UILLEANN PIPES and FIDDLE
soul-deep mastery & rock-hard unison
“... soul-deep mastery of instruments ...†Hotpress
“... virtuoso playing from start to finish ...†Irish Times
“... instrumentalists from Ireland nothing short of genius ...†Celtic Beat
“... the innovative edge of the traditional music continuum ...†Irish Examiner
“... where traditional skill and high art meet ...†Celtic Beat
“... stunningly accomplished, exuberant and dynamic ...†ClancysIrishMusic
“... goldfish-bowl of technique and artistry ...†Sunday Tribune
“... vibrant and exciting ...†Irish Music Magazine
“... rock-hard unison ...†Muse
“... they are like two parts of the same instrument ...†Irish Examiner
“... an absolute revelation ...†Evening Echo
“... maximum degrees of energy and intensity and sensitivity ...†ScottishIrish
“... delving enthusiastically into tunes ...†Hotpress
“... precision and energy ...†GreenManReviews
“... drive and enthusiasm ...†ElectricScotland
“... something to revel in ...†Irish Times
“... servis par une technique irréprochable ...†Trad Magazine
“... virtuosité ... exceptionnel ... excellent ...†Le Peuple Breton
Flaithrà and Eoghan Neff were born in Cork, Ireland, in 1978 and 1980 respectively.
Eoghan is not the typical Irish fiddler, his fiddle is purely an instrument of expression to be coaxed, tamed and taken to its limits to explore Eoghan's enthusiasm for his music. He amazes listeners with his outstanding ability and the control he has of risk. His approach can be found back in the tradition and this is the part of the tradition that Eoghan is most proud of and he is one of its enthusiastic exponents. Eoghan's mastery of the vibration of horsehair on string is simply stunning.
Flaithrà plays the pride of Irish tradition, the Uilleann Pipes, mastering this apparent cumbersome instrument with confidence. His traveler style is clean, sharp and precise, making his performance perfect for any setting. Flaithrà also plays low whistles and like his brother the instrument is tamed to unleash its sounds at will. He exploits all the possibilities of his tradition and is unbridled by untraditional constrains. His mastery of air on lips of cane and through metal tubes is simply breath taking.
Growing up with traditional music Flaithrà and Eoghan grew up surrounded with Irish language and culture. From their vantage point outside Cork City they looked out past Blarney to the rich musical heritage of the Muskerry Gaeltacht and a little further to Sliabh Luachra. Their parents, Éibhear and Muireann, involved themselves in the music, song and dance scene in Cork with all the enthusiasm of the 1970’s. Éibhear playing mandolin / mandola / highland pipes, and Muireann playing bodhrán / concertina. Éibhear’s parents were also musicians, Florrie, his father, playing banjo / mandolin, and Mary, his mother, playing violin. The tradition being passed down from generation to generation.
It is easy to accept the Neff Brothers as being part of the living pulse of Irish music. Their early years were taken up with Irish Step Dancing, winning trophies and medals. However, the call of the music itself was to prove more powerful. They listened to local musicians and also to the impressive collection of traditional music record albums built up by their parents. Flaithrà was attracted to the sound of the pipes and the complexities of the instrument itself. Eoghan was attracted to the sound of the fiddle and to the physical performance of the instrument.
At the age of eight Flaithrà took lessons with Tomás Ó Canainn; and at the age of six Eoghan went for fiddle lessons with Gary Cronin at the Cork School of Music, these classes had a traditional emphasis in that the teaching was mainly aural. However, besides music in the home they also travelled around to master classes, Fleadh Cheoils and summer schools.
It is said that uilleann pipes and fiddle are the sweetest duet in Irish traditional music. The two instruments’ sounds are very similar, and the fiddle can tune and adapt to the uilleann pipes which is very important because the tuning of the pipes vary. Both brothers have an interest in the same style of playing.
The Neff Brothers music is traditional and at the same time reinvigorated with Irish music’s long history of creative experimentalism. This experimentalism produced a sophisticated bagpipe in the Uilleann Pipes. It also enabled Irish Traditional Music to accept and remodel imported tune types as well as other instruments. Their performance is the creative richness of Irish character and goes right to the heart of its rhythm and melody.
The Neff Brothers walk a musical tightrope, giving their music 'rock 'n' soul', characterized by strong traditional rhythm, an emphasis on the melody, and importantly an impassioned improvisational delivery.
This makes for an artistic performance of emotional energy and intensity. They challenge and demand of themselves and this excites audiences of any genre. Pleasure in listening to virtuosity is not limited by genre. The fact that the music is traditional is irrelevant when the performance is this powerful.
This approach and feeling for their music gives Irish traditional music a new platform. Their art, creativity and expression is music. The tension on that tightrope makes the music thrive in its risk-taking.
The tradition in Irish music itself is living and vibrant; its performance is its blossom. Flaithrà on pipes, with its authentic position in the tradition, will guide the shoot towards the light and Eoghan on fiddle will burst into colour and stretch the kaleidoscope. Flaithrà now on low whistle joins in and we have two cutting edge entrepreneurs of sound challenging the traditional ear and even the avant-garde.
"Soundpost and Bridle (Crann fuaime agus Sriain)"
Tracks used above:
1. Arranged by the brothers: RÃl Uà Ruairc, (O'Rourke's reel), An Leaba Uisce, (The Waterbed), An Chapóg Ghruaigeach, (The Hairy Dogleaf).
2. Composed by the brothers: An tSÃor-Ghaoith, (The Eternal Wind) Flaithrà composed this slow jig, Radharc an Iolair, (The Eagle's View) Eoghan composed this "slip double jig", An Choill Dharach Chiúin, (The Oak Wood Silent) Eoghan also composed this "double slip jig".
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"Ar Scáth a Chéile (Each Others Shadow)"
Tracks used above:
3. Arranged by Eoghan Neff: Biddy Martin's polka, The Gortnatubrid (composed by Séamus Creagh), The Octopus (composed by Eoghan Neff).
4. Ceiltis (arranged by Eoghan & Flaithrà Neff): Ceiltis (composed by Flaithrà Neff), Peter Brown's reel, Suite de Loudeac [1st movement], Scaip na CleitÃ.
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