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I'm thinking of the powerful air The Fox's Lament that opens, Celtic Soul Rebels Vol 1
the way the piece attempts to capture the spirit of the hunt, the chase, the capture
and so on.
Dicky has included how the different pieces came to his attention and the
folklore surrounding the pieces, making reference to existing ballads and poems from
Darley, De La Mare and Yeats in the accompanying handbook.
The second track on the new collection comprises of six different reels and is a
much livelier affair; one is helpless to resist its boundless energy.
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It would seem that these tunes have been handed down from generation to generation, piper to piper along with the tales that accompany them.
It would also seem that a certain amount of freedom is afforded the piper allowing them to experiment and play around with arrangements making subtle changes hither and thither to create new and pleasing combinations.
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Dicky talks about coming across a particular reel in a bar in Galway, or a pub on Ladbroke Grove or of hearing one somewhere deep in the Australian Territories. He then learns it, perhaps making particular changes, and adding it to part of his repertoire. This strikes me as a good way to spread the music, the stories, the mythmaking and the romanticism.
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The tunes, and stories attributed to them, often involve traditional folklore.
Magical tales that inspire the soul, suspending belief and rational thought,
provide the framework for this music to find its way into another heart.
The theme of love too appears repeatedly. Sometimes a desperate helpless love; a deep-seated
passion that when declared will result in rejection, as in the hopeful air Casadh an Tsugan
(Twisting the Hayrope) The low rumbling of the earthy drone underpins a succession of higher
notes however one is not exclusive to the other.
The forms of air, jig and reel, can be combined as in An Buinnean Bui (The Yellow Bittern/The
King Of the Pipers)
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This number starts of with a sorrowful air about a bittern (a type of
wading bird found in reed beds with an unmistakable deep booming call)
The bird has apparently succumbed to the wintry conditions and has died of thirst on the frozen lake. |
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Then from somewhere we are launched into a five part jig as Dicky is joined by
John Meskel on the aforementioned Dord Iseal.
This time a tall tale is attributed to one movement in the composition. This time it's the tale of a despondent piper by a river who, for sparing a salmon the fate of ending up as supper, begets a wish from the fish, but cunningly the tale ends with the piper pondering the true nature of art.
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Once again the full story is in the accompanying handbook along with the others. My favourite tale has
to be the one attributed to the reel The Smokey House a tale from the time of
Ireland's trade fairs and the young girl's impudent wordplay.
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This collection is released via Diamond Life Records in a hope to reach new audiences
and move Uilleann Pipes and Dicky Deegan firmly into the digital market.
Paul Cooke MD of DLR returned from London in 1990 and setup IVI Records.
It was co-funded by Hull City Council and was run from Middleton Street School Hull.
This was an arts centre housing Remould et al. It had a recording studio and produced
two singles and one promo video for general release.
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IVI Records worked in conjunction with producers from Cold Storage studios in Brixton.
However despite getting airplay and some distribution,
IVI Records essentially ran out of money. They couldn't compete with the big
Indies and Majors at the time and with no financial backing other than
funding the project sadly ended in 1997 with Paul attending Hull School of
Art & Design full time to pursue a degree in Fine Art.
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Diamond Life Records (DLR) currently has around ten artists signed from every corner of the globe and has released around ten albums and various Maxi singles (Mini E'P's) in the same space of time. 'We are still going strong picking up new artists all the time, as well as pushing music for synch licenses for film and tv commercials etc'.
They are no longer constrained financially or logistically with distribution being dirt cheap.
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The only real constraints now are the marketing budgets but even that can be worked around with a little knowledge of viral networks and hard work. So DLR have none of the barriers they faced in 1990 competing with the major record companies. Even radio is not a problem seeing the BBC have lost the grip on airplay and they can and will find ways into broadcasting via new media conduits in the future.
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Dicky will still be taking along his box of CDs to shows but a move into the world of
downloads is inevitable and will provide the listener with the ability to own and
enjoy the magical sound of the Uilleann Pipes.
You can catch Dicky Deegan playing live at Palimpesest 2009 and also at Ecofest and
Small World festivals among other dates this year. He is also due to appear with the
IHOS Opera Company's production "To Traverse Water" at the Adelaide Arts Festival in 2010.
"Ahh... but what about Dicky playing atop the Sydney Opera House," I hear you ask,
"Or was that just another tall story?"
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Well, Dicky has performed as Uilleann Pipes soloist for several seasons at the
Sydney Opera House. On the occasion in question, he was asked to play at a
special event to commemorate 30 years of the iconic building.
Joining forces with the Sydney Philharmonic Orchestra.
Dicky Deegan and didgeridoo maestro Mark Atkins provided a spectacular finale to the celebrations.
