Bobby Gardiner
Encyclopedia
Bobby Gardiner is an Irish accordionist and lilter
.
area of Co. Clare. He began playing at the age of eight, on his mother, Delia's, old melodeon
with the likes of Micho Russell
and Micleen Conlon.
At the age of 15, he was asked to join the Kilfenora Céilí Band. In 1957 he joined Malachy Sweeney's Céilí Band from Armagh and traveled the length and breadth of Ireland as a professional musician.
In 1960, Bobby followed his brother Mike and sister Mary to New Haven, Connecticut. During the day he worked as a mechanic on the New York Railway while playing for dances with the likes of Paddy Killoran
, Joe Cooley
, Ed Reavey and Joe Derrane
as well as doing some session work for Colonial Records. His solo recording career began when Justus O'Byrne De Witt heard him on the Jack Wade Ceili Band record and contacted him to record his first LP, "Memories of Clare" which was one of the first solo LPs by an Irish button accordion player. He also recorded with Paddy Killoran. The LP sold so well that he was asked back to do more recordings.
In 1963 Bobby was drafted into the US Army and was stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey. On his weekends off, he would visit the Catskill Mountains
in New York where he played with renowned musicians such as Joe Cooley
, Sean McGlynn & Andy McGann.
He got married in Dublin on St Patrick's Day, 17 March 1969, to Ann Kearney, a Tipperary singer. The newly-weds returned to America where their first daughter, Kelley was born. A call to the family farm a year later beckoned them back to Ireland and they settled in Burncourt, a small village in south Tipperary near the town of Cahir
, where they had 2 more daughters, Fiodhna and Lynda.
All his children are accomplished musicians, carrying on the Irish music tradition, playing melodeon, whistles and concertina. Indeed, in January 2009, Fiodhna in her band Inis Oirr band, entertained Her Excellency, Mary McAleese
, President of Ireland
(Uachtarán na hÉireann), in the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Over the years Bobby proceeded to make further recordings, most notably: "The Master's Choice" and "The Clare Shout". Bobby has also traveled extensively with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
and is a member of the Brú Ború Troupe in Cashel, Co. Tipperary. They have also toured in China as well as Japan, Spain, Canada and the US.
He is an active accordion teacher in Tipperary, Waterford and Limerick. He was recruited by the well-known pianist Micheal O'Suilleabhain to the Music Department in University College Cork where he has been teaching traditional music for the last 25 years. Some of his ex-students include Ciarán Ó Gealbháin and Benny McCarthy both of whom were part of Danú
.
, Tony McMahon, Martin Connolly
and Seamus Begley and as such Bobby was one of the first Irish accordionist to master the art of the B/C accordion tuning. Bobby Gardiner's style of playing is particularly suited to Irish dancing because of his impeccable rhythm, creativity and his use of the single-button triplet, which has become his hallmark.
In the "The Clare Shout" Bobby focuses on the melodeon
and the traditional art form of lilting
, or mouth music. In the past, lilting was used to accompany dancers when instruments were unavailable.
Featured on
Lilting
Lilting is a form of traditional singing common in the Gaelic speaking areas of Ireland and Scotland. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as "mouth music", diddling, jigging, chin music or cheek music), puirt a beul in Scottish Gaelic, Canterach, or portaireacht bhéil in Irish...
.
Biography
Irish Accordion (box) Master Bobby Gardiner was born in Aughdarra, Lisdoonvarna, the BurrenThe Burren
The Burren is a karst-landscape region or alvar in northwest County Clare, in Ireland. It is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe. The region measures approximately 250 square kilometres and is enclosed roughly within the circle made by the villages Ballyvaughan, Kinvara, Tubber, Corofin,...
area of Co. Clare. He began playing at the age of eight, on his mother, Delia's, old melodeon
Melodeon (organ)
A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
with the likes of Micho Russell
Micho Russell
Micho Russell 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.-Biography:...
and Micleen Conlon.
At the age of 15, he was asked to join the Kilfenora Céilí Band. In 1957 he joined Malachy Sweeney's Céilí Band from Armagh and traveled the length and breadth of Ireland as a professional musician.
In 1960, Bobby followed his brother Mike and sister Mary to New Haven, Connecticut. During the day he worked as a mechanic on the New York Railway while playing for dances with the likes of Paddy Killoran
Paddy Killoran
Paddy Killoran was an Irish musician.Killoran was born near Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland...
, Joe Cooley
Joe Cooley
Joe Cooley was an Irish musician known for his traditional accordion music.Cooley was born in Peterswell, Co. Galway in 1924. Both his parents were melodeon players, and Joe began playing accordion at age 10. As a teen, Joe played in the Midlands area and eventually found himself in Dublin in...
, Ed Reavey and Joe Derrane
Joe Derrane
Joe Derrane is an Irish-American button accordion player, the greatest exponent of the D/C# system diatonic accordion.Derrane's parents were Irish immigrants. His father played accordion and his mother the fiddle...
as well as doing some session work for Colonial Records. His solo recording career began when Justus O'Byrne De Witt heard him on the Jack Wade Ceili Band record and contacted him to record his first LP, "Memories of Clare" which was one of the first solo LPs by an Irish button accordion player. He also recorded with Paddy Killoran. The LP sold so well that he was asked back to do more recordings.
In 1963 Bobby was drafted into the US Army and was stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey. On his weekends off, he would visit the Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
in New York where he played with renowned musicians such as Joe Cooley
Joe Cooley
Joe Cooley was an Irish musician known for his traditional accordion music.Cooley was born in Peterswell, Co. Galway in 1924. Both his parents were melodeon players, and Joe began playing accordion at age 10. As a teen, Joe played in the Midlands area and eventually found himself in Dublin in...
