Topic: Mairead nesbitt

[beeswing]

still nobody has explained how miming an acoustic instrument actually works... :-(

Not a clue have I, but if asked, I'd guess a well-soaped bow would work.

[beeswing]

... Hey, she even holds the bow far up the stick ... and does a fair amount of cornering, too, tho that is probably due to all the excess upper body movement.

Mr. Jim, would you mind explaining a bit about "cornering?"

[Worldfiddler]

Mr. Jim, would you mind explaining a bit about "cornering?"

"Cornering" is just striking the corners of the fiddle body with the moving bow - you know those two big chunks cut out of a normal fiddle during manufacture so you can play the low G and high E without bowing the fiddle itself? Well, some choose to hit the corners, either through poor technique or over-excitement. I think in her case it's all the upper body movement which is throwing the bow corner-sides.

Normal bows get shredded pretty quickly this way - John Boden, the English folk player, even managed to shred some hairs on an Incredibow (by cornering).

Why do they do it? Either poor technique, over-excitement, excess body movement, or the "it's cool" factor, or couldn't care anyway, or any or all five of these

Mr Jim

[beeswing]

Ah, cheers. I thought it might have had to do with the pointy parts of the fiddle, which I sometimes brush with a knuckle or fingertip. Now that I know how cool it is, I'll be sure to do more of it, specially when the grrls are watching.

[Worldfiddler]

Ah, cheers. I thought it might have had to do with the pointy parts of the fiddle, which I sometimes brush with a knuckle or fingertip. Now that I know how cool it is, I'll be sure to do more of it, specially when the grrls are watching.

No problem. Just remember to keep your tongue in.

Mr Jim

[An Rogaire Dubh]

"Cornering" is just striking the corners of the fiddle body with the moving bow - you know those two big chunks cut out of a normal fiddle during manufacture so you can play the low G and high E without bowing the fiddle itself?

Hi Jim,

I'm puzzled. I call the bits that are cut out so you can play the "c-bouts" or the "waist". The corners are at each end of the c-bouts.

         
                           .
                             .
                                . corner
                             .
                            /
                           | c-bout
                            \
                                . corner
                               /
                              .

You seem to be implying that hitting the corner with the moving bow is typical of traditional playing, which I don't understand, and you also seem to imply that somebody might think it is "cool", which I don't understand either.

Can you clarify?

[Worldfiddler]

You seem to be implying that hitting the corner with the moving bow is typical of traditional playing, which I don't understand, and you also seem to imply that somebody might think it is "cool", which I don't understand either.

Can you clarify?

"Cornering" is just a general term I used, where they hit the wood, either the corners or the bouts / waist. I don't think that's associated with trad playing at all. What I'm talking about is the player who is playing a gig, doing fast, furious, wild and showy bowing, hitting the wood in the process ... general violin "shredding", if you like. That's what I mean by the player thinking it's "cool" to shed / shred, esp when being cheered by an enthusiatic audience. I've seen it done. I'm not impressed! Hope that clears things up

Jim

[beeswing]

Mister Jim knows that my tongue is often in my cheek. By telling me to keep it there, he makes it look like he is the boss of me, but I don't mind. He has redeeming fiddlistic value, and in great measure.

__ straight-faced Willie

[madmat]

You seem to be implying that hitting the corner with the moving bow is typical of traditional playing, which I don't understand, and you also seem to imply that somebody might think it is "cool", which I don't understand either.

It implies to me that the player is out of control... trying to keep dancing, playing, and preventing a big strapless gown "wardrobe malfunction" from occurring simultaneously.

Perhaps double-sided sticky tape would help.

[beeswing]

Perhaps double-sided sticky tape would help.

Ahh it feels good to be right on topic. Mat, what makes you think the doublestick tape isn't already in place? If you see something I am missing, please point it out, with links and cue timings. In matters of form, careful study is never wasted.

[madmat]

In matters of form, careful study is never wasted.

Quite!

