Well yes in a kind of a way it is as it shares the suffering nature and emotion of some blues. This is the lament (Caoineadh Cu Chulainn) from Riverdance. The thing I love about the harmonica, is that it can be so expressive in different emotions and musical genres. For the Blues it can be downright dirty and gritty and also sad and melancholic and yet on an Irish reel it can be uplifting and joyful.
When I first heard this song as played by the amazing Davy Spillane on Uilleann (or Irish) pipes it bowled me over. It is such a mournful, yet at the same time, hopeful song. Around 1.50 on the original song (not on mine) it is like being transported to another place and it never fails to move me.
Anyway, I thought it would be good to try it on harp because it shares the wistful, haunting nature of the pipes.
Davy Spillane’s youtube vid from the Riverdance show can be found here:-
good job greyowl-have never heard anyone play danny boy on harp or the londonderry aire as some call it btw was that harp a lee oskar or is that another tombo model that we cannot seem to get in the states
Last Edited by on Jan 29, 2011 11:27 AM
@Groyster Thanks. It is a Tombo Folk Blues that I have had for years and it still plays pretty well. Danny Boy would be a good song to play on harp. Ummnh :)
GreyOwl > Very enjoyable love those Celtic tunes. I can play Danny Boy but in 1st pos. Have heard some play it in 2nd pos but didn't IMO sound right.
A few of us are studying (mostly having fun) harp at the Harmonica Academy where as well as a blues stream there is a tunes section that covers fast fiddle tunes ie Irish & some bluegrass. Really challenging stuff. Love what Brendan Power can do on those Celtic tunes.
@Greyowl mine has 12 playable frets pull up dulcimer song book mel bay it has londonderry aire in it just fret and strum by the numbers its so easy you can do it easily and teach others who never have played a musical instrument I bought mine in gatlinburg which is appalachian and thats where the dulcimer started
