Free Music/Folk Arts for Free People Let us dance at the crossroads again... Grant us the music of the birds of the Earth's organic glory...C.J.B.1999 The musician here is probably not playing for money. Traditionally ordinary people played music.

Welcome! I am Conrad Bladey please take a moment to consider how you might help to restore folk and traditional music and all folk arts to the people-as a gift upon the wind for the soul.  Start Here: Main Menu Events  The Oral Trad.  "Their houses were given free to anyone    who'd play music or a danceset " -J.MacNamara See what else we do: Hutman Productions click

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 "There was music in nearly every house where we come from up in the humps, hollows, wet, bad land, all bog and lake....It was within you and you could take it with you wherever you went in life"-Pete Woods

Philosophy
The music and philosophy of Peadar O'Riada sing out my philosophy loud and clear. You are well advised to read his recording notes and listen to the earth  and world  speak  through his music.
"the sixties--a time when much of the music was played at sessions in the houses  around.   The pub has taken  over this role now and quite often commercial interests dictate the pace, quality and repertoire of the music played. I regret this."
"....It seems to me  to be  a bit  odd to   take away the parameters within which the live performance takes place.  Nature is full of great music, and I have tried to reflect accurately its presence in my life...I am not the composer but a window through which the voice of my people may sometimes be heard"
-Peadar O'Riada, Winds-Gentle Whisper, Notes. 1996,Bar None Records AHAON-068-2

Pete woods teaches us of the root of all music within the tunes and the interpreters of the mind. these work without the aid of the performer or the sound man- they, you must understand, are not the true live parts of the music!!! They are mortal while the tunes remain immortal no matter how they are played nor how,when, or where  they are heard.

"Music was everywhere with me"-Pete Woods
"Reid used to say, "It's no matter a jot how bad a musician is, especially if he's a middlin' auld fella, you'll always learn something
from him, another tune or a tune in a different setting. "And that was true, for without the people who kept it alive, both good and bad
musicians, there would be no music.  Without the man who took up his fiddle to scratch out a few tunes at the end of his day's work,
or the woman, like my own mother, who took the time to show her children how the different sounds were  made, the only notes that
would be on the air would come from the birds."-Pete Woods p. 46.

We must always remember that when we are dealing with the folk tradition we are dealing with
the mother's milk of generations for which there can be no fee or charge without clogging the nipple!.
If you need to pay money go get a plastic jug of the tradition from a professional player or crafter. No child can grow
in the tradition however, without the free flow of mothers milk. There is no substitute!-C.Bladey 1998

Here is the philosopy of  Packy Burn- I think it has relevance for us all.
"I do know that some of the old musicians, like musicians my age, are a little bit
narrow-minded when it comes to giving out tunes.  Like, if they would compose a tune, or
pick up a tune in some foreign area, that they knew wasn't in this particular area, they
would come & play it here, but they wouldn't want, they would look down on a tape recorder or anything like that
and.....they wouldn't play it too many times, in case somebody picked it up. You know, I don't like that
feeling, I think that is wrong, wrong.  And the same thing about songs.  There are people jealously
guarding their songs, and, good God, songs and music's for everybody. Like, songs & music, it's a
language, why not spread it?  It's in the air all around you.  Why, if we were keen
enough to pick it up, the breeze out there in the trees is music.  Therefore, it don't belong
to anyone.  It comes from, I don't know where, but it, music is to be spread around.
I would love to have a bunch of kids around me, as I sometimes do have, and I would
play away at music for them.  I wouldn't mind. I'd love that, because I think, the thing
about it is, one day, I don't know how soon, but, I'm bound to die, I'll not live forever.
And when I do, I don't want the music that I've spent years & years learning, back home
when I was a kid, I don't want that to go down in the soil with me.  Even though I won't
be there to hear it, I would like to think, the day before I die that, well, there's one thing
about it, the tunes I've been playing over the last sixty-five or whatever, sixty-six, years
I am now, at least, that's going to be carried on. That's the tradition. That's how the
way to keep the tradition going.  But I'm afraid there are some people that just don't
look at it that way.  And it's such a pity."
                                               - Packy Burn KC public radio program "Ballads, Bards, & Bagpipes:"

Our philosophy sets out to free the tradition and restore the presence of  music and folk
arts  and productions within society. We agree that any entrance fee and copyright  are  barriers
to those who wish to partake of the wonders of  tradition and we see any division of status between the performer and the people
to be an unfortunate intrusion of values of the modern world and international culture. This intrusion  hinders the free  transmission
of the culture which occurs best amongst equals. We do not believe that performance as performance as entertainment contributes
to transmission and growth of the tradition as does face to face interaction and production of
cultural artifacts primarily for the purposes of transmission and development of the culture.
While we recognize that there has always been a paid and patronized  professional musician class we also recognize that once the
active production  music and other folk arts  permeated society at all levels and was found virtually everywhere. Professional musicians
in such a culture were the exception rather than the rule. Musicians and all folk artists, as ordinary  people all must walk the same earth
upon the same paths and share freely their skills and productions.

