Absolutely Irish Fiddlers

[ballydownfine]

Dont really need the arty facial orgasmic expressions.Great lively playing but a strong hillbilly touch to it all.

[1185whatever]

just gonna say... the way liz holds her fiddle bothers me so much...

[dwaynedibbly]

wtf the video was fucked up like a storbe effect the sound was nornmal but they were moving around fast

[wawindaaji]

amazing! but its very funny to see them how they 'dance' on chairs xD

[elieltojeo]

i know eillen ivers, i was with her band in canada and i love it

[MoorOfDundee]

I LOVE THIS... Is it possible for someone put a micro-chip in my head with the ability knowledge to play fiddle like this? Love it!

[TheLordbanjo]

naw dezi or martin hayes, or even cathal hayden

[NKL1956]

I don't know how anybody could dislike this video if they like fiddling at all.

I'm excited to see Eileen in concert next week.

[pokerbert1]

They really swing!

[kirsty519]

would love to see Gavin Marwick in there too

[kirsty519]

would love to3see Gavin Marwick in there too

[Elow1003]

Wow, fantastic ! Please, what's the name of the last tune ?

[FIuynaqp11]

@Elow1003 Boys of Malin.

[kennezoom]

is there any way i could get the tabs or a chord progression that the guitarist was using?

[SqueezeboxJoe]

@kennezoom Probably not.... John Doyle never plays anything the same way twice. However, he's got an instructional video out if you'd like to learn a little of his style.

[johnnyjackpot]

Thanks much for posting this!

[mulmoher]

Nowhere in the region of the best Irish fiddlers. Tommy Peoples, Frankie Gavin...There are dozens better than these. Liz Carroll is up there...

[jim1205]

I sort of agree. I like James Kelly, Martin Hayes and Kevin Burke and Patrick Orceau. They're my top four. It's hard to say when your talking about that caliber.

[dasocks]

name of tunes?

[UISTMAN59]

Great video ! Liz Carroll & Eileen Ivers are great fiddlers and Athena Tergis is clearly at home with them but they are not going "head-to-head" in this clip but playing in perfect time with one another. The whole idea of "head-to-head" is totally out of keeping with what these ladiers are doing. To say that they are "the top three fiddlers in the world of Irish music" is to say the least, somewhat disrespectful to a great many male and female fiddlers on this side of the pond.

[chaosIsTheOnlyPower]

Love Athena and Eileen, but Liz is the Godmother of this group. If I had to pick somebody to fiddle against the Devil to save my sorry sould, it would be Liz Carroll.

[t4kne]

Great music. JoeBurke76 is a wanker. He wouldn't know his arse from a fiddle.

[SVAFnemesis]

Try watching this vid without shaking...I failed

[Puddingtime53]

i play violin, thats what i want to do. it looks well hard lol i adore this kind of music always makes me happy

[funkyceili79]

I just adore these ladies! Awesome fiddling!

[MANATEE5193]

How about this gig? Thanks for it.

[NRamirezCR]

Athena Tergis and John Doyle make a perfect duo...

[usmcboi13]

awesome awesome awesome!!! really enjoyed this vid, thanks unkp for posting!!

[joeburke76]

So if you do have a comment on what i wrote try to get your facts right. It doesn't matter to me where people are born and raised, but the music/tradition does. If i was miserable i'm not now because i'm laughing at you!! hahahahahahaha

Thank you for keeping me amused a bit longer than the music on this video did!

hahahahahahahahahahaha

[Celtscorpio]

this is my last post because I hate to give any idiots like this guy jb any attention..the film is about Irish musics influence in America...esp NYC there is a lot of history..no it's not traditional some musicians in the film play a more traditional style..it's just fun & enjoyable..dude take a chill pill and grow up...

[joeburke76]

Mr. celtscorpio i think you have me wrong i never commented on where they were from, i just commented on the music. Also i never said it was bad music i just said it wasn't irish. I am fully aware that there have been great players born and raised all over the world on both sides of the Atlantic. It's the music that you listen to and are influenced by that makes the difference not the city lines!

