An Aimsir

An Aimsir is the Gaeilge[Irish] for The Weather
and An Aimsir is pronounced as 'Onn Aymmsher'
and The Weather We are experiancing at prescent
is a Wellcome Distraction from 'Other Topics'

Yes Indeed The Weather in Ireland

is a source of Endless Fascination

because It is Often so Unpredictable

For Example at Prescent
We are Experiancing Very Heavey Snowfall
and for Us that is an Unusual Occurance

Spreagadh ....

Spreagadh is a word in Irish
that usually is understood
in conversation as translating
in English as 'Encouragement'

- and the reoson I choose this Word
as the 'opener'or 'starter' for this posting
is because recently I have come upon Items
of Information that give me Encouragement

Awhile Ago I was reading in a newspaper
an Interview where John Sheehan
[the Fiddle Player in 'The Dubliners']
described how his Famous Very Popular Melody
'The Marino Waltz' came about and
as I read about what He spoke off
I Recognised and Agreed with what
He was describing:- He spoke off
The Music having an Independant Life of It's Own
and that He was just Lucky and Fortunate to become Aware of It
- also He described ....[to be continued ...]

- I am running out of Time I will return to
this posting some other time [oppurtunity permitting]

[friday 5th ...a continuation of this posting ...]

- also He described how speedily and quickly
the Melody for 'The Marino Waltz'came to Him
literaly within about 3 minuits !!!! and
I can Recognise and Relate to that experiance
because frequently that is How
the Music literally takes me
Pleasantly by Surprise !!!!

Often there is
absolutely No Effort involved
Often It happens when I am
invariably Doing Activities
completely Unconnnected
to Matters Musical
- Yet I have Noticed
that the Very Best Music
Usually 'Comes' or becomes Apparent
Often when my Attention is Focused
on Matters that involve
Practical Physical Activity
Either Indoors or Outdoors !!!!

Ar an Am seo ....

Ar an Am seo
céard é an scéal
leis an Cheoil
agus freisin leis mó Shaól ????

Am éiginn eile
nuair a bhuil an Déis agam
Tiocfaidh mé ar áis go dti an abhair seo

'Ar an Am seo'='At this Time now'

['Am' is Gaelge/Irish for 'Time']
[[-and it is prounounced 'OM']]

Now I could create a new post for Today
for after all today(as I type merrily away)
is actually friday 8th and certainly I did
contemplate the creation of a new posting
either titled 'Inné agus Inniú'='Yesterday and Today'
or even I was contemplating 'Fadó Fadó'!='A Long Long Time Ago'!
[- Fadó Fadó is how Storytellers would commence their very Long
[sometimes lasting days in the 'Telling] Epic Tales of Old Ireland

- Yet the Truth of the matter Today
is that I only have about 17 minuits computer time left
so it is unlikely that there could ever be 'Fadó Fadó Inniú
[ - i have just realised that is a contradiction
in 'fadó fadó inniú'= 'a long time ago today!- "Yikes"!!
{'Yikes' is just a meaningless Exclamation that I figer is justified
considering my 'faux-pas' of 'a long long time ago today'

-11 minuits computer time left
and I haven't really said very much - Have I ????

On the way here Today:-
I happened to notice a tall Woman wearing green muddy 'wellies'
[those are rubber water proof wellinngton boots]walking bye
'Wellies' are a frequent sight out in Rural areas
- Yet a Very Rare sight in the City and especially on a Woman
Anyway I was so delighted and pleased at what She was wearing
I felt obliged to pay Her a Compliement

Tá siad Imithe ....

Tá na 4 phódcraolacha Imithé

The 4 Podcasts are Gone

The Podcast Host [-'mypodcast.com'-]
were continously pressurising me to
frequently upload new podcasts

and That is Unacceptable from my pont of view
also I am concerned about Issues of Copyright

Over the Years I have accumulated
100's literally 100's of Airs and
Melodies and Tunes and of course
I am Delighted to Share the Music

However the Question arises
when One avails off and utilises
the option and oppurtunity of
a 'Free'(-????)Internet Host

-Does one Relinquise Ownership and Copyright ????

