09/03/2017:  09:14:09

Perfect Matt! I love how you took the harp similarities to the banjo and played full chords.

Wayne

ronh2510 - Posted - 09/14/2017:  08:05:40

Hi everyone. Here's my version of O'Carolan's George Brabazon. This is taken from my book 'O'Carolan For The 5 String Banjo' and comes complete with Tabs for 20 of his wonderful melodies and all played 'note for note' on the accompanying CD. The idea behind this book was to present O'Carolan in a more modern setting so you can play them at dances and band jams etc. O'Carolan tunes tend to be played rather slowly and in a very classical style so these arrangements are very different and rather more exciting than the usual settings you hear. All played with a full band accompaniment.
If anyone would like a copy of my book of O'Carolan tunes then it's available direct from me - $20 +$6 postage (Air Mail from the UK) drop me an email and I'll send it immediately.
I do believe captbanjo bought one and I think he liked it.
Best regards to all in Banjoland.
Ron H

George Brabazon (2nd Air)

 

captbanjo - Posted - 09/14/2017:  08:26:59

Ron plays five string banjo and I didn't need to listen to this. I already have; I bought his book and CD because I play five string banjo in addition to the Irish tenor.  

I highly recommend it if you like five string banjo and Irish music. His Carolan renditions are outstanding!

Wayne

robobanjo - Posted - 10/22/2017:  13:16:22

Here's my version [click here] ... those high B notes are a real stretch (still gotta work on 'em) and have improved my practice ...  

Edited by - robobanjo on 10/22/2017 13:16:43

captbanjo - Posted - 10/22/2017:  15:24:31

Nice going Rob! When you play this tune, when you walk down from the high G on the first string to the lower G on the fifth fret of the third string, try playing the open fourth string along with the fretted third string. This will give you two G notes an octave apart. This may feel awkward at first but you'll get used to it.

Wayne

robobanjo - Posted - 10/22/2017:  17:12:49

I will do that ... thanks Wayne.

Picking Dick - Posted - 10/29/2017:  09:05:23

Glad to hear O’Carolan on the banjo. I played many of them on my flutes and whistles. Speed is not one of my banjo forte’s, so I always like to hear some slower pieces.

Tom Hanway - Posted - 11/17/2017:  02:55:59

Here's a legato Celtic fingerstyle version of 'Planxty George Brabazon (Second Air)' from my 1998 trad collection, Complete Book of Irish & Celtic 5-String Banjo (Mel Bay Publications, Inc., used by permission). I have an almost identical version in 20 O'Carolan Irish Classics (2015), with notes on the tunes. 



Interestingly, in the definitive Donal O'Sullivan collection, Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Piper (Cork: Ossian Publications, 2001 edition), he notes: "This air makes its sole appearance in the section of Captain O'Neill's Music of Ireland (1903) devoted to Carolan's compositions.  As I have been able to trace whence he obtained it, I mark it as doubtful, but it resembles Carolan in style and it may well have been written by him." [O'Sullivan, p. 107, 228]



This is an auld Carolan tune that makes a lovely banjo tune, played harp-legato style, with notes blending into each other. The cláirseach (pronounced CLAR-shock), clàrsach (Scottish) or Gaelic harp was tuned diatonically and had metal wire for strings, usually made of brass, silver, gold or a silver-gold alloy!

Notice the darker muted tone of the banjo, which was achieved with a metal violin mute and a heavy walnut bridge - an 11/16th Sampson, standard spaced, which I use on my SwallowTail for certain recording projects. 



Backing on nylon-string guitar is Gabriel Donohue, from Athenry, Co. Galway. Gabe performed in the original Riverdance and has played with The Chieftains, Joanie Madden, Eileen Ivers as well as the Boston Pops Orchestra. The latter organization likes to transcribe (score) his guitar accompaniments, though he always makes them up as he goes. 



banjohangout.org/myhangout/med...archived=

Hope you enjoy!

Tom

awildman - Posted - 11/17/2017:  18:48:35

"Carolan: The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Piper"

O'Carolan also played the pipes?