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News & Reviews > News from Grey Larsen
#2 - April 2004
Hello friends, comrades and fans, old and new. A lot has been happening
here since my December newsletter! This week I have been in the studio
with John Mellencamp, recording flute and tin whistle parts for a Fall
2004 Mellencamp release. I'll write more about this in future issues of
News from Grey Larsen.
First, the headlines...
- National Public Radio's All Things Considered:
I will tape an interview with host Melissa Block on April 19!
- Listen to my December 2003 appearances on
National Public Radio's The Connection and Public Radio International's
The World.
- International praise for my book, The Essential
Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle. It's already in its second
printing.
- My second book, The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox,
will be released in mid-April.
- Larsen - A new font for
notating Irish traditional music. Now available for free downloading.
- Great reviews for my latest CD, Dark of the
Moon.
- André Marchand and I have started recording
a new CD, the follow-up to The Orange Tree. Release is slated
for July 2004.
- Praise coming in for The Irish Tune Bank.
- My music is now available for downloading at Apple's
iTunes and at other online download outlets.
New at the online store:
- Recommended whistles and flutes now on sale.
- The New Music Bundle: my latest
three CDs for only $33.97 ($5.00 off).
- The Book Bundle: my first two books
for only $64.90 ($5.00 off).
- Free autographs upon request for books and CDs.
1. National Public Radio's All
Things Considered: I will tape an interview with host Melissa Block on April
19!
On April 19th I will travel to NPR's Washington DC studios to record an
interview with host Melissa Block for the great news program All Things
Considered.
Melissa Block,
host of NPR's All Things Considered.
The story may air that same week, though late-breaking news often alters
intended broadcast dates. I will send out a brief email announcement to
those on my mailing list once I know
when the story will air. I will also post a link to the story on my home
page, so you will be able to hear it later if you miss the actual broadcast.
I am now arranging other appearances in the Washington and Baltimore area
in the days leading up the April 19th. You may check
my schedule for updates.
Big thanks to my publicist, Dmitri
Vietze for his work in securing this and other public radio appearances
(see below) as well as numerous print media reviews and features. To view
the online press kit that Dmitri has made for me, click
here. To read reviews from the print media and from folks like you,
click here.
2. Listen to my
December 2003 appearances on National Public Radio's The Connection
and Public Radio International's The World.
On December 17th, I was the featured guest for an entire hour on National
Public Radio's live talk show The Connection with Dick Gordon.
To hear the show, click
here.
Dick Gordon,
host of NPR's The Connection.
Listeners called in from all over North America, I played flute and whistle
live in the studio, and Matt Molloy (the flute player with The Chieftains)
joined the conversation from Milan, Italy.
On January 5th I appeared on Public Radio International's The World
with Lisa Mullins. To hear this story, click
here.
Lisa Mullins,
host of PRI's The World.
We discussed my new book and I gave Lisa a quick tin whistle lesson. She
was a great sport and did really well!
Good news! The first printing of 1000 copies sold out in less than two
months. The second printing is now complete. I was able to correct a number
of small errors in the text, a major error in the whistle fingering chart
(thank you David Armstrong) and to correct a photo error that portrayed
Matt Molloy as a left-handed flute player (thank you David Migoya).
You may view 11 excerpts from this book here.
Book Reviews In Print:
Below are four excerpts from some of the print reviews coming in from
the US, Scotland, and Italy. You can read the complete text of these and
other reviews by clicking here.
Reviews and features have appeared, or are coming soon, in Irish Music
Magazine, The Irish Post, The Irish Herald, Irish America Magazine, Sing
Out Magazine, Flutist Quarterly, PAN Magazine, Flute Talk, Traverso, Chiff
and Fipple, Rambles, Flute Australasia, Jazzreview.com, World Music Central,
Cranky Crow World Music, Digmansworld.com, What's Up Magazine, Post-Gazette,
Seven Days (Vermont), 1340magazine.com, and other publications.
