She may be playing a lot of ornamentation (bowed triplets in this case) in her work, but her speed, accuracy and quality of playing are simply brilliant. Eileen Ivers is to t' fiddle as Joanie Madden is t' the Irish whistle, or Davey Spillane t' the low whistles/uilleann pipes. A really great performance. It isn't a matter, so much of what one plays, as it is how one plays it - and this is a five-star, thumbs up piece of work. I could spot three pieces of traditional jigs/reels in there as sort of a medley, but as someone else pointed out, many Gaelic tunes are known by multiple names. Simply stated, this is a breath-taking performance - no matter what it is. I just wish I had the breath to keep up with this on my whistles!
The first time I saw Eileeen Ivers live was in a blue dress at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco when she toured with the second iteration of Riverdance. She was simply amazing at how she was dancing around the stage with her blue fiddle, not missing a note and coming up with some of the most fantastic Irish fiddling I have ever seen. To play like that, one needs to be above par with both hands -- as no matter what one does with the left hand, the bo w still needs to make the string have a voice - which means keeping that bow a movin'!
Eileen was a founding member of Cherish the Ladies! We first saw her in the ORIGINAL Riverdance in London in the nineties, before the show came to the US!
Years ago Gerry Holland, Stan Chapman and I were driving with her from DC to Baltimore on the Interstate. She was rolling along at about 80 MPH and then....boom... boom.! She never let up and said..."Road kill". LOL!
Which of Eileen's albums sounds most like this? I could listen to this for hours but I'm not a big fan of her electric stuff. Who agrees an Iver's Solo Fiddle album would be divine?
I think its probably because you're able put more weight down when starting the triplet and can dig in more. Eileen Ivers' triplets are fantastic, really fast, and have a great percussive effect, which for short triplets is the holy grail for fiddle players. I guess that the way she holds the bow really helps her. Its really important to make sure you feel comfortable though, so try experimenting with turning your hand to different angles, with different fingers on the bow. Hope this helps!
I know the second tune as that! (you wrote your comment four years ago so now you'll have to listen to this video again to find out what I'm on about! :¬)
It's called "Green Fields of Antrim." There is a beautiful 4:30 version of it with her and a guitar player on the Fordham University Radio album "Triocha," but it's very hard to find.
@ormoluinhen There may be some who like a tight bow, but most (myself included), prefer it just tight enough. What's really astounding, is the fact that she holds her bow with her three fingers and has such AMAZING control! I asked her about it once and all she said was that she just developed it (that style), over the years.
This is from a documentary about Irish trad music back in the early nineties. It featured a lot of new talent at the time. I have her first and second albums. Both are good but wild blue is the best driving album in the world, though you might get done for speeding.
Hey, I know you posted this a while ago, but in case you'd still like some advice, here goes! I'm classically trained, so have always held it at the frog (12 years or so). A few months ago at Bath Irish Summer School, I noticed the teacher (Nancy Kerr) holding the bow further up and have tried to copy. For me it's really helped improve the sound and it makes triplets a lot easier to play, as you have more control over the bow and can dig in more. So I definitely find it helps and recommend it!
@@BrainFPatterson Ah yes, in Donegal it is called its correct title of Tyrol. The 'stairs' title is applied I suppose because of the great downward runs in the second part of the reel, and of course more likely, that perhaps people would not know the correct title.
I wouldn't describe this as "irish fiddle" ...they are Irish "fiddle" tunes . But she is playing them on the violin ... she is not just "fiddling" in first position ....she is doing stuff there that very few "traditional fiddlers" would be really capable of ....one has to move beyond fiddling to do what she is doing here ...... using the instrument and its capabiliries to a fuller degree which is really quite exhilarating. .... and mind blowing..... nothing wrong with" irish fiddling"...it's good too .....but this is something else ......
This looks like mid to late 90s to me. Her hair is quite a bit shorter now. I've been a fan of hers since her earliest recordings, and finally saw her a few years ago. She's an amazing and engaging performer, with a broad repertoire.
I've noticed a lot of sensational fiddle players choke up on the bow instead of holding it at the frog and use only their index finger and thumb... is this helpful? I never do that, and am just wondering if it's beneficial... let me know anyone
xavier , It seems obvious to me and probably 97% of the people responding to this video that I was talking about a very special niche of violin playing called IRISH FIDDLERS. If you know anything about Irish fiddlers you will know that Ivers is at the top of her field in that area. And yes, I have heard of some of the musicians you mentioned, but not all. Have YOU heard of Maire Breatnach, Nollaig Casey, or Sean Keane? If not go back to your classical music and have fun.
