The Blind Harper - Andy Irvine 1976

[@geraldpoirier947]

No better music in this life time ,from an old metal head (62) 😂

[@fphelan535]

youll never see the likes of that time and these brilliant musicians again

[@adudetou]

Go into any Irish pub anywhere around the world that has a trad night and you'll see the likes everywhere you go

[@Majnun74]

Ephemeral musicians come and go. The music of heart and soul is eternal🙏🏻

[@ThreeTimesThrough]

Andy Irvine has two brains, at least. He is such a fabulous singer, bouzouki player and song writer, all at the same time. Oh yeah, throw in the harmonica too!

[@prangbro]

Don’t forget arranger!

[@talex7473]

Andy Irvine is a one-of-a-kind. When I was 13 he was my motivation to grab my aunt’s 100-year old mandolin off of the wall in her 150 year old home, dust it off and learn it. 20 years later I’m still just as passionate. All thanks to Andy!

[@bobertkallahan4392]

The greats of Traditional Irish music are the top of the heap for musicianship as far as I’m concerned, and I’m not even Irish! Love from Amerikay! 😂

[@anudistsjury]

The instrumental interlude at 1:28 is just heaven

[@louiseperrin5324]

Perfection. Beautifully sung, story telling at its best ❤

[@mikedenby6771]

I've watched this video so many times over the years - I think it's probably my favourite live performance of all time, it's just perfect! Andy's fretting hand is an absolute beast!

[@kirkcavenaugh758]

Can't find anything wrong with it at all

[@lexinaut]

Here's a priceless bit of traditional music! It's a vital evocation of another time. Having spent a lot of time in history classes where the past too often lies in tatters and has no soul, I strongly recommend bringing it to life as it is brought to life here.

[@ianc1001]

That double bouzouki sound is great - and Paul Brady is no slouch either. I've watched this about 10 times since finding it today!

[@hermanthetosser4219]

Gotta appreciate the audience not distracted and watching and enjoying

[@irishlike1]

If I could choose one concert in the past that I wanted to join and listen to in the audience it might would be this one! Great music and the style of all that strings Donal, Paul and Andy are putting together is so unique! But 1976 was the year of my birth - therefore I am really glad and thankful for these recordings.

[@michaeljamestalbot5264]

He and the rest of Planxty gave me a love of Irish folk music in the 1970s when I was a teenager. Have seen them in concert. An awesome group.

[@melissabautz2346]

Michael James Talbot Me too! But in the 1980’s. Love this man’s and Planxty’s music. After 33 years I still can’t get enough of their music. My soul and brain is better for knowing about this music!

[@cliffsandifer3877]

Andy was playing show Atlanta decdes ago with Kevin burke Arty mcglynn . Andys chair BROKE under him fell on his arse , no grace at all both his mates were laughing so hard for minutes. The crowd good laugh ....the hands got him another chair ..the concert resumed and we applauded heartily God bless em 😅

[@itcfan]

Andy is a giant of trad Irish music.

[@dianefarrell2343]

Oh my Goodnes, this is absolutely wonderful

[@melissabautz2346]

I cannot get enough of this. I’m so glad I got to know Planxty’s music as a youth. This recording is a treasure. That we get to see/hear Andy, Paul, and Donal in the in-between (break) years is priceless. And now I get to share this music with my kids. Part of my soul and fabric, is this music. Thanks so much for posting!!

[@kevinmurtagh3434]

My first concert 1971 at Manchester freeTrade hall For my 10th birthday present with my big sister.

[@melissabautz2346]

@@kevinmurtagh3434 Oh wowza! What a great experience for a person at any age. But age 10?! I surmise you remember it clearly. Cheers and thanks for sharing that slice of awesomeness from your youth. 😁

[@itcfan]

Beautiful......one of my all-time musical heroes along with the other members of Planxty and Paul.

[@aslandama]

Bloody genius!

[@bucklilli9832]

marvelous bouzouki playing I love Andy' s music

[@itcfan]

Discovering gems like this is one of lifes pleasures....long been an admirer of the great Andy Irvine, Planxty and Paul Brady too.......never seen this before, wonderful. Thanks for posting.