From the April 2004 issue Global Rhythm:
...[an] exhaustive, gorgeous dissertation into the ancient musics of
Ireland. Perfect for beginner and expert alike, the book reads like a
chronological history of these wind instruments, perfectly complemented
by the two CDs to help you whistle (along) while you work.
From the January/February issue of Scotland's The Living Tradition Magazine:
It's rare that a teaching package comes out, of which it can be truly
said that it represents a 'turning point'. But that can be claimed for
Grey Larsen's Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle.
... Grey has produced something remarkable here, at every level, and has
done it with sureness, honesty, humility, insight and passion.
From the March issue of Italy's Celtic music magazine Keltika (English
translation):
This is a perfect work to become the gold standard, a reference point
for whistlers and Irish flute players. ... perfect both for a beginner
and for an advanced musician. ... also useful, even precious ... for those
interested in the history of Irish music, for it fills a gap of knowledge
that has existed in these areas.
From RootsWorld Bulletin #255, February 15, 2004:
Larsen states the book "is for flute and whistle players at all
levels", but with his logical approach to explaining the music, it
also becomes essential reading for those wishing to know more about Irish
music in general. ... Grey Larsen has taken on a mammoth task and succeeded
in presenting even more than he set out to show. The Essential Guide to
Irish Flute and Tin Whistle is not just a comprehensive how-to book, it
is also a fascinating reference work and a really grand read!
Comments from Readers:
The response from readers has been tremendously gratifying. Here are just
a few. You can read many more, and submit your own comments, here.
Dale Wisely, Chiff and Fipple,
USA
Holy sweet Moses, Grey. Absolutely unbelievable. ... I haven't been able
to do anything other than look through it. It is scholarly, beautifully
written, loaded with fabulous pictures and diagrams. Nothing, and I mean
nothing, approaches it in any of the tutors. ... This is a triumph. Grey
Larsen, if this weren't already guaranteed, has just earned his place
in Irish Trad history.
Garry Shannon, Ireland
What a tome!! Excellently presented ... I know I will be using it as
a resource for years to come in the teaching of ornamentation and many
other general aspects of Irish music.
Phil Osattin, USA
... the very best, most comprehensive, focused and well-explained book
I've seen in this area. ... This is indeed the perfect must-have reference
... In sum, a great work for all, including and perhaps particularly beginners.
... There is so much pivotal info re the really important approach to
the instruments and music that I simply can't imagine any beginner not
taking advantage of this work.
Bart Wijnen, the Netherlands
Grey Larsen heeft bereikt wat - tot nu toe - onmogelijk leek: het leren
spelen van Ierse traditionele muziek op fluit en whistle zonder hulp van
een leraar! Tijdens mijn vijfentwintigjarige loopbaan als fluitdocent
heb ik al aardig wat methodes onder ogen gehad. Geen van hen waren zó
omvangrijk, diepgravend en toch gemakkelijk te begrijpen. The Essential
Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle is een juweel.
English translation:
Grey Larsen has achieved something that - until now - seemed impossible:
learning to play Irish traditional music on flute and whistle without
the presence of a teacher! During my twenty-five year career as a flute
teacher I've seen quite a few methods. None of them were as extensive,
profound, and comprehensive as this book is. The Essential Guide to
Irish Flute and Tin Whistle is a gem.
Matthew Du Plessis, South Africa
The hard-core traditionalists reckon the only way to learn ITM [Irish
Traditional Music] is to immerse yourself entirely in the music and the
culture. Maybe they're right, I don't know, but I live thousands and thousands
of miles away from the nearest hotbed of Irish culture, so that ain't
gonna happen. Fortunately with Grey's new book, previously impenetrable
mysteries of Irish fluting have opened themselves up to me, and ... my
playing has improved in leaps and bounds in the few months since I received
the book. ... In particular, Grey's examination of ornamentation, and
the new notation system he's developed to describe ornamentation, have
been invaluable to my whistling and flootin'.
