Field Guide to the Irish Music Session (Hardcover)

by Barry Foy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Far from being a spontaneous free-for-all, the Irish music session is governed by a particular etiquette. Traditional Irish music is very specific: specific tunes and rhythms, played on specific instruments. Being aware of the nuances -- passed from generation to generation through the institution of the session -- allows the player or fan to easily follow the music. This book explains it all and includes a glossary and charming line drawings.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Roberts Rinehart Publishers (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570982414
• ISBN-13: 978-1570982415
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,675,867 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read It and Weep -- and laugh a lot, too, October 13, 2003

By	kbwong (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Field Guide to the Irish Music Session: An Authoritative Guide to Enjoying Irish Traditional Music in its Natural Habitat (Hardcover)

The only people I know who don't like this book are people who don't do well at Irish sessions for the very reasons Mr. Foy gives. Funny thing, that. If you want to fit in and aren't Irish (ie: didn't grow up in Ireland, and are therefore completely experienced in the intricacies of Irish society), get this book, read it, and believe it. If you don't end up using the stuff in here, great. You're gold. If you DO need it, then you'll have it. Great. You're gold.

The people I know who don't like this book always call it "elitist" -- interesting, if you think about it long enough.

I should also point out that Irish people think a book of something like this is ridiculous -- unless they've lived outside of Ireland and regularly suffered through a session that has been so hammered into another shape that it's really not a session anymore, and then they are ALL for this book (and you'll note Martin Hayes writes a plug for it, among others).

Irish sessions are often changed beyond belief to the point where they're no longer Irish sessions (or at least, sessions of traditional Irish music). Anyway, it's called "traditional" music for a reason, and if you don't like it or all the etiquette attendant upon it, then go make your own music, just don't sully either your own music nor Irish traditional music by calling it by the wrong name.

Oh, and by the way -- "etiquette" has somehow become a bad word, I'm not sure how. It's worth remembering that there's an "etiquette" to inviting your friends over for pizza and beer or hanging out at the mall -- "etiquette" isn't relegated only to weddings and formal occasions.

An extremely famous Irish fiddler once told me that there are sessions where he's glad that the participants are having fun, that they're doing something better than watching TV and all, but he would rather not be there. If you don't want to be the one to make an experienced player feel that way, get the book.

P.S. Oddly enough, I recognize most of the names giving reviews. This is a very small society over the globe, this society of Irish musicians.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indispensable guide to listeneing, watching, playing..., March 29, 2000

By	Gary Thomas (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

A definite must for the ignorant hoi poloi (such as myself). Extremely witty, from the acknowledgements, in which the author acknowledges his own genius, to the glossary (Alpha male/female: .. the woman with the loudest instrument or the man with the biggest one). The rather odd illustrations indicate why the Irish are known for literature and music, but not for graphic arts.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Witty, Informative, and Fun, June 19, 2000

By	"rocketmorton" (Des Moines, Iowa) - See all my reviews

This cheerfully vicious little book tells you all you need to know about the Irish music session, be you a listener or a performer. It's a quick, fun read, and makes a nice gift (as long as the recipient won't recognize him or herself in its pages).