Today we will piece all the components together and take a look at how they coalesce to make the East Galway Irish Music Tradition (EGIMT) sound.
The over-arching features that define the style are the dark / lonesome sound and the use of variations. Variations can be broken down further to how the variations are used and the different types of variations that can be employed.
Dark / Lonesome sound
Many of the EGIMT tunes are in the key of D minor (F major) and this already gives them that almost forlorn intonation. Tunes can also be in B minor or E minor which again brings that modal sound.
The double-stops on the notes D and G also serve to make those really ring out and accentuate a tune that is already predisposed to the darker musical expression.
And lastly the bowing technique. The long undulating bow-strokes with the easing off of the pressure at times throughout the tune brings a richer and duskier feel to the music.
Variations
We said that ornamentation consisted of triplets, cuts, grace-notes, rolls and double-stops and that each of these can be executed in smooth or choppier ways. Contrasting a choppy triplet with a smooth roll is what makes that distinctive sound that we understand to be the EGIMT. It’s all about texture and what type of ornamentation is selected based on what has gone before and what will come after.
And then you vary it the second, third and fourth time around. You never play it the same way twice in a row.
Eddie would always give that mischievous smile when it came to the placement of an artful variation. He would say when the listener first hears it, they perk up and are compelled with how lovely it is. Then they are waiting for it to happen again the next time around. But it doesn’t! Nor does it occur the third time!. And when the listener has finally given up and looks for it no more, you play it again! Such was the playfulness and devilment in Eddies mind, and I loved it…:)
Over the last few years since both albums were released (The Lonesome Fiddler and Searbh Siúcra) I have connected with different musicians from the East Galway area and I love hearing their stories. It reminds me of daddy and Eddie and how they would sit and talk about the music and light up with each thought or idea about the music. Eddie would tease out the notes as he taught them to me then they would gradually make sense to me and come to life in my fingers. Daddy’s face would light up at that moment and such a happiness abounded between the two of them . I miss those moments and I love being reminded of them.
I asked Frank Downey to tell me a little bit about how it was growing up in East Galway, knowing Eddie and loving the music as much as he did. Here’s what he had to say.
My name is Frank Downey, born in 1954 near the village of Eyrecourt in East Galway. For as long as I can remember music was a huge part of my life and at the age of five I played my first tune on an old hohner box. During lent any form of performing music in public was frowned on but on most Sunday evenings my late parents would organise a ‘few tunes’ and that gave me a chance to listen and learn.....my memory tells me that amongst those musicians were Eddie and Martin Kelly, Peter Meehan, Joe Hoary and Uncle Lar Kelly. I learned totally by ear and with the help of the musicians already mention and then as I got older meeting and playing music with people such as Paddy Carty, Tony Molloy and Mike McKeigue I was totally blessed.
The nights in O Meara’s in Killimor Co Galway will always hold special memories. There were many nights of amazing music and some of the best sets I have ever seen danced. I can still here their feet tapping out the reels and it was God help you if the music was played too fast.
Nowadays I teach guitar and accordion. In teaching the accordion I keep true to our local style but also allow my students to express themselves in the playing while keeping the music pure.
We’ll have more from Frank tomorrow.
If any other East Galway musician, singer, or EGIMT enthusiast would like to share stories of their time growing up in East Galway, please reach out to me as I would love to hear from you and share it on this EGIMT forum.
Listen to The Lonesome Fiddler Here
Listen to Searbh Siúcra Here