Frequently and Reguarily I pick up
Music out of the Ether so to speak
and of course I have the Urge to Share
this Music with Other People

The Motivation is Nothing
to do with money or financial gain

Rather the Motivation to Share
is out of Love and Enjoyment of Music !!!!

An Fómhair

Is é an am seo don bhlian An Fómhair
Tá dathanna na Duileoga ag athrú gach lá

'An Fómhair' is Irish/Gaeilge for 'Autumn'
An Fómhair is pronounced: 'Onn Voe-Air'

The leaves are changing colure
There are red rowan berries
Plenty of blackberries
and apples and chestnuts appearing

Yes Autumn is a Beautifull Time of Year !!!!

On a Funny
Yet True Note:-

Apparently
here in Ireland
We have a 'Howya-Festival'
Yes It is True !!!!

-I read about it the other day
and I 'googled it Today

Yes It True
We Do have a
'Howya Festival'
here in Ireland !!!!

Aon Rud Eile ????

In a previous posting I spoke of Oppurtunity and Oppurtunities
[Déis(pronounced 'Deshhhh')and Déiseanna(pr.'Deshhannah')are the
Gaeilge/Irish for Oppurtunity and Oppurtunities] and in the
previous posting I wrote about the Unexepected in Life and my
unexpected/unpredicted access to the Internet Today is an example
of Oppurtunity presenting Itself Once again - So for what it is
Worth? - In the 31 minuits computer time left I Shall Do my Best!

Usually when I am away from the Blog I often contemplate and
speculate about various topics that I could write about yet
more often than not what happens is that my Plans and Intentions
disapate and disappear like Mist that once clothed a Mountain clears
away when the either the Sun comes up or the Wind blows it away.

[As I am Typing away there are some young Traveller Children talking
inches from where I am sitting at the computer - They are Good Kids
and They have a Right to be here as much as I or Anybody Else - They
are Lively and Full of Life and Fun as All other Kids often are - Yet
it is very Distracting and Difficult to Focus on what I intended to
talk about:The Connection I felt when Performing and Playing Music
recently in front of a large live appreciative Audiance

- Often I like to listen to the
Irish Language radio station 'Ráidio ná Gaeltachtá'
and frequently they Often Play Really Good Varied Types of Music

Recently I heard a really beautifull Air/Melody
[titled:-'A Midwinter's Waltz' from The Boy's of the Lough]
and I played It on one of my whistles on the trip up to Mayo
and the Responce was Positive !!!!

- I have Only 7 minuits left on the computer Today

The Travellers are an Ethnic/Cultural group of Irish People
who are Outside the mainstream of Irish Society
Many outstanding Muscitions in Irish Traditional Music have
come out of the Travelling Community especially Uilleann Pipers eg:
Johhny Doran,Paddy Keenan,Finbarr Furey

The Irish Travellers have a Name for Themselves
They call Themselves:- The Pavee People
It is Really Worth looking up The Irish Travellers on Wikipedia
- the Information in that 'Wiki' is Detailed and Fascinating

There are many Songs about the Travellers
and 'The Travelling People'by Ewan MacColl
is probebly the most Well Known - The Words
and The Melody to this Song are Worth a Listen !!!!

There is a Film/Movie :- "Into the West"
that portrays Traveller Life as It Once may have been
It is a Very Enjoyable Movie suitable for All Ages

As Gaeilge(-in Irish) The Irish Travellers
are called'An Lucht Siúil'[pronounced 'Onn Lucht Shuual']
and it translates as 'The Walking People'

There are Travellers other than the Traditional Irish Travellers
- in fact some are very accompished long distance walkers
for example Dermot Somers from Ireland who has walked across
the Sahara and walked across Siberia
and also climbed many a Mountain including Mt.Everest
and of course Sir Ranulf Fiennes the famous explorer from Britain
who also has walked many a mile across Both the Artic and
Antartica and He too has climbed many a Mountain in his Time

In Lismore in County Waterford in Ireland
there is an Annual Travel Writers Festival
A Young[in his 30's] Irish Travel Writer
Worth checking out is Manchán Magan
He has Traveled All over the World.
and of course I must mention Dervla Murphy
an Irish Woman who has writen Many a Book about
Her often unusual Travels in exotic environments
She is now in her 80's and has been Travelling
for well on 40 Years and is still going strong
There is a Wikiepedia about Her and also there is
a Wikiepedia about Sir Ranulph Fiennes who this year
attended IMMRAMA The Lismore Travel Writers Festival


I Really Enjoy Good Travel Writing !!!!


