TRADITIONAL MUSIC SESSIONS ONLINE FOR GLENVILLE GROUP DURING LOCKDOWN
Thursday night is traditional music night in Kades Kounty in Glenville. In 2006, Mossie Buckley and Ned O’Connor met in Kades Kounty to play a few tunes. Over the years the number of musicians on Thursday nights grew and some Thursdays, up to 16 musicians would attend.
Then Covid-19 arrived and in March 2020, the sessions stopped.
PLAN B – ZOOM SESSIONS
Some of the musicians were using Zoom in their work. Mossie and Breeda Buckley collected all the e-mail addresses and on Thursday, 2nd April 2020 the first Zoom session was organised.
Of course, there were some technical problems. Some of the people were using Zoom for the first time so there was a lot of learning about sound and positioning of the cameras. One of the biggest problems was that some of people had high speed broadband, while others had very weak broadband. Anne Foley in Ballincollig and Mick Murphy in Grenagh had the fastest speeds, so their reception was excellent. The Glenville players (Phil O’Donoghue, Seán McCarthy and Mossie and Breeda Buckley) had to survive with very low speeds.
A simple solution was found however. When a musician was playing everyone else turned off their microphones, then there was no interference and it gave the player total freedom in their choice of music.
Since April 2020 over 50 Zoom sessions have been held. Group members Mossie and Breeda Buckley have been positive on the transition to an online platform. “The Zoom sessions gave us a purpose to focus on. It brought joy to our lives during this difficult time. A major uplift in the week. Compared to the live session in the bar we had more time to talk as it was a more relaxed setting. Many jokes, recitations and stories told just like were done in houses long ago. A bit like the radio programme ‘Round the Fireside’.”
While member Phil O’Donoghue from Glenville noted, “In recent times, I have heard a lot of people complain that they have nothing to say to each other when they meet. And yet we seem to find an endless range of topics to discuss when we get together, be it history, local folklore, strange place-names, music of all genres and of many countries, the “hot gossip” of the week, and plenty of jokes and fun.”
COMPARING PUB SESSIONS TO ZOOM SESSIONS
The pub sessions are magic. Playing together is special. One of the disadvantages of the pub sessions is that there is very little time for chat. It is very difficult to get to know other musicians in a pub session as the focus is on the music.
The Zoom sessions have their own magic. There is time for chat and these sessions also gives musicians the freedom to demonstrate their skills and variety of musical interests.
Mossie and Breeda Buckley contribute a range of musical skills. Mossie plays the guitar and accordion, while Breeda sings and plays the bodhran. As they are both in the same house they can sing several duets.
Mossie is the leader of the group or ‘fear a tí’ and makes sure that everyone gets a chance to play. Celebrating his 75th birthday in March this year, Mossie has led the Kades Kounty sessions since 2006. This skill transferred perfectly to the online sessions.
Group members exhibit different styles. Anne Foley, Ballincollig and Mick Murphy, Grenagh like the fast Irish reels and jigs. Bernie O’Mahony from Glanmire loves Irish traditional tunes and Irish songs - Zoom is perfect for Bernie’s voice as she sings beautiful soft tunes, like Mo Ghile Mear.
Ina Buckley, Douglas is a beautiful player of gentle tunes. She shines on the Zoom sessions. Ina has introduced lovely tunes to the group such as The Battle of Aughrim, Rosc Catha na Mumhan (Battle Cry of Munster) and the Mist Covered Mountains. Ina introduced a new feature to the sessions, before playing her tune she gives us a history of the tune, the meaning of the tune and the people who played the
tune in different bands. This has started a trend, so now everyone tries to add some words to the tune they are playing, something which would not be possible in a pub session.
Jack Cashman from Watergrasshill plays beautiful Irish and Scottish tunes. All the musicians have expanded their repertoire of tunes thanks to Jack, who plays an amazing rendition of ‘Westering Home’ or as some call it by its Irish name ‘Transna na dTonnta’.
Ina’s daughter, Noreen Buckley plays a range of music, from Jazz to Rock and Roll to French and Venezuelan tunes. Noreen also recites poetry and has even composed a poem about the Glenville Zoom sessions.
‘GLENVILLE ZOOM SESSIONS’
By just sitting in my room,
I can see my friends on Zoom,
Every Thursday night,
My heart fills with delight,
No need for sanitizer Masks, wipes or a visor!
Just do your party piece
And your worries you’ll release.
Thank God for simple pleasures,
In this world of Lockdown measures
God bless each and every one
They shine brilliant like the sun!
- by Noreen Buckley
MUSICAL THEMES
The online sessions have also generated an activity that was not considered in the pub sessions. In December, the focus was on learning as many Christmas tunes as possible. The session on Christmas week was devoted to Christmas tunes. The same happened for Valentine’s Day (love songs) and then for St. Patrick’s Day the focus will be on Irish tunes and tunes related to St. Patrick, encouraging everyone to learn and practice new tunes.
TECHNICAL ISSUES
The coordination the Zoom sessions needs two skills. Anne Foley describes it as “Seán McCarthy as our Zoom organiser and IT expert and Mossie Buckley who structures the order by way of ensuring that everyone is afforded equal opportunity to play, sing, dance, recite poetry and tell stories.”
Seán is an electronics engineer, who delivers training courses all over Europe using Zoom. This expertise was useful when people were getting familiar with the online format.
Mossie Buckley noted, “Only for Sean McCarthy none of this
would have happened. We are so grateful for his help, support and patience.”
Seán highlights one issue that musicians must consider when using Zoom, an application that’s designed from conversation – meetings, classes and friends chatting.
Zoom has a filter that gets rid of background (high pitch) noise, something that is brilliant for conversation, but a nightmare for musicians. When a musician is playing high notes Zoom considers it ‘ noise’ and this is not transmitted. The solution? Very simple - there is a setting called ‘Turn on Original Sound’, which allows Zoom to transmit all the high pitch sounds – or the high notes.
SO WHAT IS THE FUTURE IN A POST COVID WORLD?
This was actually a topic of conversation in one of the Glenville Zoom sessions. The conclusion was that there is room for both types of sessions. Pub sessions cannot be replaced online, as the playing of music together is a great experience.
While the Zoom sessions will continue for learning new tunes, more chat and keeping the friendships alive.