[@brynleyssongs8815]

Have always loved this song and especially this live version - such a fantastic acoustic sound. Those instrumental sections...special in their own right. I met Andy when he played in Petersham in Sydney a few months ago, a really great and intimate performance.

[@TheSmokey747]

Talent lives forever beautiful

[@Carmelitathespacecadet]

Pure true real music 👌

[@anthonymcintyre2242]

Some of the greatest sessions I've ever heard.

[@asburystan]

Gorgeous

[@prangbro]

This is such an incredible video I don't know where to start. I keep having to remind myself there's no percussion in it, the rhythm is so propulsive. You can see at around 1:55 how much effort Paul Brady is putting into keeping it going (not to mention totally loving it!)

[@talex7473]

Very true. Donal Lunny doesn’t hold back either when driving a tune on the bouzouki. Such an awesome performance.

[@prangbro]

Also love seeing Liam O'Flynn in the audience at 1:53 puffing on his fag and pretending not to be impressed

[@tommypickles218]

Start with the good grey mare

[@SkipWay]

wonderful vintage Andy. I can't believe we're both 70!

[@LillebjornNilsen]

Andy Irvine, my brother!

[@marisadwyer9084]

Best trio ever

[@Ullarobinlilly]

Can not stop watching this! Love it!!!!

[@melissabautz2346]

Ulla Robinlilly Me too! I think I’m responsible for over 100 of the views, and i just discovered it 3 months ago!!

[@sillystrings]

A BADASS. And I love Paul and Donal bouncing along, seem to really love watching their friend take the spotlight. If anyone does end up finding a recording of this that would make my entire life

[@porterhall27]

you can convert this into an MP3 file online

[@prangbro]

@@porterhall27 there is a similar recording of this song on spotify but it's not as good: it's just andy and donal with no guitar and andy doesn''t play harmonica.

[@grahamrothwell8236]

Amazing. Just found him.

[@STIPOWER97]

like wise,wow amazing talent

[@kittymeekins1682]

Wow...beautiful music and men!

[@ricearz8633]

Vim pelo Cifra Club

[@kololikate]

look at those fingers!

[@gary21962]

Absolutely excellent. Timing, phrasing, everything!

[@TomasNolanmossynolanmusic]

Brady fuckin loves it.

[@jakmak1199]

100% immersed in the moment.

[@ianc1001]

That was lovely plucking, and vice versa.

[@garethm3242]

Nice.

[@ianwattsOfficial]

Welcome to Australia Queensland anytime and Christy Moore Planxty even came to our little town, so your music has spread out a long way, that is sa special achievement thank you for inspiring me::::))

[@tonypellock5326]

Drink every time he says mare.

[@anthonycosgrave8539]

A beautiful tune by every reckoning.

[@ishdid1775]

.....O.....so ....nice

[@pauljordan988]

absolutely love it

[@cliffjamesmusic]

Great stuff. Awakes wonderful memories of hearing Andy (and of course Paul Brady)

[@elizabethlaubhan474]

Love this so much

[@brendanwhite3848]

Great song, great playing, thanks for posting.

[@paulsweeney2215]

Great song Andy. Sounds brilliant on the bouzouki.

[@cheerydavie]

Great guy and great musician

[@sangirardiecavicchi648]

Amazing

[@tailendcharlie]

sounds just amazing

[@simon39825]

hi i realley enjoyed this thanks.

[@kirkcavenaugh758]

wow If this ain't one of the best songs ever

[@tesserakt54]

Damn fine!

[@Armunk]

Thank you so much bilko - it a real treat to be able to see these clips cause i wasnt even born at this time and still all the planxty people inspire me so greatly. Never heard this one before.... keep'm coming dear sir.....

[@mmcdonn2]

God be with the long-haired Seventies! We were young and filled with hope......not like now!

[@lkbwheewhee53]

Gorgeous.

[@jtpinnyc]

Amazing. Can't decide if I like this one better or the version by Nic Jones. Both amazing.