On 'RnaG' recently I heard 'Sophie and Fiachra'
They are on the Internet and are Worth a Listen !!!!

[p.s. Sophie and Fiachra are Not Irish Travellers
Sophie is French Canadian and Fiachra is Irish
and together They play Really Good Music !!!!
and Yes They certainly are Worth a Listen !!!!]


Now I Do Not Know
When I Will Next Get Internet Access ????

It Might Be Weeks Away ????
Until than Slán agus Beannacht !!!!

Áimsir Bhreá ....

Tá an Áimsir go h-anna Bhreá Inniú
agus Is é sin mar atá an Áimsir le
cupla seachtaine anois - seachas Innié
nuair a raibh Baisteach Tróm

This will be a very rushed posting
because I only have 18 minuits access
to the Internet

Good News re: the 4 Podcasts = They are Accessable !!!!

[It must have been some sort of technical 'Glitch'
that caused difficulty accessing them 2-3 weeks ago]

Scince I lasted posted on this blog there has been Plenty
of Unexpected Events and Activities e.g.Travel in Co.Mayo
Playing Music to an Appreciative Audiance and Swiming
in the Atlantic Ocean and also as Always Composing Music !!!!

Often The Unexpected is a frequent occurance in Life
for example I figered that my access to the Internet
was Over for Today and maybe? even Over for the next
2-3 weeks?- Yet a few Moments ago I was walking past
an Unattended Computer with 20 minuits access left!
So oppurtunity presents Itself for a few more words!

Out in the Country People Often Assist Each Other
and in Ireland there is a Tradition known as Méitheal
[pronounced 'Mehhill'] and last week I found myself
Doing an Activity that is Traditional and Commonplace
in Conamara - I was Out on the Bog doing a Méitheal and
Yes it came about in a totally Unexpected Way as just
about Every Other Event that occured in the past few weeks

As for the Music ???? It is Continuous and Ongoing
There are Plenty of New Airs and Melodies Arriving
and I am Improving on my Piano/Keyboard Ability
of course I have yet to Learn how to play Chords

Usually I can Play an Air or Melody at the first attempt
and Sometimes I can come up with an Improvised Chord
Anyway I Really am Enjoying the Music
Either Playing my own Compositions
or Playing Airs and Melodies that I have heard Elsewhere

Ás Coitianthá agus Neamhghanách

Today I attempted to Access my 4 Podcasts
just to check are they still Accessable
to Anybody who wish's to Listen to the Music
and for whatever Technical reoson for which
I am unable to Explain ????
They are Not Accessable Today
- Maybe This will Only Be Tempory ????
Nonetheless I Apologise to Anybody
Who might be Unable to Listen to
what is on those Podcasts

It is more than likely that
I will be Away from this Blog for the Next 2-3 weeks
Thank You to Anybody who Visits this Blog
and I Apolgise if the Podcasts are Inaccessable

Ná h-Éalaiontá Chruthaitheachtá ....

Ná h-Éalaiontá Chruthaitheachtá ....
[pronounced:- 'Nahh Halliontha ChruaHeeachtha']
It is Gaeilge[The Irish Language]and in English
It translates as:-'The Creative Arts'

Between 2008 and 2009 I attended a very wide ranging Music course
whose core was devoted to Irish Traditional Music -Yet Other Areas
in the Creative Arts were introduced - It was very Multie-Dimensional
It was also So Very Intensive [-A Complete and Utter'Roller-Coaster']that I Could Write an Absolutely Outrageous Book about It All !!!!- There were So Many 'Ups and Downs' and 'Ins and Outs' and of course Plenty of 'Inbetweens'and 'Whatevers'
-Yet The Good is what I like to Remember and It is the Good that I am Most Gratefull For:-The Friendly Atmosphere - The Often Positive Responce to my Music Compositions
and the Times that I was allowed Access to The Grand Piano -These are Happy Memories

