Kevin Elam
Kevin Elam
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Traditional Song Lesson: "Bold Fenian Men" (with harmony!)
To see more content and support these videos - www.patreon.com/kevinelammusic
Hey friends, in this lesson we delve into a haunting Irish song, composed around the time of the 1916 Easter Rising by Republican patriot Peadar Kearney, who also wrote the National Anthem of the Republic of Ireland. Although I've known of this song for years, I fell more intimately in love with it after hearing a beautiful rendition in the Crane Bar in Galway two summers ago, complete with spontaneous, heartfelt harmony singing from all present - a truly moving experience.
In this video, I discuss the meaning and background of the song and the historical events and names to which it alludes; I also teach the melody, along with some traditional vocal ornamentation; and finally, I teach you a simple three-voice background harmony for the song. I recommend teaching these harmony parts to a group of friends, then have your strongest singer take the lead melody, for a fully immersive, transformative Fenian song experience to rival the song circles of yore!
Переглядів: 178

Відео

Jesse & Kevin - Scotland the Brave Set
Переглядів 102Місяць тому
A crowd favorite followed by a modern jig and reel. From a concert at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Jesse & Kevin - Foggy Dew
Переглядів 65Місяць тому
The great ballad of the 1916 Easter Uprising, "Foggy Dew", written by Francis O'Neill, followed by Road to Lisdoonvarna on uilleann pipes. From a concert at First Congregational Church of Washington, Connecticut.
Jesse & Kevin - Father John Set
Переглядів 68Місяць тому
Jesse Ofgang (great highland pipes) & Kevin Elam (guitar) perform a march and two reels. From our first tour, a performance in Redding, CT in August 2024.
Kevin Elam - Plains of Waterloo
Переглядів 3063 місяці тому
To buy the album directly - kevinelammusic.com/store Other listening options - kevinelammusic.hearnow.com/if-i-were-a-small-bird "Plains of Waterloo" This lengthy ballad, collected in 1957 in Ontario, was picked up by singers in the British Isles, and became Frank Harte’s winning ballad in the 1973 All-Ireland contest. “Plains of Waterloo” features wondrously detailed Napoleonic imagery, a capt...
Ars Gratia Populi - The Turtle Dove (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
Переглядів 2444 місяці тому
www.kevinelammusic.com/agp "The Turtle Dove" Traditional English Arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 -1958) First published 1924 "Fare you well my dear I must be gone and leave you for a while If I roam away I'll come back again Though I roam ten thousand miles, my dear Though I roam ten thousand miles So fair art thou, my bonny lass So deep in love am I But I never will prove false to the...
Kevin Elam: "Bist Du Bei Mir" (Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel)
Переглядів 544 місяці тому
Kevin Elam, tenor Accompanied by Collin Power, piano
Ars Gratia Populi - Peace and Joy (Sacred Harp Hymnal)
Переглядів 944 місяці тому
www.kevinelammusic.com/agp "Peace and Joy", from the Sacred Harp Hymnal (1950 edition) Text by John Bowring; Tune by Paine Denson Recorded live April 21st, 2024 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Alexandria VA "In the cross of Christ I glory, Tow’ring o’er the wrecks of time; All the light of sacred story, Gathers ’round its head sublime. When the woes of life o’ertake me, Hopes deceive and fears ...
Ars Gratia Populi - Hosanna to the Son of David (Thomas Weelkes)
Переглядів 1264 місяці тому
www.kevinelammusic.com/agp "Hosanna to the Son of David", by Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623), recorded live April 21st, 2024 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Alexandria VA "Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord. Thou that sittest in the highest heavens: Hosanna in excelsis Deo!" ARS GRATIA POPULI Amanda Densmoor - Soprano Amelia Brooks-Everist - Alto Dan...
Ars Gratia Populi - I am the Resurrection (Thomas Morley)
Переглядів 934 місяці тому
www.kevinelammusic.com/agp "I am the Resurrection", from the Burial Service attributed to Thomas Morley (1557 - 1602), recorded live April 21st, 2024 at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Alexandria VA ARS GRATIA POPULI Soprano: Amanda Densmoor Alto: Amelia Brooks-Everist, Dan O'Neill Tenor, Director: Kevin Elam Tenor: John Mullan Bass: David Breen "I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord:...