Greg Laing, USA
... indeed an "essential" book for anyone wanting to learn
to play the Irish flute and tin whistle. ... Your explanation of the timing
and rhythm for this ornamentation was a real epiphany for me. To be honest,
I'd given up on playing tin whistle, not to mention even attempting the
flute. But your book has inspired me to give it another go and to stick
with it.
I am accepting
orders for this book now. I will send out your book as soon as it is
published in mid-April.
You may view nine excerpts from this book here.
The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox (187 pages plus one enhanced
CD) is based in large part on my first book, The Essential Guide to
Irish Flute and Tin Whistle. This book and CD will guide you to genuine
competence in playing Irish traditional music on the tin whistle, without
going into highly advanced ornamentation techniques.
For information on the distinctions between these two books, please click
here.
Joanie Madden, the flute and whistle player with the group Cherish
the Ladies, writes of The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox:
An essential set of tools for the beginning and intermediate tin whistle
player. I highly recommend it!
5. Larsen - A new font for
notating Irish traditional music. Now available for free downloading.
David Armstrong of Alberta, Canada, has developed a new font called Larsen.
This font (for PC and Mac) makes it easy for everyone to make use of my
new notation system for ornamentation in Irish Traditional Music (ITM).
To learn how to make full use of this notation system, you will want to
refer to my book, The
Essential Guide to Irish Flute and Tin Whistle.
A free overview of the system, A
Guide to Grey Larsen's Notation System for Irish Ornamentation, is also
available (in PDF format). There you will find this and three more free
articles, plus ITM instructional materials in the form of tune packets.
What is a tune packet, you may
ask?
With my permission, David Armstrong is offering the Larsen font
as a free download. To get the font, click
here.
Visit Armstrong's fine website, Irish
Whistle and Music Resources.
6. Great reviews for my latest
CD, Dark
of the Moon.
To hear sample tracks from Dark of the Moon, click
here.
In their December 2003 issue, Global Rhythm Magazine chose Dark
of the Moon as #6 on their "Top Ten" CD list, and ran a full
review in their February 2004 issue. Irish Music Magazine has a
wonderful review of the CD in their current issue. Other reviews have appeared
in Irish America Magazine, The Cleveland Scene, The Hartford Advocate,
Jazzreview.com, The Valley Advocate, World Music Central, Slipcue.com, Musesmuse.com,
and 1340mag.com.
To read the complete text of reviews, please click
here.
On Dark of the Moon, one of the best traditional albums of the
year, Larsen and partner Paddy League bring ... old music back to life.
... Grey Larsen's repertoire of Irish music is incomparable. -
Global Rhythm Magazine
The flute has such a purity and simplicity of phrasing here, and remains
so close to the intimacy of breath, that these songs cut through the buzz
of Celtic revivalism straight to the melodic root of the tradition. -
The Hartford Advocate
Larsen's tone is as achingly pure and serenely beautiful as Don Cherry's
trumpet or Rahsaan Roland Kirk's flute, and most of the traditional melodies
have a balance of delicacy and durability as do Andean, Japanese and West
African winds-oriented trad sounds. Dark of the Moon is music
that goes straight to the heart without bypassing the mind. -
Jazzreview.com
7. André Marchand
and I have started recording a new CD, the follow-up to The Orange Tree.
Release is slated for July 2004.
Fans of The
Orange Tree will be very glad to hear that André Marchand
and I spent a week in January recording material for a new CD, the as-of-yet
untitled follow-up to The Orange Tree.
André and I had begun developing material for this recording some
six years ago. For complex reasons we'd had to put the project on the shelf.
Now we are both overjoyed to have moved it from that shelf to the front
burner. We are working toward a July release, when we will be performing
at Festival Mémoire
et Racines (Memory and Roots Festival), a wonderful folk festival in
Joliette, Québec, July 23-25.
For information and audio samples of The
Orange Tree, click here.
Learn Irish Tunes from Grey Larsen at this Online Resource Center.
