Quando si parla di musica tradizionale irlandese, pochi nomi sono riconosciuti e rispettati quanto quello di Frankie Gavin.
Fondatore dei leggendari De Dannan, violinista tra i più influenti della sua generazione e ambasciatore della musica irlandese nel mondo, Gavin ha contribuito per decenni a portare il suono dell’Irlanda ben oltre i suoi confini.
Per i membri di Passione Irlanda ha accettato di rispondere ad alcune domande sul rapporto tra tradizione e innovazione, sull’influenza del jazz nel suo percorso musicale, sullo spirito musicale di Galway e sul futuro della musica tradizionale irlandese.
Ne emerge il ritratto di un musicista profondamente legato alle proprie radici, convinto che il futuro della tradizione sia nelle mani delle nuove generazioni, purché non perdano mai di vista l’essenza autentica di questa musica.
1. Throughout your career you have balanced respect for tradition with a willingness to experiment. Has innovation helped Irish traditional music survive?
Well, yes but, innovation is all very fine, so long as respect is kept toward the music.
Innovation can be a dangerous thing because nowadays, younger musicians are over experimenting with the traditional music and it’s troubling because they are driving syncopation and time signatures that don’t exist in our music, so it’s a worry.
2. How do you know when a tune is being reinterpreted in a healthy way and when it is losing its traditional character?
See first answer…
3. Many listeners hear elements of jazz in your playing. What first attracted you to jazz musicians such as Stéphane Grappelli, and what did they teach you about music?
I knew little or nothing about Jazz, until my late colleague Alec Finn introduced me to The Hot Club de Paris.
Then I was fascinated, but never took it on, so to speak.
Many years later, Stephane was coming to Dublin and the promoter introduced me to Stephane and we became life long friends after our meeting.
I played for him and to my complete surprise he know a reel called farewell to Erin, that our own Jazz Legend guitar player Louis Stewart Taught Stephane .
Then we were away!! But I can’t play Jazz , just an “Irish” interpretive notion of how to improvise, so to speak.
4. Some musicians speak about “swing” as something that cannot be taught, only felt. Do you think Irish traditional music has its own form of swing?
To be sure, Irish Traditional music has it own swing, and what we describe as rhythm!!! Particularly noticeable in Co Sligo fiddle playing ( Michael Coleman and James Morrison)
5. Is there something unique in the musical spirit of Galway that shaped the way you play and think about music?
Yes indeed, I was so lucky to have met and played with from an early age, Eddie Maloney and Joe Burke.
There’s a depth of sincerity in Galway or East Galway music that’s hard to find or beat.
6. What gives you hope for the future of Irish traditional music?
After hearing the wonderful CD from Andrew Caden, Conor McDonagh and Catherine McHugh, I have no fears for the future of Irish Traditional Music because these young people really have the ‘touch’ and others like John McCartins band ( names I’ll find for ya)
It’s in safe hands if all the other new young musically skilled players would stick to the real thing and not keep getting lost in time signatures that don’t exist in Irish Music.
7. If you could leave one message for future generations of musicians and lovers of Ireland, what would it be?
close your eyes, breath in the joys and sadnesses of our music, artists and landscapes and decent Irish people. Feel the safety and the happiness and the wit of our people.
8. When people listen to your music, what do you hope they hear beyond the notes?
Joy! And Love ❤️ 🎻
» I Custodi d’Irlanda, vedi tutte le Interviste