One Day Someone[who is very active in
Theatre,T.V.and the Performing Arts]
said 'As Gaeilge'[in Irish]to me in
a very 'matter of fact'Friendly Way:-
'Is Éalaiontóir Thú' [pronounced:-'Is AllionnTorr Who']
which in English translates as:- 'You are an Artist'

It took me by surprise and even 'Blew me away'
to hear myself described as an 'Artist'- Yet It is True
-I am a Creative Artist and the Creative Arts are Central to Who I am
-I have a background in Visual Art I am Very Interested in Writing
Yet Music is what I am Good at
and Music is what I am most Active in


However my computer time is running out ....

Déis agus Déiseanna

Oppurtunity and Oppurtunities

There is only 28 minuits left for
my allotted time at this computer
and it is an example of time whizzing bye
as I try to descide what to talk about

26 minuits to go:(- it is now 25!)
I had better say something or other
Access to the Internet is an Oppurtunity
Yet as I travelled here I was constantly
changing my choices about what I should talk about
Of course I should talk about what I am doing in Music
However I am running rapidly out of computer access time today
There are Noisey Distractions all about
totally trowing and disrupting my Concentration
as I endeavor to string a few token words together

Some Other Time ....

For Now .... Slán agus Beannacht

Ag Fóghlaim ....

Ar an am seo tá mé ag deanamh an iarracht
chun mé féin a mhunadh agus a fóghlaim
an Piano/Mearchlár a casadh agus a séinadh
Is é mó thuairim féin is Eachtra é

At this time I am making the effort
to teach myself and to learn how to
play and be more proficient on the Piano/Keyboards
It is my opinion that it is an Adventure !!!!

It is also an Opinion of mine that
more often than not that I frequently
am prone to clumsieness in how I endeavor
to articulate/describe and express myself in words


Anyway for what it is worth I feel obliged
to persevere in my clumsy endeavor at words
If Anybody actually reads this ????
First I wish to Apologise for getting bogged down
in silly longwinded 'beating about the bush'Nonscence

my origional intention was to write in detail
about what It has been like and what I have being
Exsperiancing and Learning as I Explore my new Instruement
the Piano/Keyboards that I purchased over a month ago

Unfortunately I am running out of computer time
and It could be 2 weeks ?? to a even a month ??
for when I Next have Access to the internet I am
Not fast at Typing and I only have 45 minuits Access

Life is Often an Adventure So Make the Best of It
and Have Fun and Enjoy It and Remember having a
Humourous Perspective is a True Blessing in Faciletating
an Understanding of It All - Life is an Adventure !!!!

cupla focal ....

Inne thainig mé isteach go Gaillimh
mó cead cuirt go Gaillimhe le 3 seachtaine

Yesterday I travelled to Galway
my first visit to Galway for 3 weeks

When I can find the oppurtunity
over the next few days I will briefly
write and describe about what I have
been up too in relation to Music

If perchance there are Any Readers of this blog ????
Please Be Aware that my Access to the Internet
is Exceptionaly Extremely Limited and Even More than Ever!

Recently an Internet Account that I have had
Unlimited Access too has Sadly been Withdrawn

Look for now I have to Rush
- Hopefully Tommorow
I Will Return and Write a Bit More
Until than Slán !!!!

Inniu ....Úirlise Nuá....

Inniu ceannach mé Úirlishe Nuá !!!!

Today I bought a New Musical Instruement
Ostensibly in appearance it looks akin to a Piano Keyboards
-Yet It is Also a Music Workstation as I discovered
as I came upon It's Many potential uses in the Playing of Music !!!!

- This New Instruement is going to Enchance and Improve
my Ability as a Muscition and also Assist me in Composing Music !!!!

Tá Chará Agam atá ....

Tá Chará Agam atá
gconaithe sa dTir eile....

I have a Friend who
is living in another country....

- about two days ago
I read her latest entry
in her blog wherein She
writes about feeling
unhappy and restless about
where She presently is living.
- It looks very likely that She
will be going Abroad once more.