What is The Irish Tune Bank? It's my online repository of traditional
Irish Tune Packets.
And what is a Tune Packet? Three downloads, neatly wrapped together
in virtual brown paper (actually an easy-to-download ZIP file):
- My musical transcription of a traditional Irish tune
with suggested ornamentation, variations, and recommended breathing spots
for flute and whistle players. (A PDF file).
- A recording of me playing that tune, exactly as transcribed.
(An MP3 file).
- My written commentary on the tune, including its background
and insights on how to play it well. (A PDF file).
Come taste some free samples here.
A few words from some satisfied musicians:
Dennis Herbert, USA
The tune bank is ... brilliant. The three free downloads are equally
as brilliant. I will be a steady customer, so keep them coming.
Kathleen Lavengood (a fiddler!), USA
I am having a ball with the new tunes from your bank!!!
Brad Hurley, Canada
This is a nice resource -- I'm going to share it with my students ...
I especially like your tips and instructions, like the file on breathing
in dance tunes.
Matthew Du Plessis, South Africa
The tune bank is an excellent and eminently useful resource, and at
$2.49 a tune, well worth every cent in my opinion.
Pontus Berzén, Sweden
All I can say is that your tune bank is great! I downloaded the free
samples and papers today ... Great work!
The Irish Tune Bank is totally
tree-friendly - there is no paper involved. And you earn interest in the
form of free CDs. It's a whole new concept in learning Irish music, and
certainly in banking.
9. My music is now available
for downloading at Apple's iTunes
and at other online download outlets.
The digital download has become a very viable way to buy music. Whether
you are experienced with it, or curious about it, you can find my music
at the following online music download stores. It is less expensive than
buying a physical CD, and you can burn your own copy. (No autographs though.)
10. Recommended whistles
and flutes now on sale.
I am now selling three brands of tin whistles:
I am selling flutes as well:
- Casey Burn's new "Folk Flute",
a fine no-frills wooden flute for $250 that plays impressively well. A
great starter-and-beyond instrument.
- Terry McGee's wonderful "Grey
Larsen Preferred" flute. Modeled very closely after my own 1850s
Firth, Pond & Company original. Terry has actually improved upon my
beloved flute! I am stocking a limited supply of keyless and six-key blackwood
"Grey Larsen Preferred" flutes. These are available, at a somewhat
higher price than Terry charges, but without any waiting period. (The
normal wait is six months for keyless flutes and 18 months for a six-key
flute.)
- I also have some restored 19th
century wooden flutes available at reasonable prices, including a
superb William Hall & Son eight-key flute, made in New York City c.
1848-1858.
For more info on these whistles, please click
here.
For more info on these flutes, please click
here.
11. The
New Music Bundle: my latest three CDs for only $33.97 ($5.00 off).
12. The
Book Bundle: my first two books for only $64.90 ($5.00 off).
The
Book Bundle: My first two books, The Essential Guide to Irish
Flute and Tin Whistle plus The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox,
together for $64.90 ($5.00 off my regular price). Autograph free upon request.
(Please note that The Essential Tin Whistle Toolbox is not yet
in print. It will be available in mid-April.)
13. Free autographs upon
request for books and CDs.
When you order books or CDs at my online store, just request an autograph
in the "comments" area during the ordering process. If you like,
you may specify wording for an inscription, for yourself or a friend.
I always welcome your feedback, comments and ideas. Just use my
contact form to be in touch. I hope you'll enjoy
being part of an online community that values and supports my work.
And I hope you've had a great winter and are ready for spring! Best wishes,
and thank you for supporting independent musicians.
- Grey
P.S. Please let me know if you have bought the software "The Amazing
Slow Downer" through my website. I am trying to straighten out some
record-keeping with the company that makes this excellent program.
Would you like to receive this newsletter (a compact version without photos
and graphics) by email? Sign up here.
PRIVACY POLICY: I will not give, sell, rent, loan, or trade
your email address to anyone, and your address will never be visible to
others in the messages I send.
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