Grey Eagle - Mark O'Connor

[mefoolonhill]

I was born near Grey Eagle, MN. So there.

[Ullarobinlilly]

Mark is brilliant!

[HillbillyJ]

Simply outstanding!

[jncwhitten]

cant hold a flam to that....

[LinearCarp1209]

This guy is like my violin hero.

[fiddlinbaldmother]

@LinearCarp1209 I think mine too! any tips as to what to get first?

[fiddlinbaldmother]

@LinearCarp1209 I think mine too! any tips as to what to get first?

[Mugsie17]

@fiddlinbaldmother a violin and a bunch of money, good luck!

[teriumthethird]

FIDDLE-FAN: THIS GUYS IS AAAAWWWWWSSSSOOOOMMMMMEEEEEEE!­!!!!!!!!! i play the violin and this guy is inspiring!

[capitalismforme]

O'Connor is, absolutely, the only fiddler that can play a song - too fast - and get away with it because he never ceases his straight eighths.

[17Hongo]

rather than the traditional choice of mandolin the mandolin player is playing a cittern - a close cousin of the mandolin, but more characteristic of Greek music than Polish and Ukrainian. Saw one played with a Spanish fiddle band once - they do have a wonderful sound.

[finbarmaginn]

@17Hongo thats donal lunny playing the bouzouki,

he's held in high regarded in the irish traditional world

was in groups like the bothy band, planxty and moving hearts, worth checking out

[17Hongo]

@finbarmaginn actually saw him on the new series of the Transatlantic sessions - He's fantastic - did a great duet with Aly and Phil. My mistake over the instrument - a cittern and a bouzouki are very similar - a cittern actually has 10 strings rather than 8, the two are quite similar, although a bouzouki is more inclined toward chords than lead tunes; although you cant try telling Donal Lunny about that, I doubt you'll have much success!

[Hoosierfiddler]

Sending this to my student, who is playing this song for the Utah Old Time Fiddler's Contest and trying to win back his first place from his sister - they are 11 and 9. Wish Mark could teach them instead of me!!!

[wesmantodd1974]

I was lucky enough to shake one of Mark's amazing hands at the Walnut Valley Festival in 91' or so.

[Stradshack]

Pretty!

[papaskip]

mark learned a lot from benny thomason and the whole texas style. i'd say the tradition is in good hands...

[stevesprinceofsteaks]

Benny Thomason was The Man. Got to meet that little sucker one time and could not believe what he could do. And Mark has taken it to new heights.

[ElectricFrog1616]

DAYAMN!!!!!!!!!

[yankeeG]

I wish Mark still played the guitar...

[xms32]

He quit because he was starting to suffer from carpal tunnel and he couldn't make the stretches without risking his entire career. The guitar is hard on the wrist.

[phriendlyphool]

wish he still played more bluegrass...

[Hoosierfiddler]

@yankeeG

I thought he still did! He does so many amazing recordings it is hard to keep up with them. His son just graduated from Harvard - check his website. 

[sizefam4]

Don't you feel good after listening to that?

[horseman9976]

have any of yall heard of J.B.Prince?, he won the world championship sometime around the 1970,... i take fiddle lessons from him, i like his version alot better, its the version i play, not bad though

[donnyaldridge]

I have heard a lot about him. I live in NC. Where is he now?

[Hoosierfiddler]

@donnyaldridge

NEW YORK CITY!!

[xms32]

You should like JB's version better for a couple of reasons. He's your teacher and his version is allot easier than Mark's.

[elmar9]

horseman :keep things in perspective. I saw JB Prince several times when he was with the Bluegrass Cardinals. Good fiddler. But if you are saying he is in the same league as Mark O'Connor......definately not.

[fiddlenut24]

he's too damn good!

[evolve749]

The only thing I dislike about this is its length. It's too short.

[hersieco]

still all alone at the top with no one in sight. The most impressive fiddle player I've ever listened to and one of the greatest musicians I've ever heard. long live Mark O'Conner.

[fiddlyoleben]

impressive.most impressive.wish i could play like that.not fair.lol.

[lionflight]

this is a comment from my bros. knuklescrape: he's the best ever!

[trawickjtt]

how bout russ barenberg's accompaniment?! lol!

[wesmantodd1974]

did you see that smile of satisfaction at the end????

[trawickjtt]

mark o'conner rocks!!!

[mjaricky]

fantastic !!!! thanks for putting this up ...

[pennycarrol]

your video are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks!