Last night was one of those nights that reminds me how lucky I am to be alive. Music feeds my soul.
But first...the rest of the day.
Breakfast. Walking around. Lovely concert at Dublin City Hall at 1 pm with Uilleann piper Mick O'Brien. Ran into fellow DC-area bodhran players Lauraileen andBarbara Kathy at that concert, swapped numbers, and met up with them later in the day before the evening concert. (I had no idea what a font of knowledge they were in all things Celtic!) There. All caught up.
The concert tonight was with Michael McGoldrick on flute and pipes, Ed Boyd on guitar, and John Jo Kelly on bodhran. We were in the third row at Christchurch Cathedral, which had been converted to a concert venue for the occasion. I sat no more than 20 feet from John Jo Kelly, who is one of the finest bodhran players alive today. I got to watch his every move and expression. As pure and lilting and intense as the other two were on their instruments, Kelly matched them, and in a nearly 5-minute solo at one point, surpassed them. I got to witness three musicians who clearly not only love their craft, but have mastered it.
I found myself at times moved to tears over how beautiful was their playing, and how grateful I was to be able to be there to hear it. It truly was worth the trip just to be there.
But first...the rest of the day.
Breakfast. Walking around. Lovely concert at Dublin City Hall at 1 pm with Uilleann piper Mick O'Brien. Ran into fellow DC-area bodhran players Lauraileen and
The concert tonight was with Michael McGoldrick on flute and pipes, Ed Boyd on guitar, and John Jo Kelly on bodhran. We were in the third row at Christchurch Cathedral, which had been converted to a concert venue for the occasion. I sat no more than 20 feet from John Jo Kelly, who is one of the finest bodhran players alive today. I got to watch his every move and expression. As pure and lilting and intense as the other two were on their instruments, Kelly matched them, and in a nearly 5-minute solo at one point, surpassed them. I got to witness three musicians who clearly not only love their craft, but have mastered it.
I found myself at times moved to tears over how beautiful was their playing, and how grateful I was to be able to be there to hear it. It truly was worth the trip just to be there.
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