I really haven't a clue is there Anything?
that I could say that could either Comfert or Assist Her
In Fact I Feel that Anything that I could say to Her
would Be completely Inadequate and Inappropiate

All I Feel that I can Do is to Pray
that All will Go Very Well for Her !!!!

Truely I Wish Her Very Well !!!!
and I also Wish Her Happieness !!!!

Ar an Abhair Gaeilge ....

Ba bhrea liom a rá cupla focal ar an
abhair le Gaeilge a úsaid sa Bhlóg seo

Aon Déis ar bith? - Ba bhfearr liom Gaeilge a úsaid !!!!

ach ar an am cheanna Tá a fhios agam
Nil an 'Gaeilge'atá mise ag dean an
iarracht a scriobh Gaeilge Cheart
Tá a fhios agam go minic agus de ghnath
bionn go leor dearmaide deanta agam leis an
iarracht ar'Gaeilge'scriobhta a rinne mé
agus Tá Naire agus Bhrón agam ar sin !!

Ach tá rudai eile nach bfhuil mise freagrairt leis
agus is é rudai beagnach Ath nó Aisteach leis an Riomhaire
agus is é:- Aon iarracht a deanann mé chun 'sionne fada'a chur
os cor an litir 'i' thagann an iarracht amach mar seo:-
tá 'á','ó','ú' agus 'é'ceart go leor ach tá faibh leis an litir 'i'

Fighte Fuaighte

In the Irish Language:- Gaeilge
there is a Wonderfull Word or Expression
which is 'Fighte Fuaighte'[also spelt 'Fite Fuaite']
(- and it is pronounced "- Fitchahh-Fuahhchahh!")

an approximate translation in English is:"Interwoven"

and Yes Fighte Fuaighte is how I have experianced
the Way the Irish Language and Music
are Interwoven throughout All the Years !!!!

- Anything Else ????

Well Two days ago I attended a Meeting in Galway
to discuss the setting up of a Sustainable Community

- I am Very Interested in Organic Farming and Permaculture
and I Figer Working in a Community is the Way to Do It !!!!

- At the Moment the Small Group that I Met
are still Only in the Talking Planing Mode
and as of Yet are a Long Way from getting Started
Still It is a Good Sign that People are Eager and Enthusiastic !!!!

- As for the Music ???? and the Composing of Music ????

- It is Constantly Ongoing - and I am Really Very Happy about It !!!!

Fonn Eile

Seo é Fonn[nó Siansa] Eile
Tá an Fonn Seo Fós 'Gán Anaim'


- here is another Air or Melody
- this Melody is 'without a name'
In Irish Traditional Music there is
Often many Airs titled 'Gán Ainm'

In this example there is what I refer too
as a 'Flip-Note':- i.e. where Two Notes
are conjoined[one played into the other]
In the 2nd part of the Melody it is "5-6",
- Also there is a 'Half-Note':- *Half4''
and on a Piano it would be played on an Ebony Key
- whereas on the whistle I Half Cover the Blow-Hole
or Finger-Hole[- by the way I have an Air
titiled 'The Half Note' in Honour of this Ackward 'Technique'

- Mar Sin Seo É Fonn Eile :-
---------------

CAUTION:
-Scince I Typed Out
the Notes Below -I have come to Realise
that there Are Inaccuracies and Mistakes
- Maybe It is some sort of
"Numerical Dyslexia" on my part ????
or Maybe It is because I was Rushing ????
- Anyway Scincere Apologies
to Anybody who might Attempt this Air

- 1, 4, 4, 5, 6,
- O, 4, 4, 5, 6,
- 1, 4, 4, 5, 6,
- O, 1, 4, 1, O, 1,

PLAY THE ABOVE PIECE TWICE
AND THAN FOLLOW ON WITH : -

- 7, 5-6, 7, 5-6, *5[-Long],
- *6[-L.], 5, 6, 5, *4[-L.],
- 5, 4, 5, 4, *Half4,
- 2, 1, 4, 1, O, 1,

It Probebly Will be?/Maybe? Sometime
in March Before I Next Do a Posting !!!!

Ar an Feadóg tá ....

Ar an Feadóg tá 6 Pól
chun Ceol a Seineadh
agus is as é sin atá
cuireadh le cheile
mó Coras fein chun
Ceol a Scriobh siós
ar Pháipear !!!!

On a Tinwhistle/Pennywhistle
usually there are 6 fingerholes
and out of that and out of necessity
I have come up with and developed
a very simple system and way
that allows me to write
on Paper the Music that
I am Composing and Playing !!!!

when I have more Time available
I will go into greater detail
describing how It works and also
I intend to give Examples !!!!

- As I said It is Very Simple:-

-for Every Note I Write a Number
and It commences from "O"[i.e.Zero]Upwards
- as for the Notes that correspond with
the Black/Ebony Notes[-that One encounters
on a Piano]? - I refer to them as:-'Half-Notes'

- Of course in Classic Music Theorey
there is the whole matter of
the Speed and the Rhythm of the Music
and the Emphasis to be placed on Each Note

and Yes I am Working on and Developing It !!!!

- What follows will be a few simple Examples
and when I get the time and oppurtunity? -
I will return to these Samples and 'Polish'
them up:- as in make them more Accurate !!!!

1)"Macalla Shenandoah/Echoe of Shenandoah"
{-the Opening Notes of this Air came to me
last year during the middle of a lecture on
the Music course.-I was quitely Humming these
Opening Notes over and over again to myself
rather than paying attention to the lecture
- and these Opening Notes made me Wonder ????
"Is this Air an Echoe of that Famous American
Melody'Shenandoah'?"-It certainly felt like it
- Yet this Air is totally differeNt to'Shenadoah'
and there is also a Very Scottish feel to It !!!!
- Usually I play this Air in the key of "C" when
I play it on the Whistle - Yet I often Actually
Like to Sing It - It is One of my Favourite Airs !!!!}

- " Macalla Shenandoah "
--------------------
3, 1, O, 1, 2, 3, 4[-long exhalation on 4],
3, 4, 5, O[-L.Ex.on O],-(Orn.-3, 5, O, 4, 3, 5,)

-Takes off:-
- 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 4, - 3, 4, 5, 7, 3, 5,
- 3, 4, 3, 1, - 3, 4, 5, 4,0,
- 2,3, 4, 5, 2[-L.Ex.on 2], 1, 3,
- 3, 1, O, 1, 2, 3, 4[-L.Ex on 4], 5, 4, 3,2,1,
-(-Finishing Echoe and Orn. 3, 5, 3, 2,)

Now this has been a very rushed depiction of
my 'D.I.Y' Music Notation and of course more
than likely I have typed in inaccuracies and
when the oppurtunity presents itself?- I will
return to this Posting and Correct Any Mistakes

-As for the Method/System ?
-The Numbers correspond to the Finger-Holes on Whistle
-The Lowest Note is "O" - The First Finger-Hole is "1"


Use Your Musical Intuition !!!!
-the assemblage of Notes will suggest the Rhythm
and the Emphasis required for Each Note !!!!




-

Ar an Am Seo ....

Ar an Am Seo Tá h-Athrú Mhór
ag Túsadh ar an Aimsir agus Anois
thar éis cupla seachtaine Lán le Sneachta
agus Fuacht - Tá an Aimsir mar Tús an t-Earrach !!!!

Is it 'Deas'????- or is it 'Teas'????

In Gaeilge[-the Ancient Language of Ireland]
the word 'Deas' means 'Nice'in English
and the word 'Teas' translates as 'Heat'
- yet when either of those two words
are pronounced by a speaker of Gaeilge?
- both sound convincingly like variations
of the world famous word 'Jazz' !!!!

- and Yes everybody is in agreement that Jazz Music
emerged out off the Music of the Afro-American Community
- yet there is a Theory that the actual word 'Jazz'
may inadvertantly have come from Gaeilge the Irish Language !!!!

- there were many Native Irish Speakers who emigrated
too and arrived in America with little or No English
and They did encounter and interact with Afro-Americans
and Yes it is Plausable that the word 'Jazz' comes from Gaeilge !!!!