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Author Topic: RIP Johnny Connolly  (Read 2450 times)

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mselic

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RIP Johnny Connolly
« on: December 28, 2019, 08:26:47 PM »

I’m sad to report that Johnny Connolly, master of the one-row melodeon from Connemara, has passed away. His music and playing were a big inspiration to many, myself included.
« Last Edit: December 28, 2019, 08:50:49 PM by mselic »
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Anahata

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2019, 09:25:04 PM »

I've just looked at a few YouTube samples of this work. Beautiful and inspiring playing!
I've always admired the way some musicians choose to to push a seemingly simple instrument to the highest levels of perfection.

"All the dancers wanted him to play for them" was a voice comment in one of those videos, and that's the best compliment a folk musician could ask for.
« Last Edit: December 29, 2019, 10:47:08 AM by Anahata »
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mselic

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #2 on: December 28, 2019, 09:54:15 PM »

Quote
"All the dancers wanted him to play for them" was a voice comment in on of those videos, and that's the best compliment a folk musician could ask for.

He was known for his impeccable timing and rhythm. For many years he was actually an accomplished B/C player before deciding to revert back to his first instrument, the “lowly” one-row melodeon, saying he could get better rhythm out of it for playing for dancers. He certainly played a large part in bringing the instrument back into popularity in Ireland at a time when it was all but forgotten (as I understand it).

An excellent example of his playing can be seen in this video here, shared many times over the years on this forum. I never tire of listening to it:

https://youtu.be/dcw4rDmAhb0
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Peadar

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2019, 01:16:25 AM »

Thanks for this mselic.
The TG4 documentry "Is e mo Laoch johnny Connolly" is also well worth watching -

Part 1 below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC8vuMZTVMQ

A chuid pharrais dha.
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Stiamh

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2019, 01:48:24 AM »

Sorry to hear this. Thanks for letting us know.

https://journalofmusic.com/news/rip-johnny-connolly-king-melodeon
« Last Edit: December 30, 2019, 03:40:45 PM by Stiamh »
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kenakordeon

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2019, 02:14:42 AM »

Sad news. I have always enjoyed, admired and respected his playing and solid timing.
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Robin

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2019, 09:31:46 AM »

Sorry to hear this...

there's a nice concert of Johnny Connolly playing with Charlie Lennon (fiddle) here:
http://pipers.ie/source/gallery/?galleryId=850
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Jackaspandy

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2019, 03:46:54 PM »

Even though i play mostly english now. He was the man who inspired me to play. Sad to see him go.
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smiley

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2019, 03:19:13 AM »

Sorry to hear he's no longer with us. His melodeon playing has been very inspiring. He always seemed to be enjoying himself in the videos I've seen. I think Emma Corbett is following in his footsteps as an exemplar of playing lively Irish dance music on the one row box with a sparkle in the eye.
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rees

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2019, 07:30:15 PM »

A sad loss. I was in Johnny's class at Willie Clancy Week in 2015. A young Emma Corbett walked in, she and Johnny were really firing off each other.
Great players both.
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rees

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2019, 08:58:29 PM »

Johnny and Emma.
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Pat.

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #11 on: December 31, 2019, 06:16:46 AM »

He played music his music his way, no messing around good solid sean nos, no showing off, stuck to the tune and as far as I am concerned the man was a genius on the box.When you consider the limitations of the one row  he always sounded like there was two people playing he even got notes that were not available.How he did it ,I will never know RIP Johnny Connolly.
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richard.fleming

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #12 on: December 31, 2019, 10:54:17 AM »

Johnny Óg is now following in his father's footsteps with a melodeon CD Fear Inis Bearachain. Well worth a listen. (In Ireland 'melodeon' is only used for a one row box.)
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boxcall

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #13 on: December 31, 2019, 05:06:35 PM »

Sad news, I was first introduced to Johnny’s music when I started taking melodeon lessons from John “Jack” Conroy He also just passed away on 11/9/19 RIP. Jack’s family came from Connemara, a great player, teacher and friend.
I will miss both! Thinking that they are probably having a tune or two together in the world beyond makes me happy though (:)
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Chris Ryall

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #14 on: January 02, 2020, 07:38:24 AM »

 :(  Got to John’s bar/club twice on my West Coast trips and he was really welcoming. A very nice man to be with. I’d echo everything said about his music. A genius on one row. 
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Pearse Rossa

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #15 on: January 14, 2020, 05:05:25 AM »

The last tunes I had with him, he borrowed my box to play some hornpipe that was next to impossible on his melodeon.
It had been bugging him, and he needed to get it out of his system.
He was a dab hand on the two-row as well. I have been trying to remember the tune. It was a 3 part tune I think.
I know that I was familiar with it, but don't play it. It might come to me again sometime.
At his funeral, there was a real sense of a legend having departed.
It was, of course, a very musical send-off.
I feel honoured to have known him, and privileged to have shared music with him.

Fear réidh. Fear múinte, mánla, séimh.
Ní fheicfimid a leithéid arís.
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Andrel

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Re: RIP Johnny Connolly
« Reply #16 on: January 14, 2020, 06:11:20 PM »

Go raibh maith agat Johnny. An extraordinary player with an unerring sense of rhythm,and a gentleman. A sad day for Connemara, the Irish language, which was so much part of of his soul, and all of us.
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