[@mikedenby6771]

Yes. It's rare that there are 2 renditions of the same song which are played in a different style, but equally as good.

[@itcfan]

Sheer genius Andy

[@douglashadden2172]

This is great. I've never heard Andy Irvine sing this before, and as far as I know, he never recorded it. Again, as far as I know, it's Scottish in origin. Jamie McMenemy, formerly of "The Battlefield Band" recorded this as "The Lochmaben Harper", and so did Martin Carthy, but he used a different tune altogether. Thanks for posting.

[@jungleninja8415]

@Nigel Sellars who cares of where it's from if you really chase these melodies they are anchiant they most likey stem from places before Europe

[@jungleninja8415]

@Nigel Sellars true

[@alisonharvey4758]

I. Think its on his latest retrospective... old dog long road2.. see andyirvine.com

[@prangbro]

There's another beautiful version by English folk singer Nic Jones, using the same melody but slightly different instrumentation: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGbLfWloYtSVeNk From 1978 so it's possible he'd heard Andy's version?

[@fiddlepeg]

Amazingly great music.

[@kololikate]

what a musician!!!

[@jeremycline9542]

There's an album of the Paul Brady-centered shows from this period...wish there was one from the Andy shows!

[@Gamberist]

I think he doesn´t care much, he has his audience, he is a real artist. ´

[@hangdogit]

I wonder if the people listening realize what Musical Masters they are hearing...

[@samrush9624]

You can tell its a Scottish song; more than 500 years after a victory over the English, and they're still singing about it.

[@thefournothings6293]

ridiculously good

[@AndyIrvineFanblog]

Extended description: Andy Irvine performs playing bouzouki, harmonica and singing 'The Blind Harper' accompanied by Paul Brady on guitar and Donal Lunny also on bouzouki. From his band 'Sweeney's Men' in the mid sixties to 'Planxty' in the seventies, and 'Patrick Street' in the eighties, to his solo work and collaborations, Andy is considered pioneering in the world of traditional music and musicians. Information: 'Andy Irvine at the Embankment was broadcast on 5 November, 1976. This excerpt features a performance of 'The Blind Harper'. On the series of television concerts recorded at The Embankment, producer Noel Greene says: "Irish folk music has now become an international force. I want to offer a musical showcase to the individuals and groups on the Irish scene and felt that this could be done more successfully in a folk-music centre than in a studio. I chose The Embankment because it has been a major centre for Irish folk-music acts for many years. It's the right size for our purpose and also helps to create the right atmosphere". Seven acts were seen during the series. They include Aileach, The Bothy Band, De Danaan (with Johnny Moynihan), Clannad, The Sands Family, Paul Brady and Andy Irvine. www.rte.ie/archives/exhibitions/1664-traditional-music/498039-andy-irvine/

[@billirvine9078]

wow.ULTIMATE

[@MrBelthasar]

That is great '-'

[@madden150]

Can someone please take 1.29 to 1.53 and inject it into my veins? OH MY GOD!!

[@ron88303]

Amen to that!

[@melissabautz2346]

Exactly!!!

[@ebjeezer]

I glad to see I’m not the only one thinking how absolutely amazing that piece is in this song. I’ve often through how much I would give to be part of the audience on that night.

[@crisdickason3362]

Oh, it's in my heart & veins...Alas, can't get it into my fingers!

[@paulmichaeldonovan3563]

I hear Donald Trump is experimenting with that.

[@FredJ51]

God bless Nic Jones.

[@MarisaDwyer]

This puts me in a state of pure worship, but many many of Mick Connell's posts do. I was a Planxty fan since birth or possibly conception, but was very slow to discover the magic of youtube and, well, thank you ❤ A piece of trivia, does anyone know which King Henry is referred to here?

[@SpanneredSpoons]

@Bortherhood Yes is is. One of the bowl-back styles. You can buy a "marquetry" bouzouki of a similar nature for a reasonable price.

[@ambrosemackey5824]

awesome

[@jakmak1199]

The holy trinity right there.