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Just as the last piece died away in the concert hall, Dicky quickly disassembled his
pipes and was attached to a harness in order to climb up a gantry to the top of one of
the famous sails. Overlooking Sydney Harbour he rebuilt the pipes and proceeded to play
accompanied by Mark Atkins atop one of the other sails. Many feet below as concert-goers filed out of the opera house, giant mining trucks circled and wheeled in a colossal mechanized ballet.
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Fireworks, lasers and lightning added more drama to this awe-inspiring spectacle as pipes, Aboriginal and Uilleann provided the soundtrack.
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Sadly the only picture Dicky has found of the event, is one from the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) but it's of his playing partner Mark Atkins, although amusingly the caption says the figure on top of the sail is actually Dicky.
If any of our readers have pictures or footage of what must have been a remarkable show or
knows someone who has please get in touch with us and share your memories on here.
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Copyright © Michelle Dee 2009
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People - An Interview With Woody Woodmansey By Steve Rudd
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Brace yourselves, one and all. Michael Collins, who is actually related to
the famous Irish Nationalist of the same name, is the author of acclaimed novels
The Keepers of Truth, The Resurrectionists and Lost Souls.
He has just finished tying up all the loose ends of his latest story in
The Secret Life Of E. Robert Pendleton, which is due to hit bookstores
very soon indeed.
Read more...
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People - Interview With Adrian Davis Writer Of The Slide Musical By Michelle Dee Photos By Paul Wright
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Where did the idea of the story come from, when did you start writing it, how long, and what considerations did you make during the writing process?
I came up with the idea of writing a musical in 2000.
I scribbled out a few notes relating to various stories.
Having listened to my well used Carry on up the Charts album I began to take notes with a view
Read more...
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People - Beautiful South Exclusive - An Interview with Front Man, Paul Heaton By Julia Grant
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It's been almost three months now since Hull heroes, The Beautiful South,
announced their decision to split up due to "musical similarities".
ThisisUll.com caught up with Paul for an exclusive first interview since
the news emerged, to find out the story behind the break up of the band, what
he's upto now and his plans for the future.
You've been
Read more...
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People - What's Going On at Woodford By Cilla
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Kim Stabler doesn't just enjoy her job; she loves it.
As Area coordinator for Hull City Council Crèches, she's based at Woodford Leisure Centre
but manages the children's care facilities at Woodford, Ennerdale and Costello Leisure Centres in Hull.
She's a lively, smiling mother of 3 girls and has worked in childcare since she was
21, when her first daughter
Read more...
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People - An Interview With The Five O'Clock Heroes By Michelle Dee People Gallery By Julia Grant
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Mich: Where does the name Five O'Clock Heroes come from?
Ant: It comes from a Jam song Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero? A reviewer once referred to it as the weakest Jam single.
Jules: Are you big fans of The Jam then?
Ant: Musically I don't think they influence us, how we play or how we sound, but
maybe on the bus we'll listen
Read more...
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People - An Interview With David Rovics By Nicholas Boldock
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David Rovics, like many musicians, was born into a musical family.
Both of his parents are classical pianists, and his father is also a composer.
He has a sister who plays the flute. Little wonder then that David is also an
accomplished musician, though his own expertise lies not in the classical arena
but as a contemporary folk singer, guitarist and songwriter.
Read more...
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People - Introducing Jimmy "Eyes" Andrews By Michelle Dee
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Jimmy Andrews plays guitar, Jimmy Andrews plays bass, Jimmy Andrews can sing.
Jimmy is sometimes known as Jimmy Eyes. If you have been down to Durty Nellies in the old
town for the Band Apart night on a Wednesday run by Dave Elf ably supported by Rosie from the
Mainbrace on Beverley Road then you may well have already seen him in action.
Read more...
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People - The Genius of Eric Bogosian By Steve Rudd
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Eric who? Eric Bogosian!
What do you mean you've never heard of him? Ah, well that's your loss, ain't it?
Still, there is a chance that you might have seen him and not even realised it, as he's
appeared in numerous US movies such as Under Siege 2 and Dolores Claiborne for starters.
Having said that, over in the US he's probably far better
Read more...
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People - Jean Dench Of Metheringham Music Factory
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Jean Dench runs Metheringham Music Factory, a set of rehearsal rooms that she has set
up herself, converted from stables in the heart of rural Lincolnshire.
It's a relatively new project that Jean hopes will go from strength to strength.
Here she talks to thisisull about her inspiration and aspirations...
'Ok. I was recently interviewed on local BBC
Read more...
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People - Interview with Outspoken Silence By Bekki Stephenson and Michelle Dee
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This site has long been the first choice for information on the local Indie scene,
but due to the voluntary nature of submissions each and every genre does not always get covered.
One of those genres is Emo and so to remedy this we travelled to
Chocolate Factory rehearsal rooms on
Wincomlee to meet leading band Outspoken Silence.