Irish Bouzouki Counterpoint: Sally Gardens
Переглядів 6854 місяці тому
Hey friends, per popular request, here's another bouzouki counterpoint lesson! This lesson builds off of what we learned in "Learning Sally Gardens by Ear" so if you haven't already watched that one, check it out! Learning Sally Gardens by Ear (watch first): ua-cam.com/video/U5YXefH7Yhg/v-deo.html
Learning "Sally Gardens" by Ear
Переглядів 4284 місяці тому
Hey friends - in this video we are learning the common Irish reel "Sally Gardens" by ear! This lesson is suitable for anyone who wants to learn the tune, regardless of instrument. We will work mostly with our voices, but at the end I also do a quick demo of the tune on the zouk, tuned GDAD.
Ars Gratia Populi - Sicut Lilium Inter Spinas II (Palestrina)
Переглядів 1145 місяців тому
www.kevinelammusic.com/agp From our April 21, 2024 concert at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA, "This is the Day: Sacred Music for Easter." Soprano - Amanda Densmoor Alto - Dan O'Neill and Amelia Brooks-Everist Tenor 1 & Director - Kevin Elam Tenor 2 - John Mullan Bass - David Breen
Ars Gratia Populi - Je Suis Deshéritée (Pierre Cadéac)
Переглядів 1517 місяців тому
Ars Gratia Populi, directed by Kevin Elam Soprano: Amanda Densmoor Alto: Amelia Brooks-Everist, Dan O'Neill Tenor: Kevin Elam Bass: John Mullan, David Breen In Pierre Cadéac's most popular chanson, the singer mourns being deserted by her lover. The piece became wildly popular in the 16th century and served as the model for not a few parody masses by Gombert, Guyon, Lassus, Maillard, de Marle an...
Ars Gratia Populi - Fair Phyllis (John Farmer)
Переглядів 2557 місяців тому
Ars Gratia Populi, directed by Kevin Elam Soprano: Amanda Densmoor, Amelia Brooks-Everist Alto: Dan O'Neill Tenor: Kevin Elam Bass: John Mullan, David Breen "Fair Phyllis" is a well-known madrigal by an otherwise little-known English composer, John Farmer. It describes a quaint pastoral scene wherein an amorous shepherd seeks, and ultimately finds, his favored shepherdess. "Fair Phyllis I saw s...
Basic Tin Whistle Ornamentation: The Swallowtail Jig
Переглядів 4 тис.7 місяців тому
Basic Tin Whistle Ornamentation: The Swallowtail Jig
Kevin Elam & Friends: Mole in the Ground
Переглядів 2047 місяців тому
Kevin Elam & Friends: Mole in the Ground
Kevin Elam - Lark in the Morning Medley (with David McKindley-Ward and Agi Kovacs)
Переглядів 3928 місяців тому
Kevin Elam - Lark in the Morning Medley (with David McKindley-Ward and Agi Kovacs)
Ars Gratia Populi - Je me suis levé par un matinet (French trad., arranged by Kevin Elam)
Переглядів 1368 місяців тому
Ars Gratia Populi - Je me suis levé par un matinet (French trad., arranged by Kevin Elam)
Ars Gratia Populi - Es ist Ein Ros Entsprungen (M. Praetorius)
Переглядів 1008 місяців тому
Ars Gratia Populi - Es ist Ein Ros Entsprungen (M. Praetorius)
Ars Gratia Populi - Three Ravens (Thomas Ravenscroft)
Переглядів 21410 місяців тому
Ars Gratia Populi - Three Ravens (Thomas Ravenscroft)
Ars Gratia Populi - L'Amour de Moy (Richafort)
Переглядів 22310 місяців тому
Ars Gratia Populi - L'Amour de Moy (Richafort)
Ars Gratia Populi - O chì, chì mi na mòrbheanna (James MacMillan)
Переглядів 68210 місяців тому
Ars Gratia Populi - O chì, chì mi na mòrbheanna (James MacMillan)
Ars Gratia Populi - Margot Labourez Les Vignes (Arcadelt)
Переглядів 68010 місяців тому
Ars Gratia Populi - Margot Labourez Les Vignes (Arcadelt)
Kevin Elam - You Rambling Boys of Pleasure
Переглядів 390Рік тому
Kevin Elam - You Rambling Boys of Pleasure
Kevin Elam - Lakes of Pontchartrain (with David McKindley-Ward and Alice Bradley)
Переглядів 700Рік тому
Kevin Elam - Lakes of Pontchartrain (with David McKindley-Ward and Alice Bradley)
Kevin Elam - Mystery Reel / Jolly Tinker (with Alice Bradley and David McKindley-Ward)
Переглядів 330Рік тому
Kevin Elam - Mystery Reel / Jolly Tinker (with Alice Bradley and David McKindley-Ward)
William Byrd - Ave Verum Corpus (sung by Kevin Elam)
Переглядів 304Рік тому
William Byrd - Ave Verum Corpus (sung by Kevin Elam)
Irish Whistle: How to Play in "Other Keys"
Переглядів 584Рік тому
Irish Whistle: How to Play in "Other Keys"
Fretting & Picking: Kevin's Technique Tips
Переглядів 237Рік тому
Fretting & Picking: Kevin's Technique Tips