[kolozs3]

E' il più bel video di musica goduta: chi se ne fotte se non è pura celtica al 1000/1000?

Guardate l'espressione di chi suona: è gioia pura, amicizia, voglia di trasmettere, rispetto per le tradizioni altrui, ma anche desiderio di andare oltre. La tradizione è bella se è viva, altrimenti è muffa, roba da zombie.

[Celtscorpio]

ark your right & this guy joeburke is not worth responding to, first off John Doyle is not a Yank. Second so what if it's Irish American can this dude play like any of this ladies NO..if he's it that ugly let him stew in it. It's filmed in Hell's Kitchen where lots of us Irish American with Irish parents lived & learned to play music. If he can't appreciate the great Irish American fiddle playing who cares...makes me proud to be a NYC Irish American..he just a miserable guy

[joeburke76]

See if you can find the spelling eror Arkhatch. I'll give you a hint, there are two.

[joeburke76]

When you can understand spelling better then you can start working on understanding Traditional Irish music!

Dimwit!!!!

With your non-coment

[Celtscorpio]

plus jb you take yourself too seriously half the musicians in the film are off the boat & are irish hence the title ..this is only a small sample..so why don't you see the entire film before you comment. Try stating the other great musicians they are not Irish..you would be the real dimwit

[arkhatych]

Some people say bad things about this video. The are stupid people that jelouse that they can't play as good as those musicians. Irish people always play good music, and there is nothing wrong in this music!

[joeburke76]

This is a bad representation of Irish music in America or anywhere! Lovely people, nice musicians just not playing Irish music. But that's ok as long as they're not claiming to be playing Irish music.

[Pippitypopify]

why is it that when i pick up a fiddle it sounds like banshee being tortured and they make it sound so amazing im jealous wish i cud play!

[Xerxes4242]

Probably two things, you didn't start playing until AFTER you were out of the womb, and don't play 12 hours or more a day!;)

[ScotchIrishFool1]

They were all having a ball playing, and I loved it, great Irish-style fiddling by three greats. Wish I could play half as good.

Real rhythm!

[GiuseppePorsia]

great playing. My feets don't stop to tap tempo.

giuseppe

[syadkir]

Athena is a hot player , hot footstomper and hot glancer. Period.

Wish I could have that music , footstomping and glance everyday in my mornings... :)

[oldedrum]

'Great foot tapin' music!'

[bmgleaso]

is that guitarist using DADGAD?

[RxLuv]

Thats the John Doyle, he just tunes down his Low E to D "Drop-D" tuning.

[Kneipenstuermer]

absolutely great

[vanuatubethany]

FYI, the reels played here are Never Was Piping So Gay, The Chandelier (composed by Liz), Paddy Fahey's #25, Paddy Fahey's, and they finish off with Boys of Malin, which is an old standby when you want to finish a session set.

It's not improv; the performers had two days of rehearsal together. However, each fiddler is playing either a well-known session tune (at the beginning and end) or a tune she has performed/recorded many times previously.

[B32PACMAN]

is this all improv?

[Xerxes4242]

None of it is improv

[killiekentman]

brilliant. 5 stars.

[pirategirl1492]

featuring John Doyle! lol I saw him in North Carolina for a celtic week camp thing...and he was always the featured accompanist.

[bloopenguins]

I saw Athena Tergis play with Sharon Shannon about 10 yrs ago and read the show's review. The reviewer and I agreed Athena was talented, enthusiastic and looked like she was enjoying herself, while Sharon sat like a rock. I personally wondered if Sharon thought Athena made her look bad and why Athena left the band soon afterward. I guess we're all entitled to our own opinion on musicians-but *I* think Athena one of the greatest Irish Fiddlers around, and I don't think she's even 30! Cheers, Bloo

[upkilt]

Sharon Shannon has more credentials and talent in her pinky than Tergis does. What an insulting thing to say about one of our Irish music greats. I think you could use a bit more schooling in the field of Irish music.

