A live performance by Martin Hayes for Watermelon Wednesdays. Recorded by Frontier Community Access Television at the West Whately Chapel in Whately, MA.
This whole video is an absolute goldmine, especially with it being unaccompanied, which you don’t often hear of Hayes. Love how appreciative the audience seem too.
Only one word can describe Martin, and his playing -- maestro. His skills are simply sublime and the way he teases the tunes and gets the very last extremity out of each note simply demonstrates his sublime skill and his unfathomable understanding of the makeup of each tune. He plays the tunes in a way that simply and melodically expresses the emotion, rather than simply playing the notes, as many other (less emotional) musicians do.
I can only but second the previous comments. Martin is a truly brilliant player. He has a big fan base among Japanese musicians in Tokyo where I am located and where Irish music is popular. Mostly played at Irish pubs by Japanese can you imagine? And done to near perfection.
Here's the timestamps as best as I can tell: 2:01 Cúil Aodha Jig?? 4:36 Allistrum's March 7:09 Cá Bhfuil an Solas? (Where Is the Light?) 8:30 (??) Abbey Reel/The Maids of Feakle/unknown 16:22 Paddy Fahey's/The Nightingale/Cliffs of Moher 23:35 Maith Thú A Mhuiris 26:15, 27:48, 29:40 ??? 31:30 The Pigeon on the Gate 39:23 ??? 43:22 The Peacock's Feather 47:40 Toss the Feathers 51:16 ??? 55:23 The Good-Natured Man 1:04:01 The Sailor's Bonnet 1:11:14 O'Carolan's Farewell to Music 1:16:27 The Mist Covered Mountains 1:18:33 John Naughton's Reel 1:22:20 ??? 1:24:44 ??? In Memory of Michael Coleman 1:30 1:38:38 The Lament for Limerick 1:41:40 ??? unknown waltz 1:43:27 The Hole in the Hedge comment if you can help me add to this!
That first set... is often how I practice, alone! A slow air, slow and steady jigs & reels, and just keep getting slightly faster, for maybe 10 minutes. Lol. And Martin finally put the bow down at 13 minutes and 40 seconds straight! I was wondering what marvelously-styled tune would be next. Amazing. I love the variations on the final tune, "The New Custom House", and how closely they resemble his variations on his own playing of "Tom Doherty's". Obviously one tune is in D (Mixolydian, minor), and one is in B (Dorian)... but just visually, the bowing technique and variations he showcases right at the end are very close to Tom Doherty's I've seen him play a few times. All indicative of Contae Clár! But more so Martin Hayes himself...
Yes, but Tommy Peoples was from Donegal... I’m not sure that, brilliant though he is, Tommy Peoples is the standard of how a tune should be interpreted ;)
This whole video is an absolute goldmine, especially with it being unaccompanied, which you don’t often hear of Hayes. Love how appreciative the audience seem too.
Yes! No accompaniment needed, ever, in my opinion.
Got to see him in Cambridge in 2019 and was mesmorized for an hour straight
As a violin maker, I can only say that I wish one day Martin Hays would play my violin. He is a real master
Martin is a God amongst men, hope to hear him live in concert before I leave this earth
There are no words to describe how exquisite this performance is and the places it takes one to. Thanks so much for sharing your talent.
Only one word can describe Martin, and his playing -- maestro. His skills are simply sublime and the way he teases the tunes and gets the very last extremity out of each note simply demonstrates his sublime skill and his unfathomable understanding of the makeup of each tune. He plays the tunes in a way that simply and melodically expresses the emotion, rather than simply playing the notes, as many other (less emotional) musicians do.
I enjoyed this concert so much. Martin Hayes you are truly a joy to listen to and watch.
Thank you so very much,
Linda & Mike Caul
I can only but second the previous comments. Martin is a truly brilliant player. He has a big fan base among Japanese musicians in Tokyo where I am located and where Irish music is popular. Mostly played at Irish pubs by Japanese can you imagine? And done to near perfection.
Astounding musicianship. So pure.
The one & only Martin Hayes
Always leaves one with beautiful emotions🥰 If I may ask, is this your favorite song?
I love how Martin both educates and enthralls us.
Here's the timestamps as best as I can tell:
2:01 Cúil Aodha Jig??
4:36 Allistrum's March
7:09 Cá Bhfuil an Solas? (Where Is the Light?)
8:30 (??) Abbey Reel/The Maids of Feakle/unknown
16:22 Paddy Fahey's/The Nightingale/Cliffs of Moher
23:35 Maith Thú A Mhuiris
26:15, 27:48, 29:40 ???
31:30 The Pigeon on the Gate
39:23 ???
43:22 The Peacock's Feather
47:40 Toss the Feathers
51:16 ???
55:23 The Good-Natured Man
1:04:01 The Sailor's Bonnet
1:11:14 O'Carolan's Farewell to Music
1:16:27 The Mist Covered Mountains
1:18:33 John Naughton's Reel
1:22:20 ???
1:24:44 ??? In Memory of Michael Coleman
1:30
1:38:38 The Lament for Limerick
1:41:40 ??? unknown waltz
1:43:27 The Hole in the Hedge
comment if you can help me add to this!
That first set... is often how I practice, alone! A slow air, slow and steady jigs & reels, and just keep getting slightly faster, for maybe 10 minutes. Lol. And Martin finally put the bow down at 13 minutes and 40 seconds straight! I was wondering what marvelously-styled tune would be next. Amazing.
I love the variations on the final tune, "The New Custom House", and how closely they resemble his variations on his own playing of "Tom Doherty's". Obviously one tune is in D (Mixolydian, minor), and one is in B (Dorian)... but just visually, the bowing technique and variations he showcases right at the end are very close to Tom Doherty's I've seen him play a few times. All indicative of Contae Clár! But more so Martin Hayes himself...
tunes echoing around in my heart/head.. simple, delicate, joyful, sweet and sad... ahhhh...🙏🏽🕊💕
Beauiful Martin Hayes. Thank you.
Ferocious! One of the great wonders of the universe :)
Martin Hayes YOU are Blessed with Talent and we are Blessed to be able to Listen to YOU
Riveting and masterful. The very soul of East Clare.
Martin Hayes sure can weave the bow
Amazing music played by a true genius
He's wonderful
The best ❤❤❤❤
Thanks 🌞
Spunky stuff, Martin Hayes!
Grateful if someone can put a name on reel starting at 1:24:44
in memory of coleman
fantastic !
no masqeruade pure song briliant
magic especially from 11mn53
juste amazing
Juste!
Paddy Fahy jig | Nightingale | Cliffs of Moher -
Wondering what was name of tune that started at about 23 min.? Something to do with Willie Clancy School. A major key a very catchy little tune?
1:24:44
Tune name at 1:16:23 ?
Misty mountain
Hup!
Please please tell me, what was the last tune in the second set that ended at about 31.30 in?
A version of "The Pigeon On The Gate"...
A very distant relation of the pigeon on the gate if any! The major thirds in a minor tune aren't featured in any version I've found.
I couldn't catch the names of the first two songs he played. Does anyone know the names of those first two?
It's "The High Jig" !
First tune is Coolea, second is Allistrum's March.
He is a supremely skilled fiddler and good at all the variations, but I wish he wouldn't syncopate all the time. Tommy Peoples never did that.
Yes, but Tommy Peoples was from Donegal... I’m not sure that, brilliant though he is, Tommy Peoples is the standard of how a tune should be interpreted ;)
1:29:46