Irish

I’m trying to pack as much Irish spirit as I can into the next two weeks. I dearly love Irish music, and I lament every year that’s there’s only a few weeks when people really want to hear it. There is so much passion in the songs, and I get wrapped up in it very easily. I’m working on playing the Irish frame drum called the bodhran (pronounced bow-rawn). It is a very deep-sounding and impactful instrument that really brings excitement to the music. It’s played in a different way than other drums in that you hold it in the crook of your arm with one hand resting on the back of the head while beating on it with a stick called a tipper on the front side of the head with the other hand. I’ve heard that it probably came from people playing their animal-skin bowls that they used in food gathering and preparation. One of my good friends, Connie, gave me a bodhran last year, and I’m having so much fun with it! It drives my emotion about Irish music even deeper as I feel the drum against my body as I play. I wrote last year in March about how Irish songs reflect the struggles and joys of the Irish people. It’s true that angst can motivate songwriting, and when I sing many Irish tunes I am transported to the times and places where the music was inspired and played. I feel this with most genres I play - especially if I have had similar experiences in my life. With Irish songs I feel this even more intently. So at this time of year with St. Patrick’s Day approaching I relish in the opportunity to share the Irish songs I know and to learn new ones. I think that life is so much more worthwhile when we let ourselves feel everything with gusto and enthusiasm. I’ll be playing the bodhran and my Irish guitar at many of my gigs this month.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed every one so much. Unfortunately one of them has a bad virus going around that’s going to make them shut down to outside visitors for a few days over Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday. I’m hoping for the best for them.

My Wednesday online show was songs for Mardi Gras, and it was such a good time with lots of upbeat and interesting songs. I really have to get down to New Orleans again. We had jambalaya for dinner 2 days in a row too!

Friday night I played instrumental guitar tunes for the Garden of the Gods Club in the Grand View restaurant, and it was so much fun. I had many compliments, and I came up with several new off-the-cuff arrangements for Mardi Gras songs and others.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some good ones. It is so wonderful to have a community of music and people lovers to share music and friendship with.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7 senior facilities this week, and at least 2 of them with have Mardi Gras parties that I get to play for. The other ones I will play Irish tunes for if they’d like to hear them.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Irish tunes in anticipation of St. Patrick’s Day. I’ll also do Irish songs next week. I’d love to have you tune in and experience the passion of this music.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy this group of fine folks and the great times I get to experience sharing music every week. You’re always welcome, and it’s always a very sweet time.

Garden of the Gods Club will be alternating me with a violin player this month on Friday nights, so I won’t be there this week, but I’ll be back next week. I really love hearing the violin, and I hope the diners do too.

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That’s it for this week. I hope your winter is ending well. The changes we are going through in the world are really keeping us on our toes.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Irish songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, March 5, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, March 9, 7-8:45 pm mountain time