The Musical Priest

In what was my first totally free Friday night in a very long time, I seized an opportunity to do something I haven't done in many years: I went to an Irish music session. A seisiun , or session, is a gathering of Irish musicians who gather to play music together. I learned of this session from a great little website called SessioNite.com , a site run by a great whistle player named Gary Farmer. So after a day of blogging and recording, I packed up my tin whistles, jumped into the car, and headed off to the Ancient Order of Hibernians Hall in Detroit. The irony of me being nervous to go to a session is not lost on me. My YouTube videos have been watched nearly 2.5 million times and I, daily, receive emails asking for help in learning to play Irish music. Just yesterday I read a note from somebody who thanked me for helping her to learn enough tunes to allow her to play in a local beginners' session in her hometown. Rather than being glad for her, I felt horribly discouraged!...

Some of my fondest memories from childhood pool around the Saint Patrick's Day season: innumerable performances at senior centers, parish halls, and private parties where my siblings, cousins, and friends would perform Irish music and dance. We were just kids, really, but I can't but to remember how we felt so grown up, so professional, because we were on stage. Times certainly have changed! I think that, for the first time in my life, I'll be in school on Saint Patrick's Day. Not that I mind too much, of course: I have to get my sophomores for " Test the Third: The Return of the New Testament." (Yes, I've taken to naming my exams). I'd be remiss, however, if I didn't post a new YouTube video in honor of the season. So I did TWO videos last night, each one with one take. And here's a second:

Please excuse its length, but I can't find a link to the latest Inside Fordham which is carrying a column I wrote. Several weeks ago I was invited to contribute to the Sapientia et Doctrina section and I put this piece together. Passing on the Tradition When I was a little boy, I learned early that the best answer to the question, “Ryan, what do you want to be when you grow up?” was the enthusiastic reply, “A PRIEST!” Such a response earned me a pat on the head, a beaming glance and a couple of quarters from my grandfather. Secretly, however, I harbored another desire: I wanted to be a professional Irish musician. Fast-forward about 20 years. I am now a Jesuit studying for the priesthood at Fordham. I continue to travel the world playing accordion for Irish dancing competitions known as feiseanna. I even teach a course titled “Introduction to the Irish Tin Whistle” in Fordham’s Irish Studies program. It seems that the innocent response of an eager-to-please little boy turned out to...

Before I head out for the week (workshop in Detroit) I want to plug a new Irish music school opening in Cleveland. Brian Holleran, a native of New Jersey (and my sister's fiancee) will be offering classes on Flute, Tin Whistle, and Uilleann Pipes here in Cleveland. Brian is a terrific musician and a gifted teacher. For more information, contact Brian at: brianholleran000 AT hotmail.com (substitute @ for AT).

Because I have nowhere else to put it, I'm posting this week's tune on my blog. "The Star of the County Down" is a commonly heard piece and, while not terrifically difficult, it does provide a good template on which to practice several important tin whistle movements. As I noted on the FaceBook page for the Fordham students, this is an imperfect rendering of the tune. The first "A" could well be a "G" and, on the video, I think I play both. Nevertheless, it's still a decent skeletal structure to work with.

Drew and I put together an exercise video that is now posted to YouTube. Now, don't get any ideas of seeing me in a leotard and leg warmers (My God would that be awful). The video in question is an Tonguing Exercise (again, refrain from allowing your sick imagination too much license) that is used for tin whistle playing. If you're keeping up with the series, this video should be of help to you! Learn to Play the Tin Whistle (the best part of this is that it is free!)

Thanks to the labors of Drew Marquard, SJ I believe this video to be of a MUCH higher quality that the first video. I post it here more because I'd love to solicit feeback from people as to what I might do to improve on it. Note: I just couldn't resist putting at least a little reference to St. Ignatius in the video!