Chiff and Fipple Forums

johnkerr wrote:Flute and accordion is a combination you don't hear all that often - unless you come to sessions in DC, where you'll hear so much of it that you may well run screaming from the pub. (Be sure to pay your bill before you do, though.) There's probably a reason for that, maybe because the ornamentation and other stylistic nuances of the two instruments don't seem to mesh up all that well.

Christy Barry and Conor McCarthy do a pretty good job of kicking ass on their album - so do Alan and John Kelly on their album, although I don't know if piano accordian counts in this discussion. Likewise, the Hernon brothers are a good flute/box duo, but you're right John that it's interesting that more flute/concertina pairings come to my mind quickly as opposed to box/flute. I'm sure that there are some, but it's certainly not as common as concertina and flute - which is one of my favorite sounds. Generally, when the box/flute pairing happens, there is a fiddler thrown into the midst to even things out. Maybe box and flute just have bad feng shui.

Thinking about it though, it is interesting that both Christy Barry and Marcus Hernon have flute styles that really complement the push and pull of the box. Also, Dan Isaacson fits in really well with a box player, particularly since he can mimic the basses by bouncing on the low notes. I like hearing him and Sean play together.

either way, it needs more cowbell.

b

johnkerr wrote:Flute and accordion is a combination you don't hear all that often

Er, Mike and Mary Rafferty?

And, in addition to the duos that Brendan mentioned, I could (immodestly) add Bob Abrams and Brad Hurley

Actually I love playing with accordions -- Bob's Cairdin and my flute share a lot of qualities in their timbre and overtones, and they blend together almost as beautifully as flute and fiddle. Playing with a box player has also done a lot to help me learn how to stay in tune (although listening to the recordings I can see I was still a bit sharp in most cases!).

So far I've enjoyed playing with accordions more than just about anything else. Maybe because they drown me out!

bradhurley wrote:

johnkerr wrote:Flute and accordion is a combination you don't hear all that often

Er, Mike and Mary Rafferty?

And, in addition to the duos that Brendan mentioned, I could (immodestly) add Bob Abrams and Brad Hurley

Okay, let me amend what I said. Flute and concertina is a combination I don't hear very often. Oh wait, I do - every session I play in seems to have anywhere from 4-7 flutes plus 1 or more accordions. Okay, guys, I'm busted. I know more about bluegrass than I do about Irish music...

Just had a random thought: Joe Burke plays accordion and used to play flute. Do you think he's mad that the late Derek Bell already used the Plays with Himself album title?

johnkerr wrote:Plays with Himself...

"Plays with Herself" might be a better title for Joe.

bradhurley wrote:it was also recorded by Claire Mann...

http://homepage.mac.com/bhurley/.Public ... remann.mp3

That kind of flute playing makes me feel as if I'm lying in a bed full of toast crumbs.

StevieJ wrote:That kind of flute playing makes me feel as if I'm lying in a bed full of toast crumbs.

I wouldn't worry too much about that, until you wake up one day and see a giant vat of boiling oil next to the bed and a huge pair of tongs poised above you...

PS That's not what my kind of flute playing makes you feel like, is it Steve?

StevieJ wrote:That kind of flute playing makes me feel as if I'm lying in a bed full of toast crumbs.

I wouldn't worry too much about that, until you wake up one day and see a giant vat of boiling oil next to the bed and a huge pair of tongs poised above you.

PS That's not what my kind of flute playing makes you feel like, is it Steve? Because I do have a spare set of tongs...

You beat yourself to the punch, John. Must have been distracted by all those Clinch Mountain Boys.

There's a bit of flute and concertina on my beloved Mulcahys CDs; very nice. Plus, of course, some of the most lovely accordion by The Quiet Man Himself.

StevieJ wrote:

bradhurley wrote:it was also recorded by Claire Mann...

http://homepage.mac.com/bhurley/.Public ... remann.mp3

That kind of flute playing makes me feel as if I'm lying in a bed full of toast crumbs.

At least it's only toast crumbs and not like, mites or something. Hey, John, did you get that mp3 I sent you? I sent it via your C&F "email" button at the bottom of your posts, but don't know if that account's still working. Anyway, it's a nice version of the Commodore - played on the B/C Paolo by a former professional Bluegrass banjo player.

<DODGES HAIL OF ROTTEN VEGETABLES AND PLUG TOBACCO AND RUNS>

johnkerr wrote:PS That's not what my kind of flute playing makes you feel like, is it Steve?

Be careful what questions you ask, John (Tongs or/but no tongs)

StevieJ wrote:

johnkerr wrote:PS That's not what my kind of flute playing makes you feel like, is it Steve?

Be careful what questions you ask, John (Tongs or/but no tongs)

Okay, Steve. But in formulating your answer do keep in mind that while I'm playing the flute I can't be playing, talking or typing about concertinas...

Maybe it's my geeky nature and upbringing, but when I saw the title of the thread I thought it was about something else.