The free and unrestricted exchange of cultural productions- tunes and stories and craft is an obligation of  the musician or performer or crafter. Loyalty  must be first to the tradition  and not to profit or fame. We respect that there will always be a performer or commissioned artist but we also realize that without effective and unrestricted free transmission that there is little chance for the revival of folk ways within the culture as a whole.  It is not quality  but the very existence of the tradition and its continued transmission which is important. The more people reached,however, the more possibility of locating genius.   Have a question about our philosophy? send e.mail
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Event Guidelines
"You'd rely for learning on the traveling musicians and on the men
that might travel seven miles one direction and you another seven to meet at a fair"-Pete Woods

"Competitions, No he said "It changes the music and what gives anyone the right to judge"
-Pete Woods p.102

"I went over to lok at a hollow in the field. It was early in the morning and the dew was still heavy on the grass. The holliow was filled with a mist and I walked down into it.  I don't know how long I was down there. I have no memory of it beyond hearing music. I didn't see anything ore anyone, playing or otherwise.  It just seemed the most natural thing in the world that there should be music coming from nowhere in a hollow in a field...."
-Pete Woods p.108

Freed  Events strive  to come as close as possible to an organic relationship
between the music, craft, tradition, performer and listener. There should be no barrier or
artificial link between them. Following this basic guideline will help to free your music.
It is really not appropriate for us to talk of events. Ours are more just sort of arranged
happenings.  It takes determination and effort to free your event  but it will be well
worth it. Here are the guidelines which must be followed for a Freed Music (or craft or folk) event.
We will soon have suggestions as to how these guidelines might be implemented. We
are interested in all forms of input. Let us know your suggestions. send e.mail

Guidelines:

• No soundsystem: The system for sound is to keep the ambient noise to a minimum post signs to let visitors know that quiet is essential when called for by the musician or artist. This rule should be enforced with ejection if necessary. Most of the time you can trust the audience to enforce itself. The key is to communicate your expectations both to the audience to be appropriately quiet and to the performer to project. Most churches with large audiences  seem to manage as do school classrooms-You can too!  Just think of the savings of equipment and sound personnel! Let the sound guys work at rock concerts!

• There shall be no area marked off limits to  those attending for "musicians only" While the musicians should have an area to store their stuff this area should be minimal and artists should not be allowed to congregate there. The people are musicians and musicians the people. The erection of walls which set musicians appart is absolutely counter to folk reality. Musicians should be requested to become one with the visitors. It is only in this way that folk reality will prevail over elitism and commercial reality.

• No entrance fee: Freed music and performance can not be free if you have to first consult your pocket book to attend. The doors must be wide open for everyone to enter freely. Don't worry- the rewards  will come  to the tradition  and to the music  and to  the  performers  who will  reach a larger audience. Donation baskets are ok but only if all funds are directed into such expenditures as publicity and do not contribute to the incomes of professional performers and artists or inessential dimensions.

• Event is open to the weather- No tents or roofs unless of course it is an indoor event. All you need to do is establish rain dates in advance. Perhaps several. When we gather  at the crossroads under God's sky we are free  from the costs of tents and related services. We make the tradition as free as the songs of the birds. We see no reason to  avoid a few rain drops!  Tents and shelters cost so much. Let the providers either donate them or use them for the events of the socialites and politicians. Peasants and the folk have no real need. Such become distractions and are not in keeping with the qualities of the folk productions.

• Visitors must be allowed to bring their food and drink with them into the area  of  performance. No cooler  checks  at the entrance. No monopoly of food or drink by vendors .One can simply direct the visitor to the local phone to call in food in urban areas. One can provide the address of local deli and drink providers for those to stop in on the way in. what in the world is wrong with folks bringing in a picnic basket. Is this such a lost art that we must fill the country air at our folk events with the grease from fries and pork products?

• If sold  food  and drink  should be at  prices which  are  at or  below lowest  local  retail. Bulk purchase should mean  price  breaks  for the  consumer  not  price gouging by vendors or organizations. Those  attending should find that their attendance  is rewarded by prices  lower than  outside of the event. People working  together as volunteers  can  buy in  bulk and  pass  on  savings. We must think always of the miracle of the bread and fishes and not the miracle of shooting fish in the barrel which currently is the tradition of the vendor at folk events. One can provide the sources for food and drink locally at the best prices and visitors can be sure to stock up before they come and get a good deal as well. This way the local economy will still benefit.

