- Micho Russell
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Micho Russell (March 15, 1915 – February 19, 1994) was an Irish musician and author best known for his expert tin whistle performance. He also played the simple-system flute and was a collector of traditional music and folklore.
Contents
Biography
Russell was born in Doonagore, Doolin, County Clare, Ireland.[1] Russell came from a musically renowned family, his mother played the concertina,[2] and his father was a sean-nós singer.[1] He had two brothers, Packie and Gussie, who were also musicians. He also had two sisters.[2] He never married.
Music
Russell taught himself to play the tin whistle by ear starting at age eleven. The 1960s revival of Irish traditional music brought him attention and performance opportunities. In 1973, Russell won the All-Ireland tin whistle competition,[3] which further increased demand for his performances.[1] Like Séamus Ennis, Russell was also known for his spoken introductions to tunes in his live performances, which incorporated folklore and legend. His knowledge of tradition extended past music to language, stories, dance, herbal lore, and old country cures.[4]
Death
Russell died in a car accident in 1994.
Works
Original music
"Micho Russell's Reel," his only known composition, is a variant of an older tune he called "Carthy's Reel." He told Charlie Piggott, "...So Carthy was beyond anyway and he heard the old tune from a piper playing it and he had the first part but only three-quarters of the second part. So when Séamus Ennis came around collecting music, I put in the last bit. That's roughly the story of the tune."[4] The reel has been recorded by other artists such as Mary Bergin. His best-known songs were John Phillip Holland and The Well of Spring Water.[5]
Discography
John Williams (Green Linnet Records 1157) 7.1994 -
Micho Russell performs on the following recordings Year Artist Title Label Notes 1975 Micho, Pakie and Gusie Russell The Russell Family of Doolin, Co. Clare Topic Records Recorded in O'Connor's Bar, Doolin January 1974. 1976 Micho Russell Traditional Country Music of Co. Clare Free Reed Reissued on CD by Free Reed in 2008 1990 Micho Russell Under the Cliffs of Moher Xeric 1993 Micho Russell The Limestone Rock "The Man from Clare" features duets with Eugene Lambe on Flute and Tin Whistle 1995 'The Wind that shakes the Barley" Features Music, Song and Folklore "In Our Own Dear Land" A similar mix of Music,Song and stories.
Recorded by GTD Heritage Recording Co. Ltd. All four titles are now Distributed by Trad Ireland
1995 Micho Russell Ireland’s Whistling Ambassador The Pennywhistler’s Press Includes a 28 page booklet with a biography and notes on his music. There is also a video release with different music. Books
Micho Russell wrote the following books Year Title Publisher 1980 The Piper's Chair Ossian Publications 1986 The Piper's Chair No. 2 Canal Press, N.Y. 1988 The road to Aran: Songs, Folklore and Music of West of Ireland Micho Russell, Doolin. 1990 Doolin's Micho Russell N.Y. 1991. Micho's Dozen Ennistymon Festival of Traditional Singing, Co. Clare. 1992 Music & Folklore of Doonagore Micho Russell, Doolin. See also
References
- Vallely, Fintan; Piggott, Charlie (1998). Blooming Meadows: The World of Irish Traditional Musicians. Nutan. Roberts Rinehart Publishers. pp. 178–183. ISBN 1-86059-067-5.
- Vallely, Fintan (1999). The Companion to Irish Traditional Music. New York, NY: New York University Press. pp. 324–325. ISBN 0-8147-8802-5.
External links
- Biography at Micho Russell Festival Weekend Includes biographical abstract and select bibliography / discography.
- Ireland's Whistling Ambassador Publisher's site.
- Ireland's Whistling Ambassador review in Musical Traditions Internet Magazine
- Technique and Style in Irish Music Includes MP3 sound clips and extensive commentary on Russell's style
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann biography
- Old Photos of Micho Russell and Doolin
Categories:- Irish flautists
- Irish tin whistle players
- People from County Clare
- 1915 births
- 1994 deaths
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