The myth of modernity v. trad? or …Pure Drop is a figurative expression in Irish music (not to be conflated with meaning it {The Pure Drop} is absolutely Irish, 100%)

The following, I hope, will be you lot posting *woke observations* about the current state of Irish traditional sessions and how far we have come in understanding “what that is about” based on this site’s discussions over the past 2 decades +.

I should/maybe will have lots to say. First I want to throw out this curious, provocative teaser to spark a few lurkers into spontaneously replying. I hope to get a few nibbles. Maybe nothing will happen once I post.

The game is afoot!

https://thesession.org/discussions/active

“Active discussions”

“Explaining trad music and sessions to those who know nothing about the music”

“58 replies”

I’ll bite. I started with “irish music” from Flogging Molly, then to The Chieftains, then the Bothy Band, then the individual members of the Chieftains, Kevin Berc, Marla Fibish, Mary Bergen, Bobbie Casey, then was gifted a very very large collection of trad with everything from Alten to Silly Wizard.
As far as “The Pure drop” I’ve always thought of that as Bobbie Casey, Michael Coleman, rougher sounding recordings with absolutely lovely music on it that didn’t suffer even though the recording techniques were archaic. Every time WARD Irish Music Archives posts a 78 disc, I get that same little thrill and love it. One day I’ll go through the whole archive.

G’day AB!

Obviously not a lurker, and as one who enjoys a good meal, I won’t be nibbling!

Keep safe and well everyone
All the best
Brian x

It’s a trap!

To my mind pure drop means solo melody instrument playing alone or maybe two in unison. A solo flute player or fiddle player with no backup or a flute player playing in unison with a fiddle player. That is pure drop trad to my mind. All else is modern heresy.

Wodanaz,

I wasn’t going to try and define it here but your description isn’t that far of the mark as regards the way I see things. Everything else, excellent as it may, isn’t really that.
It’s just traditional music to a greater or lesser degree depending on the repertoire, combination of instruments, style of playing etc. We have had long threads over the years about what is or is not acceptable but we’ll not go there now.

Oh, I should add that “pure drop” is an Irish concept although it could arguably apply to other forms of traditional music too. I say that because the posts elsewhere which likely inspired this latest discussion also referred to Scottish and other musicians and music(s) too.

It is unusual to hear solo or duo performances in most sessions but it can happen as long as the other musicians are happy/polite enough to listen. Even on albums, it is rarer these days and even many so called solo recordings also have backing musicians. However, I still love good solo playing when I hear it.

“Pure Drop” is code word for “I learned my chops direct from Bill Monroe in the mountains of West Virginia. Drum kits, electric guitars and saxophones are no part of nothing!”. (edit: oops, wrong forum).

“ “Pure Drop” is code word for “I learned my chops direct from Bill Monroe in the mountains of West Virginia. Drum kits, electric guitars and saxophones are no part of nothing!”. (edit: oops, wrong forum). ”

Bill Monroe sells out!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEb3-RC2DBI

play video

Thanks for all the replies. 😉

I have a bit of free time after keeping my work in order right from early Monday to about an hour ago. The work (my self-employment) keeps me on my toes but I want to contribute to the board too.

The thread is a spinoff in case that point wasn’t clear.

I posted 2 possible options for discussion. The choice is yours. Both is fine. No comment; no problem. No trap intended though I respect your skepticism, Michael Eskin & Brian the Flute.

Blind Bard, my introduction to this traditional music has been similarly eclectic with always something being interpreted in different ways & forever keeping me hungry for more. My personal take on “Pure Drop” it’s like Justice Potter Stewart described pornography before the U.S. Supreme Court though I put it, “I know it when I hear it.”

Wodanaz, good on you for putting what you think right here. Cheers! 😀

Johnny, fair play for expanding on solo playing. I appreciate that.

mandocello & The Boy from County Cook, this may get me suspended but with *tangents* like your replies I want to give both of you my personal welcome to thesession.org! Keep it up.

The Boy from County Cook, personally I don’t know how much we can judge Bill Monroe from the brief clip of him borrowing & playing on an electric instrument. I don’t think though he was trying to sell anyone anything, much less selling out.

For me it can be more interesting when musicians reach beyond their typical wheelhouse. Sometimes it doesn’t hold up. In the following clip, however, I think musicians from different perspectives (but with common respect for each other) they *can* make that reach worth the effort.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxC-kdc6eS0

play video

ps ~ off topic but we lost Tina Turner & I for one will miss her dearly. Thank you, The Acid Queen!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rJGX8uqoL8

play video

Tina was her own wheelhouse.

I think Fats was meant to go into “The Fat Man” after the intro by yer man Bob Laidback there. Ach well.

Randy Newman (Little Criminals)?