[@HolgerWerner-so2ki]

❤👍👍👍🤗🍀

[@doonhamer8101]

Begging your pardon, but it's actually a traditional Scots song from the sixteenth century, collected by Robert Burns in the eighteenth century and listed 100 years later in Child's English and Scottish Ballads from whence it has been sourced and covered by many splendid contemporary musicians including Martin Carthy and Kate Rusby, as well as Andy Irvine himself.

[@1948DESMOND]

i often wonder how correct our intepretation of history is. is it accurate at all? if something like a song comes from great britain, people here in southern ireland often call it english instead of british. now, how accurate is that? apart from that, this song IS lovely, no matter which state in britain it comes from. to me, britain means england, scotland, wales AND CORNWALL whichis england's oldest colony. oh, god, i am bringing politics into all this!! and all because of a gorgeous english song!!

[@curleyteeth]

Who cares.All one needs in life is a good tune.Jim.Liverpool.

[@par576]

Well Lochmaben is in Scotland. Arthur. Lockerbie

[@kathleentherose]

Planxty played folk songs from all over Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. They were the most beautiful BARD's!! My uncle RIP played mandolin with them in the Fleadh Ceoil , all over Ireland. Brilliant. xx

[@CatherineMcClain]

You don't need to say "from whence". "Whence" itself already means "from where".

[@drummerboy1390]

Scottish, English, Irish or Ethiopian who cares. It's a great song and Irvine, Lunny and Brady do it justice. Three masters of their craft.

[@nialltrainor.]

LYRICS Have you heard of the blind harper, How he lived in lochmaben town, He would go to fair England, To steal King Henry’s wanton Brown. But first he’s gone unto his wife, With all the speed that he could show, This work he says it’ll never go well, Without the help of our good grey mare. She says, you take the good grey mare, She’ll run o’er hills both low and high, sit you on the grey mares back, And leave the foal at home with me. So He’s up to England gone, e even as fast as go could he, when he came to Carlisle gates, Who should be there but King Henry. As the king looked over his left shoulder, as he says onto his serving groom, take the poor blind harpers mare, put her beside me wanton brown. Run on HIGH D STRINGS (GDAD) The harper harped him then he sang He’s charmed them so fast asleep Straight way he took of his shoes Quietly down the stairs did creep Soon he came to the stable door With tread as light as light could be When he opened and went in, He found thirty steeds and three. And he’s taken the Halton from his horse, And from his purpose he did not fail, He slipped it over the wanton’s nose, he’s tied it to the grey mare’s tail. and he’s loose them out of the castle gates, and the mare didn’t fail to find her way, She was at lochmaben town, Three long hours before the day. And the very next morning, in broad daylight, When they had ended all their cheer, Behold the wantong brown was gone, likewise the poor blind harper’s mare. And its OH, als, said the blind harper, and its ever als that I came here, Scotland I’ve lost me a good grey foal, In England they stole me old grey mare. And its hold your tongue your blind harper, And again of your music let us hear well paid shall your colt foal be You will have a far better mare So the harper harped him then he sang as sweet was the music he let them hear he was paid for a foal for he never had lost three times over for the good grey mare

[@shamiemcguire1588]

Listen to the master...

[@petroskalavrezos]

Μπουζούκι βλέπω, φιλιά από Ελλάδα!

[@Ixaglet]

