Tommy Peoples

[dwcoleman01]

He is really good. I could never get the ornamentation so I took up old time. I remember hearing Tommy at the Fleadh in 1977, I think it was at the Kings or Queen's Hotel and I arrived after the whole thing was over. I had just heard about Trad Irish.

Anyway, I love his fiddling but everyone has favorites and I like the soulful playing of Martin Hayes and of course being from Chicago, Liz Carroll is another favorite.

[dwaynedibbly]

i find his playing so boring like his persoanlity.

[PhysicsForTheFuture]

@dwaynedibbly It certainly isn't flashy like some of the guys in the touring bands, but it has an intensity and drive to it...again perhaps like his personality. I will go for this over Kevin Burke say. But all is cool.

[bobdylansblues]

@dwaynedibbly your not listening.



[memecine]

The first tune is "Silver Spire", the second is "Black Pat's", but I'm not sure it is his own composition; on his CD "The Quiet Glen (An Gleann Ciúin)", he plays it with "Bonny Kate", which is credited to him, but the credit for "Black Pat's" is 'Trad'. Lovely, brilliant music in any case. A wonderful fiddler, which he performed more in public.

[malek321]

@memecine That's weird because I know for a fact that Tommy composed Black Pats.

[deterdettol]

@malek321 @memecine Tommy Peoples did compose Black Pats.

The second tune is not Black Pats, it is actually The Beautiful Gortree, also composed by Tommy Peoples. In his Quiet Glen album, he played it after The Cup of Tea.

[celtharp]

violin tone of the most exquisite beauty, like hearing a spirit playing, or rather, singing

stabs me in the heart time after time

[TheQuareBoy]

What a legend!

[evilviolist]

The first tune is the Silver Spire, the second is one of Tommy's, which I think he calls the Beautiful Gortree. The crunchy effect is called a treble, after the dance step, or a triplet, presumably after how many notes are in it.

[cathyshere2]

Sorry I don't know the names, but they're not improvised (except in the variations he puts in of course). The first tune is a well known trad tune, and the second is Tommy's own. I can't remember if he had given it a name or not. Yes it was definitely "awsome" to have been there! A huge privilege! I was there because of my paintings: I'd done paintings of Tommy, Mick , Paddy & Teresa for my exhibition "Seven Fiddle Players".

[richiem95]

@cathyshere2 Yes its three notes in the space of two - triplet

[allendupras]

whats the name of this song?? or is it improv?

[cathyshere2]

This is from RTE programme The Pure Drop in 1993. From left to right: Paddy Glackin (presenting), myself Catharine Kingcome, Mick Conneely, Tommy Peoples, Teresa Heanue & Luke Daniels. The 2nd tune Tommy is playing is one of his own compositions, I've forgotten the name. In response to the comments re triplets: usually they're bowed down-up-down as you get more "bite" out of a down bow, but I suspect Tommy does them both ways with total ease :-) This is Tommy at his absolute greatest!

[allendupras]

@cathyshere2 hey do you know the name of the first tune he played??

and also that's sooo cool that you where there!!! Must of been awesome!!

[Paudyis]

I prefer how he sounded at this sort of age, he sounds kinda shrill for my ears now

[allendupras]

how does he do those quick little percussive strokes??

Could anybody tell me what there called....?? or a video

where I could learn it..... or any tips???

[culloden59]

@allendupras

they are called triplets and I've heard them called 'cuts'.

It is done with a relaxed wrist and grip, very fast strokes...it takes lots of practice to do well.practice

[allendupras]

@culloden59 thanks!!!! this guy does the best "triplets" I've ever heard.....!!

[chaosIsTheOnlyPower]

I could listen to this every day until I die. The power and clarity of the notes and ornaments and - o shit - everything. This is music distilled to the very essence.

[chaosIsTheOnlyPower]

It looks like a fiddle but there isn't anybody who can make it sound he does. It's like the sound of wind and water, but solid like stone too.

[njouve]

What a fiddler Tommy is !!!

By the way the first tune seems to be the ancestor of the "Whiskey Before Breakfast" tune known in the Old Time/Bluegrass world.

[AnVeidhleadoir]

@njouve yeah i think your right about that. I had to learn the whiskey before breackfast for a college piece and it immediately stuck me as being similar to this tune. the 2nd is one of his own compositions.

[TheeElusivePimpernel]

Absolutely fantastic playing. Complete genius! Now, this is the real deal!

[tubelubeTU]

Perhaps C. is thinking "goodness, that´s a mighty fidele" :)

[skara100]

Great playing Tommy... Conneely looks gobsmacked!

[shankandbrisket]

He rules!