[Vitarman]

Quite!

hmm, nice fiddle!

[Worldfiddler]

hmm, nice fiddle!

Evidently it's a new model made entirely from shiny black case-hardened PVC, with a pre-rosined fingerboard.

Not sure about the clump stitching on her wig, tho ......

Jim

[ainefidileir]

well it's refreshing to find some sane people discussing this topic!
I made the grave mistake of trying to *politely* point out on YouTube that this is a total fake.
That being said, I'm giving Miss Nesbitt the benefit of the doubt and saying she's probably playing to a track of herself (although at this point it wouldn't surprise me if it's not).

To chime in a few other statements / questions on this topic:
Personally, I do not begrudge anyone for having a successful act. The reason I get so irritated by people who have the nerve to pull rubbish like FiddleSyncing is that it causes multiple problems for legitimate players / performers. Mainly that your average citizen will go see rubbish like this or LOTD, etc., be fully razzle dazzled by the lights and glitter and whatnot, and then come down to the local pub and come up to us musicians and say "oh that was great but can you do like that awesome Celtic Woman lady?"
etc., etc.
And for me, it's not just a personal issue, it's the fact that artists like Ashley MacIsaac or Natalie MacMaster or Andrea Beaton or Alasdair Fraser (the list goes on) are still in small venues while this so called "Celtic" rubbish is selling out the arenas... and the above mentioned could outfiddle Mairead freakin' Nesbitt any day of the week.

I guess at the end of the day I've just written it off as Pop Music and nothing more.
I just want people to KNOW that it is in fact all a sham.

As far as the dancing fiddlers, there are plenty out there... but why do fiddlers have to dance to get noticed? Isn't it about the music?
Next time some random, uneducated person brings up Celtic Woman and all this other rubbish, especially if it's at one of your gigs, make sure they know the scoop.

[madmat]

I made the grave mistake of trying to *politely* point out on YouTube that this is a total fake.

Oh, that's nothing. Try pointing out to a WWE fanatic painted up like the Ultimate Warrior that if the wrestling there isn't *fake*, it's a least *staged*...

... and never, NEVER do this during a televised NASCAR race...

[ainefidileir]

Madmat, now THAT is a frightening prospect!

Some people get as rabid about LOTD as WWF fans do about their silliness!

Oh and I would like to ask all of you on this discussion - why the interesting use of the term "Celtic?"

I have always taken Celtic Music to encompass the style as a whole - Irish, Scottish, Cape Breton and all. Partially this comes from the use of the term Celtic by John Allan Cameron. And frankly I find it insulting when everyone is lumped into the category of "Irish" music. Much the same as I wouldn't think it fair to go up to an Irish fiddler and tell them that was some really great Scottish music!
I personally have been trying to propagate the use of the all-encompassing term of "Celtic" just to keep things on an even playing field.
The way I see it, we're all family and there's no need for one of the rogue cousins to run around taking credit for everything, if you get my drift 

[shimmy]

Here is another stunt thing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtkRlRISwSE

Call this playing or not, that's not of my concern.

[Vitarman]

That's Shenzo Gregorio aka Shenton Gregory from Brisbane.  That is only one aspect of his playing.  I saw him a couple of years ago with all Jigged Out and he is one brilliant player.  He also plays with Aussie band "fourplay".

[bwzuk]

I personally have been trying to propagate the use of the all-encompassing term of "Celtic" just to keep things on an even playing field.

Celtic is an awful and meaningless term when applied to music and has been discussed (and derided) lots of times on these forums over the years. I wouldn't advise using it myself.

[Vitarman]

Well I'm off to the National Celtic Festival in Portarlington Victoria next month.even be too trad either, MTP, there's a lot of drum kits and Marshall stacks !!  Actually one thing I haven't really seen is E violins, they have always been acoustic violins with pickups or mikes.  Anyone from Victoria or even further afield get yourself down here for the Queens birthday long weekend!  We started off s few years back with my wife and son, this year we had to rent a huge house for 12 people!