КОМЕНТАРІ

  • @irishflutegirl9022
    @irishflutegirl9022 9 днів тому

    Beautiful. Thanks for sharing ! ❤

  • @irishflutegirl9022
    @irishflutegirl9022 9 днів тому

    I am so glad you mentioned doing Rolls on the off beats ! I always wondered about that 😊. Thank you ! This is a great tutorial.

  • @musicfundamentals9938
    @musicfundamentals9938 14 днів тому

    So well done. Lovely voice, too! Thank you.

  • @hughjosephfeely
    @hughjosephfeely 16 днів тому

    Thanks for the lesson 🙏

  • @lialeibman472
    @lialeibman472 24 дні тому

    SO beautiful. Thank you.

  • @els1f
    @els1f Місяць тому

    This was a great explanation and Imma tongue cut tap all over the place now, thanks! 🙃🙌

  • @SandraSElam
    @SandraSElam Місяць тому

    When I think of Scottish music, I think of Scotland the Brave. Nice job!

  • @SandraSElam
    @SandraSElam Місяць тому

    Foggy Dew is one of my favorites and this is a particularly good rendition. Thanks for posting!

  • @BenjaminHockenberry
    @BenjaminHockenberry Місяць тому

    Lovely rendition, thanks for the walkthrough Kevin!

  • @irishflutegirl9022
    @irishflutegirl9022 Місяць тому

    This was amazing, Thank you so much. ❤😊 I will see if I can do this!

  • @manuelgonzales6483
    @manuelgonzales6483 Місяць тому

    🪈🙄

  • @donaldandbecki
    @donaldandbecki Місяць тому

    nice trews

  • @irishsquire1
    @irishsquire1 Місяць тому

    Hi Kevin, i have watched loads of videos. I can never understand what's going on You make it so clear. I was wondering if You give one to one lesson?

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 3 дні тому

      Yes I do! You can email me at kevin@kevinelammusic.com

  • @alyssastanton
    @alyssastanton Місяць тому

    It’s really cool to hear just how much the guitar fleshes out the chords and makes the tunes more full-bodied. That plus yalls stage presence looks like this was a fun concert :)

  • @kingsexton
    @kingsexton Місяць тому

    Very nice i also like tommy makems version

  • @MarieahM
    @MarieahM Місяць тому

    You've joined Ye Vagabonds as one of two best ever versions of this lovely song❤

  • @roundtowerproductions
    @roundtowerproductions Місяць тому

    These videos are really unbelievable. So much skill on so many different levels. Cant wait to watch more. Thanks very much for the beautiful playing.

  • @roundtowerproductions
    @roundtowerproductions Місяць тому

    Pure Mastery

  • @alyssastanton
    @alyssastanton Місяць тому

    Not going to give any spoilers away for anyone, but there’s a segue that gets me in the feels every time I hear it. Good call adding it to the song 🤩

  • @SandraSElam
    @SandraSElam Місяць тому

    That's some great playing there!

  • @Roensmusic
    @Roensmusic Місяць тому

    these drums sound really nice, flute should be a low i prefer

  • @carmeladams9566
    @carmeladams9566 Місяць тому

    Thanks so much for this lesson Kevin. It is the best lesson on taps etc. that I've watched (and there's been a number). You are a great teacher. Greetings from Australia.

  • @SandraSElam
    @SandraSElam 2 місяці тому

    What an amazing group of singers.

  • @ИванЛюбимов-э9м
    @ИванЛюбимов-э9м 2 місяці тому

    So pure voice! Please do one more whistle ornamentation tutorial

  • @Marjorie-yt7pb
    @Marjorie-yt7pb 2 місяці тому

    1 comment , for 300 views in 3 years! I do not understand it !!😅 - thank you for uploading this tremendous work😊!!

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 2 місяці тому

      @@Marjorie-yt7pb thank you! It is my pleasure!