[patcloonan1931]

Tommy Go hiontach ar fad . Great playing . Hopeing to see ya at Milweakee fest some time Beannacht dia lat ... Gracias muy bien ----sana ---pat

[wqpeb]

just listened to dusty miller again last night.

this is not it after all, but there is a similar phrase, that's all.

had me fooled.

[pointybongo]

hoo boy. he is THE man!

[wqpeb]

first tune dusty miller?

[Poodlepups]

The first tune may be "The Silver Spire." I'd have to compare it to Dusty Miller, which I don't remember...

[HEADSUPBERKELEY]

By God I don't think I ever saw such a skilled sensitive player. OK ONE OF THE GREATS!

BB

[sophiethehound]

Tommy is pure Eastern Co. Donegal and walking in the footprints of the great John "Simmy" Doherty. By this point, he may even be in the lead.

[mulmoher]

Ps he's still in Clare. Kilfenora.

[mulmoher]

100% Donegal. Precious little Clare in there

[2300skiddo]

No living fiddler can match Tommy for soul, IMO. As to the triplets, you need to watch the last two fingers on the bow hand (so I'm told, being but a humble guitarist myself).

[humanity4408]

He doesn't tap the stick with his pinky, that's a myth. It's all in the wrist.

[BrainFPatterson]

@humanity4408 He has one paricular triplet effect (among the many subtle variations in his aromoury) which involves ficlking the bow with the pinky. I've seen him do it concert. His former pupil Michelle O'Brien, a great player in her own right, has taken it a step further for an even more percussive effect.

As for Peoples's style, I think it transcends geographical classification. A lot of his ornmentation and bowing are very un-Doneal in character, though the influence is there.

[Zargblast]

deterdettol, you really don't know much about Tommy do you? He's a Donegal fiddler through and through with a few trimmings picked up on his travels.

[Zargblast]

Utter rubbish! Which planet are you on!

Tommy's playing is East Donegal through and through with a smidgeon of nuances picked up on his travels.

You really ought to get out more!

[Zargblast]

'I have his CDs.' You could shave off his leg hair and smoke it in a pipe, but you still wouldn't have a clue about Tommy's music.

Séamus Tansey lived in Portadown for more than a decade. It doesn't mean his flute-style is Armagh-tinged.

Do get a grip and listen very closely to Tommy's playing.

[xxchangeling]

This is the Oistrakh of Irish music.

[clare7647]

A master fiddler...One of da all time greats!

[twainname]

I am not the type of person to be a typical "fan" when it comes to famous people, but there are two people who I would be really nervous to meet. One is Sir Paul McCartney, the other is the great Tommy Peoples! I do not think I would be like a 13 year old girl meeting the latest boy band, but it would be a thrill (out of deep respect and admiration) to meet him.

[richiem95]

What about frankie Gavin..... he is without doubt the best

[eilisp23]

aw god love ya dats really nice!

[mrtubbs1]

Outstanding

[MissGuardian]

It's so fantastic how he makes the triplets...

[xxchangeling]

Are those bowed triplets? Sorry about my ignorance, but could you recommend me a video to learn how a roll should be executed?

[clarebannerman]

His daughter Siobhán is also a lovely fiddle player.

[MyJoodles]

@clarebannerman We had the luck to meet Tommy in Ennistymon on our first visit to Eire in 1990, I had been playing Fiddle a few years but wanted to play Trad Irish having been inspired by some of Tommy's recordings, He was so kind, Generous & encouraging, A Lovely Gentle Man! God Bless & Play on!! He is the most sensitive & heartfelt Fiddle Player I have heard!

[shaskeen1]

aahh....lovely stuff! Isn't that Mick Conneely in the background ??

[Zargblast]

Get your facts right, Clarebannerman, Tommy left Clare four years ago and has been living back home in Donegal for the last three!

Still the master.

[ralphd35]

Just fantastic.

[clarebannerman]

Tommy from County Donegal now living in Kilfeora, County Clare. Remember him from the late 60's. Great musician & brilliant exponent of the Donegal style.

[soxfan11495]

the second tune is a tune that he wrote called "The Beautiful Gortree" I believe.

[xlacrosse3793]

id kill to be able to do triplets like that

[cmrsvids]

@xlacrosse3793 I was just thinking the very same.

[Fishmonger1966]

Amazing

[fiddle4u]

Tommy Peoples..

''Simply the Best''..

jim,,,

[redhairedlad]

The first tune is "The Silver Spire". Don't know the 2nd.

[Stibsyt]

Interesting to note that Charles O'Connor is starting to look spookily like Tommy now...;-) can't play like this though!

[mtngael]

Nope, it's the Silver Spire, not to be confused with the Silver Spear.

[sdfiddler]

Great rendition!! Is this Blackberry Blossoum??

[funnyjoeman]

Tommy is the King