Read more...
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People - An Interview With Tajinere By Steve Rudd
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Tajinere is an extraordinary Hip-Hop artist who is based in Hull.
He's been writing songs from a young age and has recently set up his own record
label in order to better promote his music, including his recent single release Ours Tonight.
He not only dabbles in Hip-Hop, as there are plenty of other musical influences thrown
into the artful mix from Soul, Pop
Read more...
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People - An Interview With James Lovegrove By Steve Rudd
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James Lovegrove is an extraordinary writer of novels in every respect imaginable.
His novels are in turns surreal, life-affirming and bizarre.
He has written a number of acclaimed novels such as The Hope and The Foreigners,
and his latest masterpiece in Provender Greed has recently been published to rave reviews.
He is also the author of Wings, a bewitching
Read more...
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People - An Interview With Local Writer Ian Newton
By Jane Foster
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Ian Newton, aka Ahmed Debani, is a local writer known for his exposure of John Prescott in his book Dustbingate, which caused a scandal a few years back. Ian is also the author of two other books with a local theme - Pizza Wars, about corruption in the takeaway industry, and The Night Shift, a
comedy written in the form of a sitcom about the antics of a group of local
Read more...
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People - Meet Michelle - A Tale of Two Halves By Jo Allison
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From tanning salons, to nightclubs and inventions galore, we meet Hull's most
fabulously fascinating tranny.
Michelle, or Mike, depending how you know her, proves
that transvestites are not, as widely believed, like vampires who only come out at night.
Sitting in a hotel, cigarette and coffee in hand, Michelle blends into the classy,
traditional setting.
Dressed like all the other
Read more...
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People - An Interview With Hey Negrita By Steve Rudd
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Hey Negrita are an awesome Americana-laced indie-rock outfit based in London.
Fronted by singer and guitarist Felix, the band has recently released a new
single, Can't Walk Away, which is a sublimely catchy song that precedes their
forthcoming album, The Buzz Above.
Here Felix chats to Steve Rudd about their new material, touring and some of
Read more...
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People - An Interview With Nick Quantrill By Steve Rudd
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Regular visitors to thisisUll.com should be familiar with the writing talents of
Nick Quantrill, as he often contributes short stories to the site.
His Complicity novella recently featured on the site, an exciting Crime Short that
was unmistakably set in Hull and that featured a number of decidedly shady characters
getting up to no good in and around various well-known
Read more...
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People - The Genius of Eric Bogosian By Steve Rudd
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Eric who? Eric Bogosian!
What do you mean you've never heard of him? Ah, well that's your loss, ain't it?
Still, there is a chance that you might have seen him and not even realised it, as he's
appeared in numerous US movies such as Under Siege 2 and Dolores Claiborne for starters.
Having said that, over in the US he's probably far better
Read more...
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People - Interview with Afterglow By Michelle Dee Photographs By Ashleigh
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Bathing in the Afterglow at Quintessential Sessions Quayside
The latest band to catch my ear Afterglow, take their name from the nineteen sixty-eight,
Mod anthem Afterglow (of your love) by East end boys The Small Faces.
I met up with the fresh faced group in new music venue Quayside, where they were
playing live later
Read more...
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People - An Interview With Peter Moore By Steve Rudd
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Peter Moore has been described as the Jim Carrey of travel-writing,
and whoever boldly coined such a cunning comment actually isn't half wrong.
Anybody who has read any of Peter's genuinely madcap travel books, such as
The Wrong Way Home or The Full Montezuma, will surely agree, as he manages
to negotiate all manner of
Read more...
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People - An Interview With Woody Woodmansey By Steve Rudd
|
|
Brace yourselves, one and all. Michael Collins, who is actually related to
the famous Irish Nationalist of the same name, is the author of acclaimed novels
The Keepers of Truth, The Resurrectionists and Lost Souls.
He has just finished tying up all the loose ends of his latest story in
The Secret Life Of E. Robert Pendleton, which is due to hit bookstores
very soon indeed.
Read more...
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People - An Interview With William Landay By Steve Rudd
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William (or Bill, for short) Landay is a hot new American crime writer who has recently published
his debut novel - Mission Flats - to widespread critical acclaim.
William is currently hard at work on his second novel, which is due to be published next year.
Still, amidst his busy writing schedule, William kindly managed to take a little time out to
chat exclusively to Steve Rudd
Read more...
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People - An Interview With Peter May By Steve Rudd
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I'd like to introduce you to Peter May, a writer of thriller novels that
are genuinely exhilarating affairs from start to finish.
Peter is famous for writing his series of China Thrillers - a
series that includes his Firemaker novel, along with the racy
Snakehead story that is set in Texas.
Peter always carries out intensive research into the places in
which he sets his stories; he also
Read more...
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