  • @nickgottier3713
    @nickgottier3713 2 місяці тому

    I just want to show some appreciation: I first stumbled on some of your videos about a year ago when I picked up a bouzouki and had really no idea what I was doing. They were a bit above my level at the time. Coming back after knowing a bit more - you are a damn good teacher. I have a long ways to go but your videos are going to help a lot.

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 2 місяці тому

      @@nickgottier3713 Nick thank you so much for your comment. It really means a lot to me!

  • @Marjorie-yt7pb
    @Marjorie-yt7pb 2 місяці тому

    🎉wow , good voice ! And accompaniment , of course 😮

  • @greadore
    @greadore 2 місяці тому

    Thanks, a good and informative video for newbies on incorporating cuts, taps and rolls in this tune. Very helpful.

  • @eshaneogy
    @eshaneogy 2 місяці тому

    My medieval and Renaissance group in London just did this, only we added a 4-part version too. Yours is so good! Great pulse and flow, really appealing timbre to your voice. Do you ever get to London?

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 2 місяці тому

      i've only ever been to London for one day! I'd love to make a more proper visit. I'm friends with Paddy Allies (Siglo de Oro - do you know them?) Would love to link up with more early music enjoyers there!

    • @eshaneogy
      @eshaneogy 2 місяці тому

      @@KevinElamMusic I know of Siglo de Oro - really good group! Hope you can connect with people over time. My group is @ensembletramontana but I wonder if one such as Apollo's Cabinet would be better quality or a better fit. I'll keep thinking!

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 2 місяці тому

      @@eshaneogy I'll follow you!

    • @eshaneogy
      @eshaneogy 2 місяці тому

      @@KevinElamMusic Aw, thank you so much! I'm following you already, will have the group follow you too!

  • @liamoconlocha3264
    @liamoconlocha3264 3 місяці тому

    Beautifully explained Kevin, though I learned to.play full down, e string up and also short down, my question is what are ypur thoughts on this?

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 3 місяці тому

      Can you explain more what you mean?

    • @liamoconlocha3264
      @liamoconlocha3264 3 місяці тому

      @@KevinElamMusic wow! That is fast! I play aheavyish down, then light down, then just tip the d or e string on the way up in jigs, I was wondering what your thoughts are, as the main beat is always the more full first beat. Again, great lessons on Irish bouzouki, if you ever get to the lowlands...I'll have the red carpet out

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 3 місяці тому

      @@liamoconlocha3264 cheers mate. so you effectively do DDU, if i'm understanding you correctly? That seems like it could work out all right, although I prefer the pickup (third) note to have a bit more strength, hence DUD. But I'm sure you could work out DDU to sound good, too

    • @liamoconlocha3264
      @liamoconlocha3264 3 місяці тому

      @@KevinElamMusic thamk Thanks for that Kevin much appreciated, I heard you state in your strumming technique video that it wise to learn as many patterns as possible, which I like.

  • @markc1234golf
    @markc1234golf 3 місяці тому

    I think i'm gonna cheat with this one haha record slow and then play back faster ;) i can do cuts but not rolls cause of the taps for some reason i can't get into the swing of that. Been playing for a year and half do you think it'll come with time??

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 2 місяці тому

      Yes. Practice the tap movement every day. remember the motion has to be very quick but super relaxed. You'll get it!

    • @markc1234golf
      @markc1234golf 2 місяці тому

      @@KevinElamMusic thanks for the encouragement :)

  • @jamesfloyd8504
    @jamesfloyd8504 3 місяці тому

    Surely you're in E Dorrian?

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 3 місяці тому

      Yep, but in trad music we typically just say E minor. Dorian is a type of minor scale.

    • @jamesfloyd8504
      @jamesfloyd8504 3 місяці тому

      @KevinElamMusic The dorrian scale is neither major nor minor. It's part of what gives Irish music its unique character.

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 3 місяці тому

      ​@@jamesfloyd8504I'm fully aware of what the Dorian (not Dorrian) mode is. Although it is not the same as the NATURAL minor scale, it nonetheless has a minor triad, and so it can be thought of as a minor mode. In the Irish traditional music community we typically just call this mode E minor for simplicity's sake. Most folks are interested in knowing what the tonic chord is going to be, and in this case, the tonic chord is E minor. Yes I'm aware of the technical distinctions between the classical E minor (natural minor) key signature and E Dorian. But it's just not super important for Irish traditional music to get fussy about the different names.

    • @jamesfloyd8504
      @jamesfloyd8504 3 місяці тому

      E Minor scale has F sharp. E Dorian scale has F and C sharp. I do think it's important to get the proper terminology.

