Re: Irish/Portuguese Bouzouki
Originally Posted by
Dagger Gordon
Wow, fascinating video of the Corries.
I'm intrigued by the date - 1968. While we often hear that Moynihan introduced the bouzouki to Irish music, I wonder if that had an influence on Roy Williamson of the Corries or was there a quite separate and possibly overlooked use of the instrument in Scotland at the time? Sweeney's Men made their album with Moynihan in 1968 - the same year as that Corries video.
Not only that, Roy Williamson invented and made these combolin instruments. Again from Wikipedia:
'The Combolin was invented by Roy Williamson of The Corries in the summer of 1969. The combolin combined several instruments into a single instrument. One combined a mandolin and a guitar (along with four bass strings operated with slides), the other combined guitar and the Spanish bandurria, the latter being an instrument Williamson had played since the early days of the Corrie Folk Trio.'
You mean... Johnny Moynihan DIDN'T invent those as well???
As I keep having to say: those instruments were everywhere, but it was Moynihan who brought his to the fore through easily available recordings and the popularity of his groups (he's a terrific performer to see in the flesh, and an amazing musician) and thereby gets the credit. It's a bit like saying that James Last invented the orchestra, when we actually mean that he took what was there, honed and fine tuned it and brought it to fame.
"Danger! Do Not Touch!" must be one of the scariest things to read in Braille....
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