, Sean McGlynn & Andy McGann.
He got married in Dublin on St Patrick's Day, 17 March 1969, to Ann Kearney, a Tipperary singer. The newly-weds returned to America where their first daughter, Kelley was born. A call to the family farm a year later beckoned them back to Ireland and they settled in Burncourt, a small village in south Tipperary near the town of Cahir
Cahir
Cahir is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. The town is best known for its castle and the Swiss Cottage. It is in the barony of Iffa and Offa West.-Location and access:...
, where they had 2 more daughters, Fiodhna and Lynda.
All his children are accomplished musicians, carrying on the Irish music tradition, playing melodeon, whistles and concertina. Indeed, in January 2009, Fiodhna in her band Inis Oirr band, entertained Her Excellency, Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
, President of Ireland
President of Ireland
The President of Ireland is the head of state of Ireland. The President is usually directly elected by the people for seven years, and can be elected for a maximum of two terms. The presidency is largely a ceremonial office, but the President does exercise certain limited powers with absolute...
(Uachtarán na hÉireann), in the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Over the years Bobby proceeded to make further recordings, most notably: "The Master's Choice" and "The Clare Shout". Bobby has also traveled extensively with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann
Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is the primary Irish organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and the language of Ireland. The name of the organisation is often abbreviated to Comhaltas or CCÉ...
and is a member of the Brú Ború Troupe in Cashel, Co. Tipperary. They have also toured in China as well as Japan, Spain, Canada and the US.
He is an active accordion teacher in Tipperary, Waterford and Limerick. He was recruited by the well-known pianist Micheal O'Suilleabhain to the Music Department in University College Cork where he has been teaching traditional music for the last 25 years. Some of his ex-students include Ciarán Ó Gealbháin and Benny McCarthy both of whom were part of Danú
Danú
Danú is an Irish traditional music band.The members of Danú met in Waterford in Southeastern Ireland in 1994. After performing in the Festival Interceltique de Lorient in 2005, the then thrown-together group decided to consolidate as a band....
.
Style of Play
Stylistically, Bobby plays what is termed a Wet Tuned accordion (Dead Link). Other Irish proponents of wet tuning include: Joe BurkeJoe Burke
Joe Burke is a noted Irish accordion player.Joe Burke was born in Kilnadeema, south of Loughrea in Co Galway. He reportedly began playing at age four. In the fifties he bought an accordion in Waltons of Dublin for £5. He still owns it...
, Tony McMahon, Martin Connolly
Martin Connolly
Martin Connolly was the Mayor of Galway from 1987–1988.-Biography:Connolly was born in the old Claddagh to Thomas Connolly and Mary McDonagh of Spanish Parade. He was a member of the Sea Scouts, a personal friend of actor Sean McClory, and served two years on the ship Irish Poplar as ship's...
and Seamus Begley and as such Bobby was one of the first Irish accordionist to master the art of the B/C accordion tuning. Bobby Gardiner's style of playing is particularly suited to Irish dancing because of his impeccable rhythm, creativity and his use of the single-button triplet, which has become his hallmark.
In the "The Clare Shout" Bobby focuses on the melodeon
Melodeon (organ)
A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era...
and the traditional art form of lilting
Lilting
Lilting is a form of traditional singing common in the Gaelic speaking areas of Ireland and Scotland. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as "mouth music", diddling, jigging, chin music or cheek music), puirt a beul in Scottish Gaelic, Canterach, or portaireacht bhéil in Irish...
, or mouth music. In the past, lilting was used to accompany dancers when instruments were unavailable.
Discography
Albums| Year | Artist | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Bobby Gardiner | Bobby Gardiner – Accordion | Clare Records | New York. |
| 1962 | Bobby Gardiner | Memories of Clare | Gael label | Reissued 1995 on Copley Irish Records |
| 1979 | Bobby Gardiner | Bobby Gardiner at Home | Releases Records | |
| 1982 | Bobby Gardiner | The Best of Bobby Gardiner | CCE | |
| 1989 | Bobby Gardiner | The Master's Choice | Ossian | |
| 1995 | Bobby Gardiner, Mel Mercier, Ann Gardiner, Lynda Gardiner. | The Clare Shout | Own Label | Lilting Lilting Lilting is a form of traditional singing common in the Gaelic speaking areas of Ireland and Scotland. It goes under many names, and is sometimes referred to as "mouth music", diddling, jigging, chin music or cheek music), puirt a beul in Scottish Gaelic, Canterach, or portaireacht bhéil in Irish... and melodeon Melodeon (organ) A melodeon is a type of 19th century reed organ with a foot-operated vacuum bellows, and a piano keyboard. It differs from the related harmonium, which uses a pressure bellows. Melodeons were manufactured in the United States sometime after 1812 until the Civil War era... . A number of different boxes are used on the recording including: a Salterelle, a Castagnari, A Hohner, and a very rare Ludwig and Hohner Vienna Accordion. |
Featured on
| Year | Artist | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Paddy Killoran, Bobby Gardiner | |||
| Bobby Gardiner | Rogha Órdha 50 | Comhaltas's Golden Jubilee compilation album. | ||
| Bobby Gardiner | The Floating BowHand DVD. | Musical documentary on Jim McKillop | ||
| Bobby Gardiner | http://www.clearaed.com/Artists.html ClearAED] | |||
| Bobby Gardiner | Come West Along the Road 2 | RTÉ production | ||
| Bobby Gardiner | The Best of Irish Accordion | 2 CD Set | ||
| Bobby Gardiner | The Best of Irish Céilí | 2 CD Set | ||
External links
- http://comhaltas.ie/
- http://www.folkworld.de/7/bobby.html
- http://www.repoart.com/index.php?search=%22Bobby+gardiner%22