Have you heard of the blind harper? How he lived in Lochmaben town? He would go to fair England To steal King Henry's wanton brown But first he's gone unto his wife With all the speed that he could show "This work", he says, "It'll never go well Without the help of our good grey mare" She says "You take the good grey mare She'll run o'er hills both low and high Sit you on the grey mare's back And leave the foal at home with me" So he is up to England gone He then as fast as go could he When he came to Carlisle's gates Who should be there, but King Henry? And the king he looked over his left shoulder And he says unto his serving groom "Take the poor blind harper's mare, Put her beside me wanton brown" SOLO The harper harped and then he sang And he's charmed them all so fast asleep Straight 'way he took off his shoes Quietly down the stairs did creep Soon he came to the stable door With tread as light as light could be When he opened and went in He found thirty steeds and three And he's taken the halter from his hose And from his purpose he did not fail He's slipped it over the wanton's nose He's tied it to the grey mare's tail And he's loosed them out of the castle gates And the mare didn't fail to find her way She was at Lochmaben town Three long hours before the day And the very next morning in broad daylight When they had ended all their cheer Behold! The wanton brown was gone Likewise, the poor blind harper's mare And it's "Oh and alas" says the blind harper And it's "Ever and alas that I came here In Scotland I've lost me a good grey foal In England they've stolen me old grey mare" And it's "Hold your talking you blind harper And again of your music let us hear Well paid shall your colt foal be You will have a far better mare" So the harper harped and then he sang So sweet was the music he let them hear He was paid for a foal that he never had lost 'three times over for the good grey mare

[@EmiFolkMusic]

Vote this to be on top :P

[@ProfesserLuigi]

Ah, a fine song about an ancient insurance scam.

[@rufus566]

He is Irish, and the Irish tradition has accepted the Bouzouki as a traditional instrument, but seeing how Ireland is neutral an Irishman playing a Bazooka is rather out of the ordinary.

[@alistairbanfield6965]

Andy was born in London in 1942.

[@TomasNolanmossynolanmusic]

and?

[@alistairbanfield6965]

@@TomasNolanmossynolanmusic ... and I love the bones of him! ;-)

[@CastletoKarma]

Andy plays and adapts awfully well to Scottish ballads, witness Planxty's renditionof 'Johnny Cope' they make it sound like thier own composition and another one, Scottish, a song about Napoleon Bonaparte and a line I quote 'to the wars he did go...' not sure of song's title.

[@bobbycrispy5459]

CastletoKarma he is an Irvine after all

[@289greenbottlesirl5]

Bonny Light Horseman

[@kathleentherose]

The lake's of PONCHATRAION

[@liamhayes1011]

In a crowded field, Planxty were the best of the best. Beyond compare ...

[@jakmak1199]

Absolutely right,creme de la crème, strange how the best musicians all gravitate towards each other,lucky for us they do.

[@prangbro]

If someone could do a very slow tutorial for Andy's bouzouki part I'd be very grateful🙃

[@wesleyvanbreda]

Saw Andy live in Cavan back in August....a true legend! Does anyone know where you can get a recording of this song?

[@ArvidDarmond]

1:51 Putin enjoying some Irish music.

[@jakmak1199]

doing some recon no doubt..deep undercover.

[@Mellowshiestygod]

Bones-SESH

[@swordoflight56]

Nah

[@swordoflight56]

@Javier Gonzalez this video has nothing to do with Bones, it's pure Andy Irvine.

[@Alhalmeya]

sesh

[@ΠαναγιώτηςΧολιασμένος]

OMG! Is he playing with Greek bouzouki???

[@LuisEduardoBraschi]

+Παναγιώτης Χολιασμένος Yes. It seems like they preferred the Irish bouzouki by then. Most of their shows feature at least one.

[@LuisEduardoBraschi]

By "they" I mean Andy and Dónal (Planxty).

[@tasoskou5527]

+Παναγιώτης Χολιασμένος τότε δεν το ειχανε ακομα στο σχημα και την εμαφανιση ..αλλα αν δεις οι χορδες ειναι σαν του μαντολινου ( οι 2 διπλες πανω ειναι μονο μπασες)

[@iamalaser4185]

its GDAD with a capo on the 1st

[@amokreutz]

what a fucking difficult rhythm...

[@Folkerman66]

Also Nic Jones, whence Kate Rusby's version.

[@leventekokuti2275]

Sesh

[@derstaubwedel708]

Anyone here who knows what Donal is playing there? The head looks like a Joe Foley, but was he already building zouks in the 70s?

[@MetalMidgard]

Is there any chance to get a CD or vinyl with This song performed by Andy irvine?

[@alisonharvey4758]

Never recorded on Cd or vinyl