[Xerxes4242]

A big thing about Irish music is being lively, and sitting looking bored, while not important to the aural qualities of the music, seriously dampens a live show.

[bloopenguins]

Hey Upkilt....I'm almost twice your age and have been listening to Irish music my entire life. I wasn't throwing asparagus at Sharon's *playing*, only her stage presence. When I saw her she looked like she wished she was elsewhere. While Athena played to the audience, Sharon played to a spot on the floor in front of her. But maybe she had a bad day. I also said *I* thought Athena was one of the best. There is a big difference between being a musician and being an entertainer. Think about it.

[upkilt]

Congratulations, you're old. Who cares how old you are? Young ppl run circles around the older generations in Irish music these days. I've been playing music since a very young age, fyi. There is a difference between an entertainer and a musician. Athena is not very good at being either. She's a wannabe Irish fiddler. She will always be a Scottish one at heart. That's fine, but don't go around touting yourself as something you're not. Athena's meatball eyes are not my idea of entertainment.

[Legertymusic]

I couldn't disagree more, upkilt. Liz and Eileen both have their own styles. It is great stuff, but is a particular AMERICAN style of playing Irish fiddle (at least as far performing; both can play extremely pure drop trad in sessions). Athena has managed something that is very rare to hear over here. She actually sounds like an Irish fiddle FROM IRELAND. This is likely due to the amount of time she spent living in Ireland.

[Legertymusic]

It is definitely a different approach than a lot of American fiddlers take, but certainly no less traditional. Fair play to Athena for taking the less traveled road. I am attempting the same sort of thing on fiddle as well, and let me tell you, it ain't easy!

[upkilt]

I respect you and your music, Zac, but I just can't agree. I showed the DVD to a bunch of trad friends of mine and they were all like "Who is that and why is she on stage with all those names?" It's been a general consensus of many people I've talked to. Bottom line, I just don't like her. I understand what you mean, but she's not for me or my colleagues.

[Legertymusic]

Fair enough. I know players who hate John Doyle or Liz Carroll's playing as well. It is a shame when the newer styles of playing aren't respected, I think. But it is an even bigger shame when the older styles are not appreciated any more. I guess what irks me is when people refer to something is being inferior when what they really mean is that they just don't like it. Just because it may not be your cup of tea, doesn't mean it is bad. I am not singling you out; lot of folks need to learn it.

[Legertymusic]

As to why she's on stage with all those names...players like Mick Moloney, John Doyle, Billy McComiskey, etc think very highly of Athena's playing, which says a lot. I understand if her playing just is not your thing, though. We like what we like! Cheers.

[upkilt]

Don't get me wrong. I do think she is an inferior player. I was giving you the bottom line. I would rather listen to an old style player than Eileen Ivers, but Eileen is still a better fiddler all around. Nobody can touch Liz, IMO.

[Xerxes4242]

I'm glad that Liz and Eileen have their own styles. Can't hear anything else like those two.

[Legertymusic]

As am I. Believe me, I am not disparaging their playing; both Liz and Eileen are friends of mine. My point was that Athena is a lovely player in her own right, who does some really incredible things with the instrument. But she chooses to play in an older style of the tradition, which is frankly really fun to hear in the U.S.

[baltimorelad]

It sounds 100% like Americans trying to sound Irish. That's not a really particular style.That's called copycatting and all Yanks seem to do it. Copycatting is always inferior. Sorry Jack.

[Legertymusic]

I am not sure I understand your statement . All Irish trad is copying to one degree or another, that is what makes it Irish music and not Old Time or something else. But it is not just a slavish copying of other players, either. All three of these women have a deep respect for the tradition and yet all three have developed vastly different styles. I don't see how you can say they are copying anyone. No other fiddler sounds like Liz for instance, or Eileen or Athena.

[fiddleruairi]

I'm sorry there, but whoever said these were the top three fiddle players in Irish music, no offence, Liz Carroll is the only truely respected one in Irish music, Eileen left the scene to do the big stage selling thing too long ago to be classed as one of the true greats. At the moment if you are talking about the top three fiddlers in irish music its going to be out of John Carty, Frankie, james kelly, sean keane, or a host of other players young and old! sorry, thats my opinon!