• Trad goods  vendors  should  be  limited to a paper  presence- flyers and  catalogs for free distribution.  Freed Traditional events must not be shopping malls. Crafters can display their work if they are willing to teach while they display and donate the days production to those learning of it. One can always make something small to hand out to the person you teach to make it or demonstrate for. You may as a crafter  or vendor hand out materials which talk about your craft or products. Your generosity will not be lost on those who visit the event who will be able to become your best customers in the future. If you do not make it you should not display it. All craft/materials sales should be limited to those items actually produced at the event itself. As with musicians who will sell the music that they produce at the event. If the freed venue will not allow sales one must ask the artists to be resourceful- they can station a vehicle conveniently outside the area or direct visitors to a local shop or bar where their materials can be "pre-positioned" and offered for sale without restrictions.  The true reason for crafters to attend is for transmission of skills not for sales. Crafter come to meet one another and exchange new angles and skills not to compete for sales.

• Musicians and performers shall be  free  to  sell  their  recordings books  and  products   at any  price they see fit providing that  sales pitches from the  stage are minimal. As with crafters it is preferable that sales be limited to freely distributed flyers and catalogs. As above the resourceful artist will find away to get around venu restrictions in regard to sales.

• 30-50% of all performance time  slots should be assigned only by sign up on the day of the event or during the event itself. There shall be no charge for musicians and performers to play. Sign up should be always on a first come-first-serve basis. Simply lay out performance areas with a sign up sheet with a breakdown by hour or half hour performance. If an artist arrives out of the blue they should find a stage at a moment's notice.

• No musician or performer  or crafter. shall receive a fee  for performing. They will be able to sell  such things as they have for sale such as tee shirts, recordings,  books etc.. Neither will there be a fee required to perform.

• There should be no discrimination against folk materials which may be adult in nature. While it is important to indicate and restrict such areas of festivals as provide adult materials from children we must recognize that the tradition is the product of and intended for  all ages and levels of maturity. Censorship of the tradition by those who claim to promote it is cruel torture to the tradition as a whole. It is simply so easy to card those attending adult events that censorship is really a lot of useless work!

• Up  to one third or  more of  stages or performance time slots  should be available for  Oral Traditional  style copyright  free performances as demand dictates. We  recognize that many are tied to the copyright tradition however, Oral Traditional  performances should be given priority.

"We played music together on the weekends, for fun and not for a living.  Once I was playing for sport it changed my music.  It started to come easier to me. " -Peter Woods p.131

If your event follows the guidelines and philosophy outlined on these pages then we
will gladly provide publicity here. Please send us your information by e. mail. Describe
the event and provide contact addresses. If you wish for us to use your e.mail for a link
please give permission. This is a free service click here to send e.mail
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This piper is most likely a professional -a member of the musician class patronized by the elite. After the fall of the warlord chefs such musicians became traveling teachers and dance masters who would also hire themselves out for a fee. This class of professionals was small. Most people played their own music as a part of their daily lives at home, at work,  at the  crossroads and at fairs. The goal is that music should  once again  reside with the people and pros alike!

Artists "I would travel anywhere I was asked to play"-Pete Woods p.43 We will post information concerning any participating musician or performer  or craftsman  here. send e.mail Performing and playing according to our philosophy and guidelines does not mean that you can not also be a professional musician and make money!  Nor that just because artists work without fee that there will be no quality! One does have to live! And we respect that some exist within the professional patronized class. But, the making of music or art is not restricted to the professional. Additionally the custom of setting musicians and artists appart blocked off by fences from the people is most inappropriate for anything or event using the name folk or celtic.  Our events will allow you to sell your own recordings and the usual materials- tee shirts books etc.... We will in fact have no middleman and no fee for your spot -so you will be ahead won't you. Additionally we encourage you to bring flyers so that you can make each member of the audience a loyal fan who will turn up at all of your pay for view venues, purchase your recordings and materials and essentially contribute toward your every success.  The difference in our events is that you will reach absolutely everyone who can get to the event and freely walk in the door. Think of the entry fee we are not charging as going toward that cd purchase or toward obtaining tickets for your next concert! I think it is well worth the investment! Think also of that visitor as your next band member- a person able to put roots down into the tradition not as a mere visitor but as a participant. When the tradition grows in this way we all benefit!  We will help all who contribute and make themselves  available for events by listing them and their products on these pages. Let us know who  and where you are! send e.mail Return to the main menu  click here

The TOTSNIIC concept has recently evolved into a concern for the development of the Oral Traditional Realm
You may read more about it here:
Click to learn more!
Feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
Please click here to send e.mail To answer your questions.

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O'Riada, Pedar. Winds-Gentle Whisper. Bar None Records, AHAON 068-2, 1996.
(A wonderful CD- a good proclamation of his philosophy)

See Also:
O'Riada, Pedar., Amidst These Hills., Bar None Records, AHAON-053, 1994.

The Living Note. "The Heartbeat of Irish Music"
Text:Peter Woods
Photographs: Christy McNamara
The O'Brien Press
Dublin1996
This is essential reading!
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