Micho Russell

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Micho Russell (1915 – February 19, 1994) was an Irish musician and author best known for his expert tin whistle performance and musical compositions. He also played the simple-system flute and was a collector of traditional music and folklore.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Russell was born in Doonagore, Doolin, County Clare, Ireland.[1] Russell came from a renowned musically 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.

[edit] 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[citation needed], 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.[3]

[edit] Death and afterwards

Russell died in a car accident in 1994.

[edit] Works

[edit] 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."[3]. 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.[4]

[edit] Discography

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.
1990 Micho Russell Under the Cliffs of Moher Xeric
1993 Micho Russell The Limestone Rock GTD Heritage Recording Co. Ltd.
Micho Russell Traditional Country Music of Co. Clare Three Reed
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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c Vallely (1999), p324
  2. ^ a b Michio Russell Family Weekend biography
  3. ^ a b Piggott
  4. ^ Vallely (1999), p. 325

[edit] References

  • Vallely, Fintan; Piggott, Charlie (1998). Blooming Meadows: The World of Irish Traditional Musicians, Nutan, Roberts Rinehart Publishers, 178-183. ISBN 1-86059-067-5. 
  • Vallely, Fintan (1999). The Companion to Irish Traditional Music. New York, NY: New York University Press, 324-325. ISBN 0-8147-8802-5. 

[edit] External links

Persondata
NAME Russell, Micho
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Russell, Miko
SHORT DESCRIPTION Irish musician
DATE OF BIRTH 1915
PLACE OF BIRTH Doonagore, Doolin, County Clare, Ireland
DATE OF DEATH February 19, 1994
PLACE OF DEATH Ireland
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