[fiddleruairi]

Ps: the playing in the video is decent enough though. lol.

[pbdude725]

yah im pretty good buds with liz she comes to my sessioin wen shes in town but her music i wouldnt necessarily call traditional shes got a different style

[androssl]

@fiddleruairi I kinda disagree. Liz Carroll is a top player, if not the best. Athena represents a new generation, and plays very good music. Eileen Ivers has fantastic skills with the fiddle, her fingers move faster than most other fiddle players I know; plus she has done her job broadcasting irish music to a wider audience.

[TradGal]

@fiddleruairi~ I don't think they mean the top three "Irish" fiddlers. I think they mean the top three "Irish American" fiddlers, maybe? I hope that's what the person who posted it actually means. Then, it makes a little more sense. Otherwise, I totally agree with you!

[upkilt]

@TradGal Athena's not Irish.

[TradGal]

@upkilt Yes... but she plays Irish music.

[Fishmonger1966]

Fantastic! Love it.

[modvlad]

Fantastic!

[bobdwilliams]

gets better & better every time I watch this! Awesome!

...that was great! Thanks for posting!

[iloveravenrock]

Of what I know about Irish culture I love it, especially the music. This is fantastic.

[khtx]

Wow you can´t sit calm on your chair while hearing this. Is Athena greek? Are there more vid´s of them at youtubes?

[unkp]

We've also posted a clip from the Absolutely Irish show of Jo McNamara, a veteran dancer. To see the rest of the show, and more performances from Athena (not Greek), Liz, Eileen and John, contact your local public television station and ask them to show the program. Thanks

[padraicohare]

@khtx EXACTLY !!! I'd be up and clapping right along with them! lol

[Legertymusic]

Four of my favorite musicians in the world. I love how each player moves differently to the music. Liz concentrates, Eileen does the chin poke, Athena the full body side sway and John of course does the Doyle Head-Bop. Mighty stuff ladies(and lad)! - Zac

[eddiebrophy]

Absolute rubbish!

[minifiddler24]

Athena is the new Liz... hot damn!

[matthewmcquade]

what tune is athena tergis playing ? its fantastic ! please let me know :) .

[Sunriseatnoon]

This was awesome!! But what's wrong with the poor guitarist's head? Keep flopping back and forth!! He must have some ailment or something besides being male, of course and green with envy over the talent of these women!! LOL

[upkilt]

John Doyle is the #1 guitarist in Irish music today and a fine fiddler himself. Let's see any woman play like him. ;p

[upkilt]

Athena Tergis is no way one of the top 3 Irish fiddlers. Kevin Burke et al? Where are the dudes? Liz Carroll is for sure #1.

[Legertymusic]

Athena is quickly becoming one of the best female players in the U.S. She has a brilliant new album out on Compass.

- Zac

[upkilt]

Come now, Zac. She'll never reach the heights of Liz or Eileen. Her album is ok. Doyle helps out alot with the shortcomings. He can make anyone sound better.

[AnthonyDebray]

EXCELLENT !!!

[PhalainaBelgium]

Brilliant !! Phalaina

[Taylor510ceL9]

Not all that shabby! Thanks!

[Holotypus]

Great musical showing-off indeed

[dacocelt]

one word DUST

[redheadedfolkie]

ahhhhh i can't stop watching this!!!!

[redheadedfolkie]

Absolutely BRILLIANT! This is by far my fave video on youtube now. It's nice to see another clip with EILEEN IVERS on. Love it...thanks for posting!

[PatriarchK]

Awesome, fantastic, wonderful! Incredibly pleasant to listen to. This is 100% music to my ears - 6/5!

[unkp]

Please send friends to this clip, and ask everyone to contact their local public television stations in the US asap and request that they broadcast the Absolutely Irish concert. Wait until you see the whole show--it's awesome!