As Irish rhythm accompanists, how can we cultivate relationships with accomplished melody players?
Finding strong Irish Traditional melody players to accompany is fundamental to a bodhrán player’s development. So how do we find those melody players, and how do we maintain and develop our musical relationships with them?
Dain Forsythe, Randal Bays, and Paddy League. Zoukfest at the Outpost, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2011.
Needs No Percussion?
I’m unsure of who to credit for the statement, “the tunes are enough and need no additional rhythm,” and that’s likely a paraphrase in spite of the quotes. In the hands of a fine player, we hear the truth in that. Sure, the bodhrán solo piece is always a hit and plenty of fun, . . though we’re not playing the tunes. And yet our roles are so much more than mere timekeeping.
Even socially, we hear the melody players chatting about tunes and their subtle differences and similarities, the building of sets according to key changes and modal nuances, the possible melodic variations, etc. And while many bodhrán players also play melody and chordal accompaniment instruments, in my experience the larger share of us only play the bodhrán.
So - that leaves us dependent. Yeah. I said it - we’re dependent on finding a melody player or players to accompany. And as our fine drum becomes more and more popular, we also find we need to share those melody players with others. Sometimes it can get awkward - objectifying those choice melodists, though generally, it’s all easily worked out, and a session is not all about playing. There’s the chat and pint to take up the time pleasantly, as it should be.
Finding That Melodist
But if a bodhrán player finds themselves wanting a bit more than a session? Not necessarily a staged official band or duet or ensemble per se, but just a dedicated tune player; a melodist who will only have you along on the bodhrán, so as to ensure you really know the meanderings of alternative settings and variations that tune player enjoys perambulating around in. If you can find a solid tune mate, sister, or brother, you can count yourself quite fortunate.
Although, it demands a keener and higher level of listening on your part and forces you to develop a better ear for the melodies themselves, individually. You have to catch those variations and support them and oft-times anticipate when to stay the heck out of the way, too!
The author, Roger Landes, and Will Duty. Two Fools Tavern, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 2010.
Cultivating the Relationship
So, first, work up the skills. Ensure your rudiments are strong and you understand the tune patterns, transitions, and combinations. Get out there and listen as closely as you can. Ask the questions you need answers to, regardless of how silly or basic you may feel they are. Pick up a whistle, dust off that guitar, sit down to that piano or keyboard and learn a tune or two. Because in the end, you could actually be playing the tunes on this fine lovely drum.
Second, get onto some lessons from a master. You can ask all those questions from a strong bodhrán teacher, and pick up the understandings and clarifications on what you’re hearing and playing and how it fits together. Have your questions ready before the lesson.
But, third, listen to those tunes. Learn those tunes. Because if you know the tunes, you get to dance around them, tip toe to the sides, drop that low end in on the second or third b-part as a foreshadowing of the key drop in the next tune. Why - if that’s your cup of tea, then you’re actually playing the tune. And that’s what’s freakin’ fun. And that’s what melodists want.
Honestly, that’s what we all want.
Dain Forsythe and Russell Hopper, Safari Cup, Birmingham, Alabama, 2005.
So how do we do this? It’s a social music. Four, give it time. Move on the suggestions above, and work your skills and play out in your local sessions as much as you can. Work on drills and patterns, and listen, listen, listen to the trad.
Five, listen to hear the changes, the patterns, the cycles, and seek to feel when the tunes are about to change. It needs to become intuitive. Deep exposure, immersion, and daily listening really is the shortest and most effective route.
This takes time. So, begin now. Get started and start discussions about your favorite players, ensembles, and trad bands. Watch and listen to the trad shows in the archives and TG4. Read the liner notes to all your trad CDs. Read about the history of this grand tradition. Get to know who were and are the pioneers of the bodhrán. Who are the grandfathers and grandmothers of the music? This is a welcoming tradition, so be polite, but throw out the fear and ask your questions.
So, the tunes don’t need our beloved drum? - Like salmon and greens don’t need wine.