I bet half of these views are me rewatching this over and over… Just in awe, really
This is the best Irish fiddle performance I've ever seen in my life. Complete awe.
Back for more :D
This rocks. I love when she plays acoustic violin. Non amplified. You can hear the subtleties.
I absolutely cannot stop watching this video!!
Her playing of this set is the reason I started playing the fiddle in the first place... So inspiring, so wonderful!!
Great rolls and triplets. Superb playing.
Eileen Ivers, take a bow. Such wonderful fantastic playing.💗💗💗
i dunno did you intend for 'bow' to have a double entendre but well done!
Ah so good. I forgot how good she was as she was one of the first Irish players I ever heard and that was so many years ago now. She's brill!
Great Performance. Taken from the 3 part documentary made on the History of Irish Traditional Music as I recall.
The first one is clearly the reel Tripping Down The Stairs, what a tune!
One of the, if not the, best fiddlers of all time!
She may be playing a lot of ornamentation (bowed triplets in this case) in her work, but her speed, accuracy and quality of playing are simply brilliant. Eileen Ivers is to t' fiddle as Joanie Madden is t' the Irish whistle, or Davey Spillane t' the low whistles/uilleann pipes. A really great performance. It isn't a matter, so much of what one plays, as it is how one plays it - and this is a five-star, thumbs up piece of work. I could spot three pieces of traditional jigs/reels in there as sort of a medley, but as someone else pointed out, many Gaelic tunes are known by multiple names.
Simply stated, this is a breath-taking performance - no matter what it is. I just wish I had the breath to keep up with this on my whistles!
MsJoaniePH I am more impressd with her left hand!
The first time I saw Eileeen Ivers live was in a blue dress at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco when she toured with the second iteration of Riverdance. She was simply amazing at how she was dancing around the stage with her blue fiddle, not missing a note and coming up with some of the most fantastic Irish fiddling I have ever seen. To play like that, one needs to be above par with both hands -- as no matter what one does with the left hand, the bo
w still needs to make the string have a voice - which means keeping that bow a movin'!
Eileen was a founding member of Cherish the Ladies! We first saw her in the ORIGINAL Riverdance in London in the nineties, before the show came to the US!
Fiddle is one of greatest inventions of human kind and Eileen offers proof
Years ago Gerry Holland, Stan Chapman and I were driving with her from DC to Baltimore on the Interstate. She was rolling along at about 80 MPH and then....boom... boom.! She never let up and said..."Road kill". LOL!
Which of Eileen's albums sounds most like this? I could listen to this for hours but I'm not a big fan of her electric stuff. Who agrees an Iver's Solo Fiddle album would be divine?
Just watched it a second time. It's even better than the first!
Fantastic control of the bow ... and left hand fingers must get the strings red hot !!
my ears are in pure heaven
My dog loves this❤
I think its probably because you're able put more weight down when starting the triplet and can dig in more. Eileen Ivers' triplets are fantastic, really fast, and have a great percussive effect, which for short triplets is the holy grail for fiddle players. I guess that the way she holds the bow really helps her. Its really important to make sure you feel comfortable though, so try experimenting with turning your hand to different angles, with different fingers on the bow. Hope this helps!
What a treasure!!!! Thanks for posting!!!!
She is wonderful! Martin Hayes has an inspired take on this piece as well that is great to listen to.
I know the first tune as "Tripping Down the Stairs", second tune "Star of Munster"
I know the second tune as that! (you wrote your comment four years ago so now you'll have to listen to this video again to find out what I'm on about! :¬)
Twielve years. ;)
@@porretsgump2816 twelve years…still here! haha
It's called "Green Fields of Antrim." There is a beautiful 4:30 version of it with her and a guitar player on the Fordham University Radio album "Triocha," but it's very hard to find.
And lets not forget Natalie MacMasters. Great tunemanship in the video!
This is fuckong incredible
Pride of the Irish Bronx!
Thanks for sharing your talent with us!!
I love her style, masterful!!
@ormoluinhen There may be some who like a tight bow, but most (myself included), prefer it just tight enough. What's really astounding, is the fact that she holds her bow with her three fingers and has such AMAZING control! I asked her about it once and all she said was that she just developed it (that style), over the years.
This is from a documentary about Irish trad music back in the early nineties. It featured a lot of new talent at the time. I have her first and second albums. Both are good but wild blue is the best driving album in the world, though you might get done for speeding.
I think this clip was taken from a great series called River of Sound by Michael O'Sulliburn
Hey, I know you posted this a while ago, but in case you'd still like some advice, here goes! I'm classically trained, so have always held it at the frog (12 years or so). A few months ago at Bath Irish Summer School, I noticed the teacher (Nancy Kerr) holding the bow further up and have tried to copy. For me it's really helped improve the sound and it makes triplets a lot easier to play, as you have more control over the bow and can dig in more. So I definitely find it helps and recommend it!
Amazing!!
Wow! I love you Eileen! This is Kaylyn btw!
She's amazing!
lovely playing
My jaw is on the floor.
I get to see her play in only a couple of weeks!
first tune is actually "The Green Hills of Tyrol", Scottish I think, though it sounds like and might be a 'tripping down the stair' kind of tune
@@BrainFPatterson Ah yes, in Donegal it is called its correct title of Tyrol. The 'stairs' title is applied I suppose because of the great downward runs in the second part of the reel, and of course more likely, that perhaps people would not know the correct title.
WOWEE.... Isnt that just about as good as it gets!
Magnifico.
Ivers' solo album.., PLEASE!!! I'd eat it up!! I wonder if she still plays this style or if she sticks with Immigrant soul these days... anyone know?
I wouldn't describe this as "irish fiddle" ...they are Irish "fiddle" tunes . But she is playing them on the violin ... she is not just "fiddling" in first position ....she is doing stuff there that very few "traditional fiddlers" would be really capable of ....one has to move beyond fiddling to do what she is doing here ...... using the instrument and its capabiliries to a fuller degree which is really quite exhilarating. .... and mind blowing..... nothing wrong with" irish fiddling"...it's good too .....but this is something else ......
She's the nicest person you'll ever meet, too.
Freakin Great !!
I just played with her last week. She is so good my head exploded!
What an absolute g'dess.
She shreds.
How do you follow that!
The second tune is strikingly similiar to the star of munster. Then again tunes often have several names.
This looks like mid to late 90s to me. Her hair is quite a bit shorter now. I've been a fan of hers since her earliest recordings, and finally saw her a few years ago. She's an amazing and engaging performer, with a broad repertoire.
so interesting that she plays with the hairs on her bow loose? lovely playing
Amazing performance!! Are there any more videos of her at this age?
she's the best ever!
Bon sang... de quelle planete vient-elle ?
@haui61
Totally agree with you !!!!!!~~Such finesse!!!
I've noticed a lot of sensational fiddle players choke up on the bow instead of holding it at the frog and use only their index finger and thumb... is this helpful? I never do that, and am just wondering if it's beneficial... let me know anyone
Oh, man!
astonishing
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
Sorry, I was trying to give you a thumbs up but hit the wrong thumb!
Eileen is the best isn't she?!
Are you kidding me? No one can play that well!! God almighty woman!!
Skills!!!!
xavier , It seems obvious to me and probably 97% of the people responding to this video that I was talking about a very special niche of violin playing called IRISH FIDDLERS. If you know anything about Irish fiddlers you will know that Ivers is at the top of her field in that area. And yes, I have heard of some of the musicians you mentioned, but not all. Have YOU heard of Maire Breatnach, Nollaig Casey, or Sean Keane? If not go back to your classical music and have fun.
great
...holy shite...
Brendon Mulvihill ornementation
Eileen's teacher was Martin Mulvihill, Brendan's father.
Pretty good for a kid from The Bronx
wow, i got got a brain massage. wonderful
I counted and recounted..she only has four fingers pretty much doing all of that..
Wow.
what are the names of these reels?
1st. 'Roaches Reel' 2nd. Tune her version of 'The Star of Munster'
Goodnight then ya poor lil soul, no dreamin bout that fiddle been played ( snigger) I'm knackered ma sel so I'm gonna hit the hay!!!
When was this done? It looks like it might be before Eileen and Brian were married!
Funny how you find things, sometimes.
my god!!!!
What is the name of this tune?
Its not from irlend its from oklahoma
Where you been all my life, darlin'?
@guyfihi No one can play that well? Ever heard of Paganini, Vengerov, Heifetz, Chang, Kogan, Repin?
what sort of kitchen tool is that one?!!¡?¡?!
This level of playing is called "God".
woooooooooooooooooooooooooow :D:D:D:D
Sorry I got so bowed up at that guy a year ago, questioning her ability. Irish temper you know. Didn't think that comment would be on top.
Funny she holds the bow as if it was a broom stick...
I think these tunes must have been her 'competition' tunes when she won all the medals in the All Irelands.... I'm hoping anyway … else I just quit!
Crikey ......make it LOOK easy lady
Top❤
What's the name of this tune?