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 3 місяці тому

      @@jamesfloyd8504 E natural minor, yes. There are several kinds of minor. E melodic minor has F#, C# and D#. E harmonic minor has F# and D#. E dorian minor has C# and F#. If you don't want to call Dorian "minor", that's fine, I can't force you. But it is a minor mode. Also, this isn't classical music. There are different standards of nomenclature. The point of the video is to teach folks about what we in Irish trad music call E minor - which is the mode you find in this video. By the way, the tune itself is barely even Dorian, having just one passing C#, which could easily be omitted without drastically affecting the tune (on the and of 2 in measure 7 of both A and B parts). If you'd rather think of it as E (natural) minor with one C# as an accidental, that works too.

  • @bonenfant96
    @bonenfant96 3 місяці тому

    Wow !.

  • @ИванЛюбимов-э9м
    @ИванЛюбимов-э9м 3 місяці тому

    Hello from Russia. Thank you so much. You are the one hwo explained well about irish ornaments. I'm learning recorder for 3 mounth

  • @rickjones641
    @rickjones641 3 місяці тому

    Beautiful version, and amazingly performed!

  • @marvinpatrick4824
    @marvinpatrick4824 3 місяці тому

    WOW! Absolutely superb! You're always smooth, but that was exceptional!

  • @LindsayStraw
    @LindsayStraw 3 місяці тому

    Ah, lovely rendition! The combination of your ornamentation, delivery and the harmonium is just perfect.

  • @manuelgonzales6483
    @manuelgonzales6483 3 місяці тому

  • @robthekit
    @robthekit 3 місяці тому

    Could you make an album of jigs where you just sing the melody accompanied by the bouzouki? 👀 Cause damn I could listen to that all day 🙌🏻 it sounds so cozy

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 3 місяці тому

      i've actually thought about that! added to bucket list

  • @SandraSElam
    @SandraSElam 4 місяці тому

    I love this piece! You did a great job, Kevin. What is it called in English?

  • @SandraSElam
    @SandraSElam 4 місяці тому

    You sound great, Kevin. I love Vaughan Williams music.

  • @manuelgonzales6483
    @manuelgonzales6483 4 місяці тому

    😮❤

  • @BrieCheese-o5v
    @BrieCheese-o5v 4 місяці тому

    You'd be much quicker throwing on a tune/getting someone to play a tune in E minor and using your ears than sitting for 40 mins listening to this boring, wanna-be Irish narcissist...talk about staring at yourself in the pool...

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 4 місяці тому

      None of my videos are EVER meant to replace the indispensable value you'll get from simply playing tunes with friends! I always encourage real world application. Sorry if this video wasn't for you. Cheers!

    • @eoinkelly8507
      @eoinkelly8507 3 місяці тому

      @@KevinElamMusicDon’t pay any attention to that horrible comment - he was probably pissed drunk when he commented. I have been playing along with musicians live for years but your video is giving me some great new pointers in accompaniment of minor tunes. It’s always good to reevaluate your info every now and again - especially the zook

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 3 місяці тому

      @@eoinkelly8507 thanks for the support, I really appreciate it!

  • @irishflutegirl9022
    @irishflutegirl9022 4 місяці тому

  • @FBrigdon
    @FBrigdon 4 місяці тому

    Good stuff! Thank you, sir!

  • @irishflutegirl9022
    @irishflutegirl9022 4 місяці тому

    ❤ty😊 this is excellent 👌

  • @draugwath92113
    @draugwath92113 4 місяці тому

    Thanks a bunch! I really dig your counterpoint videos. This style finally stops looking like magic and starts making sense.

  •  4 місяці тому

    Really mind-blowingly good! 'S math dha-rìribh uile! 🎉

  • @artemiski1990
    @artemiski1990 4 місяці тому

    I really loved this. The best analysis of Vivaldi's music ive found on UA-cam. I really hope you do more in the future, if not Vivaldi then any other of the great baroque composers out there. There is such little attention paid to their music compared to that of the classical/romantic/modern eras, I guess people might think that all baroque/early music recycles the same formulas (partly true given how they had to crank out music like a factory), but there was clearly so much genius innovation that modern audiences would appreciate learning about if they are given the opportunity. And I like that you do long-form videos, not enough of those on UA-cam for music theory.

    • @KevinElamMusic
      @KevinElamMusic 4 місяці тому

      Thank you so much for the comment. I'm really glad you enjoyed the video. I definitely plan to do some more in-depth Baroque analysis videos soon!