Planxty

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Planxty
General information
Genre (s) Irish folk
founding 1972, 1979, 2003
resolution 1976, 1983, 2005
Founding members
Dónal Lunny
Vocals , guitar , bodhrán
 Christy Moore
Singing, Irish bouzouki, mandolin
 Andy Irvine
Liam O'Flynn
former members
Vocals, Irish bouzouki, mandolin, fiddle
Johnny Moynihan
Vocals, guitar, mandolin, Irish bouzouki, tin whistle
Paul Brady
Matt Molloy
Bill Whelan
Fiddle
 Nollaig Ni Cathasaig

Planxty was an Irish folk music group that was formed in the early 1970s. She played mostly Irish traditionals , but also contemporary songs. In doing so, Planxty mainly used traditional Irish acoustic instruments, but at an early stage also included elements from other cultures, such as Balkan folklore and instruments such as the bouzouki , in her music. Planxty has been called "the most influential band in the history of traditional Irish music".

Band history

In 1972 Christy Moore released his second album Prosperous , which he had recorded with his school friend Lunny, Irvine and O'Flynn, among others. In January 1972 the four musicians founded Planxty.

The band consisted of the following musicians:

The first appearance as opening act for Donovan in Galway made them known to a wider audience at Easter 1972. Their debut single Three Drunken Maidens / Sí-Beag, Sí-Mór was a success, so that they could sign an exclusive contract with the Polydor label . This agreement provided a sum of 30,000 pounds sterling for six albums before, minus the cost of production and low royalties for sold records - the sum turned out to be very low out. Already in 1972 the single Cliffs of Dooneen / Yarmouth Town was released by Polydor . The band released their first LP, Planxty, in early 1973. It mainly contained traditional songs and dances arranged in a new way, as well as original compositions. Also with Polydor she released the album The Well Below the Valley and 1974 Cold Blow and the Rainy Night in the same year . From 1973 the band went on extensive tours in Great Britain, Central and Northern Europe.

There were numerous line-up changes; some musicians were active in several bands at the same time. Johnny Moynihan replaced Dónal Lunny in 1973, and Paul Brady replaced Christy Moore in 1974. In the original formation Planxty did not take up pieces again until five years later; The result was two more LPs, namely After the Break (1979) and The Woman I Loved so Well (1980). Bill Whelan first appeared as a keyboardist. The members of Planxty continued to go their separate ways occasionally, found each other again in between and involved other musicians, such as the flautist Matt Molloy , who later became a member of the Chieftains . From 1983 Lunny and Moore focused on their new group Moving Hearts , Irvine and O'Flynn on their solo performances.

2003 to 2005 Planxty played together again. In 2004 the band toured Ireland again in the original line-up, reinforced by Nollaig Ni Cathasaigh and Bill Whelan; a live recording was made ( The Best of Planxty Live ), which was released on DVD and CD.

Band name

The name Planxty comes from the harpist Turlough O'Carolan , who used the word in many of his pieces. There are different statements about its meaning, for example that it is a modification of the popular toast sláinte or that it comes from the Latin word planctus , which means something like "lamentation". It is also part of the name that appears in numerous song titles, among other things.

Discography

  • 1973: Planxty
  • 1973: The Well Below The Valley
  • 1974: Cold Blow and the Rainy Night
  • 1976: The Planxty Collection
  • 1979: After The Break
  • 1980: The Woman I Loved So Well
  • 1983: Words & Music
  • 2004: The Best of Planxty Live
  • 2016: Between The Jigs & The Reels: A Retrospective

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Description at taramusic.com (English), accessed on August 8, 2015
  2. ↑ a b c portrait at irishmusicdaily.com (English), accessed on August 9, 2015
  3. ↑ a b Andy Irvine on the early days of Planxty ( Memento from September 23, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (English)
  4. ↑ Andy Irvine at livingtradition.co.uk (English), accessed on August 9, 2015
  5. ↑ Search results at allmusic.com , accessed on August 9, 2015