An tUasal Mac Taidhg is a reel composed for Brian Montague. An incredible man and friend to so many of us, the Chairperson of ITMA and a fine fiddle player to boot! He grew up in Belfast and I managed to get a few triplets in the second part for him to get him to show off that lovely Belfast style of tight triplet playing!
Note: This tune was published in June 2023 to mark the end of Brian Montague’s time on the ITMA Board.
Fathach an Fhidil is a tune I wrote while remembering the late great Seán Keane. His style of fiddle playing and generosity in sharing his music had a huge impact on me and so many others. He was truly a giant of the tradition
Buachaill na hAille was written in memory of my Grandad Dinny who grew up in The Naul, North County Dublin. I wrote him a polka as it reminded me of all the times we played some of his favourite tunes (which were polkas!) together and the happiness the music brought him. He passed away tragically in 2016 but when I play this tune I see him smiling in the middle of a session playing his accordion.
An Cailín Fionn was named after my sister Ciara. She is a fantastic fiddle player and took a liking to the tune so I told her she could have it. It has a lovely laid back feeling and my sister is a lovely laid back person with the most relaxed bow arm!
Gairdín na Ghleanna is for my Mam and her passion for gardening! We were very lucky to grow up on Verbena Grove in Bayside and Mam became the resident music teacher there. A lot of great musicians came from the Grove such as the Lyons family of the Bonneymen fame. The families on that cul de sac were known as the Grovettes and Mam went on to teach music for years afterwards and has inspired and taught hundreds of great musicians since.
Join fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain in the latest episode of Drawing from the Well as she shares her continuing journey to transcribe and interpret the music and creativity of fellow Dublin fiddle icon Tommie Potts. The live stream event features Aoife in discussion with Martin Hayes and Liam O’Connor, archival recordings of Tommie Potts, and of course live performances from Aoife herself.
Fiddle player Aoife Ni Bhriain combines the richness of a family heritage of traditional music and a lifetime of classical music training.. Born in Dublin she began studying the violin at an early age winning
numerous national and international competitions for both classicaland traditional Irish music. Her unique musical pedigree has led her to experiment, collaborate and perform across many musical genreswith artists such as pianist Eliso Virsaladze, fiddle player Martin Hayes, jazz guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel, actor Tim Robbins, and the avant garde string quintet Wooden Elephant.
With her father uilleann piper Mick O’ Brien and flute player Emer Mayock she has recorded two albums of tunes sourced from the Canon Goodman Collection.
Aoife holds an abiding interest and admiration for the fiddle playing of Tommie Potts.
