James Byrne (musician)

Infobox musical artist
Name = James Byrne
Background = Khaki


Img_capt = James Byrne (An Beirneach) is one of Donegal's most famous fiddlers
Birth_name = James Byrne
Born = birth date and age|1946|1|1
Glencolmcille, County Donegal, Ireland
Occupation = Fiddler
Genre = Traditional Irish music
Folk
World music
Years_active = - present

Biography

Donegal [http://www.rte.ie/tv/comewestalongtheroad/prog3.html pig farmer] and fiddle icon, [http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Byrne James Byrne] (An Beirneach), has been called one of [http://www.ceolsaghleann.com/ Ireland's leading fiddle players] .

Byrne was born in 1946 in Mín na Croise (Meenacross), Glencolmcille in south west Donegal, Ireland. He was taught the fiddle by his father, John Byrne, but also in sessions in his neighbours' homes.

His style is the old Donegal style. One of the techniques of this is an aggresive bowing and of stressing on the upward movement of the bow (Caoimhín Mac Aoidh, "Between the Jigs and the Reels") which differs from the mainstream of traditional Irish musicians and has similarities to a Scottish highland style. He was interviewed by [http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/music/traditions/pdf/series1/notes02.pdf BBC Northern Ireland] on an educational programm about the connection between Donegal and Scottish fiddle music.He was also interviewed by Michael Robinson for [http://www.fiddle.com/issues/spr99.html Fiddler Magazine] on The Donegal Fiddle tradition.

He takes part in Ceol sa Ghleann, a arts project hosted in Glencolmcille which also includes the Feille Ealaion Traidsiunta Ghleann Cholm Cille. This is a week long annual music festival held around Easter time.

Along with Tommy Peoples, He has also held masterclasses at [http://www.donegalfiddlemusic.ie/index.html Cairdeas na bhFidleiri Donegal Fiddlers Summer School] .

His daughter is also an accomplished fiddle player.

Discography

Album [http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Byrne_James_Road.html The Road To Glenlough]

Featured on

[http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Various_Brass_Fiddle.html The Brass Fiddle: Traditional Fiddle Music From Donegal] . Various fiddlers ~ including James Byrne, Vincent Campbell, Con Cassidy and Francie Byrne.

Notes

References

County Donegal on the net. http://www.dun-na-ngall.com/nw76.html

Cairdeas na bhFidleiri Donegal Fiddlers Summer School http://www.donegalfiddlemusic.ie/index.html

James Byrne http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Byrne

The South Donegal Fiddle - Programme 2 http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/music/traditions/pdf/series1/notes02.pdf

James Byrne:Carrying on the Donegal Traditions http://www.standingstones.com/jbyrne.html