“There’s something in this music that touches people and reaches into their hearts, into their souls.” – Joanie Madden of Cherish the Ladies and Pride of New York Listen and learn about gut-wrenching Irish music, Madden’s entrance on the music scene in New York and a little bit of flute history in this episode of the…
Pipes you play with your elbow
Three flutists — but no pipers — played at Gus O’Connor’s Pub in Doolin, Ireland when I spent an evening there in May. The food and music were great, as expected, in the small town known for its sessions and proximity to the perilously beautiful Cliffs of Moher (AKA the Cliffs of Insanity from “The Princess Bride”…
Make noise: Pipers podcast ep. 02
Playing the flute met two needs for Larry Riddle. It’s helped him manage his asthma and it helped him make some noise. Over the years, Riddle has built up an instrument collection more than 20 Native American flutes strong. He doesn’t ever perform publicly, but some nights he plays into the evening off his back porch. “Sometimes you just…
Irish flute 101 with Norah Rendell
Celtic music does something for me which I struggle to articulate. The draw for Norah Rendell was the tradition’s rhythmic, dance quality, its social nature and its aural history. You play by listening, not by reading. She’s the executive director of The Center for Irish Music in St. Paul, Minnesota and a lovely singer and player of…
‘My soul connected’: Pipers’ Podcast, ep. 1
I am beyond delighted to finally share this post with you. This podcast has been on my mind for well over a year, when I met the facinating and kind Travoi Two Bears Tuttle at a library in central Wisconsin in fall 2014. He plays a load of instruments and has a range of…
‘The song of the flute, O sister, is madness’
The sound of the flute, O sister, is madness. I thought that nothing that was not God could hold me, But hearing that sound, I lose mind and body, My heart wholly caught in the net. O flute, what were your vows, what is your practice? What power sits by your side? Even Mira’s Lord…
Flute made goddess’ face ugly
The goddess Athena discarded and cursed her flute after discovering her face distorted while playing. Then a poor schmuck – a Satyr named Marsyas – found the discarded instrument, learned to make beautiful music, and wound up dead after challenging Apollo to a play-off. I love Greek mythology, full of egos and drama. And my spouse studied classical archeology. We have…
Let’s start with the Pied Piper (and end with dance mania)
In the 1200s a vengeful flute player allegedly lured away the children of Hamelin, Germany. The piper came to Hamelin when it was over-run with rats and struck a deal with the community leaders to get rid of the pests. He dressed in garish clothes (“pied” means multi-colored) and brandished a magical flute. Here’s how Robert Browning describes the…
Lore of Pipers 