#niall flemming

[allsassnoclass]

For AU Game: Raven Cycle AU? -Annie

@carouselstars

STOP i saw this and gasped because i literally have 20k of a raven cycle au already typed up (prologue posted here back in the day) you don't even know how excited the thought of this makes me you don't even know!!!!!!

Michael, as Ronan's parallel, doesn't have a thing about secrets like Ronan does (RONAN'S SECOND SECRET WAS--), but instead has a thing about promises. How long after someone dies are you allowed to break your promise to them? How do you keep a promise to yourself when you also hate yourself? Is it enough to keep yourself safe for someone else because you promised them you would, not because you want to for yourself?

Niall Horan makes a beautiful appearance as a Henry Cheng parallel, and the Vancouver Crowd is actually the UK Crowd (aka 1d)

Ashton built a soundproof room in Monmouth (former factory turned home for 3 rich teenage boarding school boys) so that he can drum when his insomnia kicks in. He and Michael used to joke about forming a band that only practices late at night when neither of them can sleep

i cannot describe to you exactly how much i want to write the almost-kiss with ashton and luke. literally the thing that inspired this whole journey i'm on. it's a pretty standard scene to include so maybe it doesn't count for something like this but i would LOVE to write that scene (so i guess the fun fact would be there's an almost-kiss scene in the first book)

i would make this a three-fic series rather than a four-fic one by managing to combine the dream thieves and blue lily, lily blue. this would mostly be accomplished by doing away with the villany of kavinsky, smushing him and jesse dittley together and making them both roy. who knows how i'm handling greenmantle (i certainly don't)

fun bonus fact, the main character parallels are as follows: ashton as gansey, luke as blue, michael as ronan, calum as adam, ryan flemming as noah. the ladies of fox way would largely stay the same (there is no one else who could replace them in the 5sos public circle lol) with the exception of maura, who would of course be replaced by Liz. persephone and calla have a slightly larger role in this, as I am doing away with neeve altogether because i simply do not vibe with her :)

in general, a raven cycle au i think would need to be shifted a decent amount in order to make it work, if only because there is So Much going on and the characters are so distinct. i personally have never seen the point of completely copying a book/movie and just switching out the character names, and the characters in the raven cycle are so unique and the story is decently character driven, so things would have to change with our boys taking their place. ashton is still definitely a gansey-esq character, but he also feels a lot more external pressure because i've added a whole side plot with his grandfather (i am insane) and external pressure caused by needing to uphold a positive public image for his mother's political career. i am in no way making mr. hood abusive, but the poverty still impacts calum significantly. however, his choice to move into st. agnes is caused by his sacrifice to cabeswater and his dad finally getting a better job and moving to washington dc (calum is trapped not by his home circumstances, but by the sacrifice he made. he wants to get out of henrietta, but when he's finally offered the chance his loyalty to his friends prevents him from doing so). michael is an only child and i cast him as a character with plot-important siblings, and the lack of declan and matthew is definitely going to change things for his story.

overall, i think the changes would ensure that this au would still be fresh and enjoyable for fans of the book series, while keeping with the spirit of the series and general large plot. if there are people who haven't read trc and want to after reading the fic, they'll still be surprised and delighted by maggie's characters and writing as well (although i would recommend reading the book series first as she's obviously going to tell it much better than me lol).

obviously i talked a lot more with this one than prompted lol but in my defense i have been brainstorming this since 2020. it's a good time! i love thinking about it!

Send me a potential AU and I'll tell you five fun facts that would happen in a story

[germanlander]

Der Bogenmacher Niall Flemming

Letzte Woche durfte ich eine Bratsche aus der Musikschule mit nach Hause nehmen, um zu üben. Es ist eine ziemlich große und sie hatte keine A-Saite und nur einen Feinstimmer für die A-Saite. Also habe ich eine Saite (Dominant) und drei Feinstimmer bestellt. Ich hatte einen befreundeten Geigenbauer in Leipzig (Hallo Gregor!) gefragt, ob es irgendetwas zu beachten gibt beim Anbau der Feinstimmer und her hat mir geraten, einen Geigenbauer zu konsultieren. Das habe ich gemacht.

Ich hatte Niall (ausgesprochen: Nail) über die Konzertmeisterin kennen gelernt. Er ist eigentlich Bogenmacher, aber er hat zuerst Geigenbauer gelernt. Das nämlich in England, Bogenbau dann in Belgien und Irland. Er wurde in Australien geboren, aber er hat den Großteil seines Lebens in Irland verbracht. Er hat also noch den australischen Akzent, aber ist ein ausgezeichneter Fiedelspieler. Seine Werkstatt ist über dem Home Rule Club, aber es gibt nicht mal ein Schild. Als ich hineinkam, war er noch damit beschäftigt, neue Haare auf einen Bratschen- und einen Cellobogen zu ziehen, also habe ich mich einfach hingesetzt und zugeschaut.

Ich liebe die Athmosphäre in Werkstätten. Meine Oma hat früher Puppen gemacht und ich habe ihr dabei zugeschaut; in meiner Erinnerung kommt es mir wie Stunden vor, die ich da im Alter von ca. fünf bis acht gesessen habe.

Später kamen die beiden Frauen, die die Bögen bestellt hatten, zur Abholung..

Wie es immer mit Handwerkern ist: Du zeigst ihnen ein kleines Problem und sie sehen noch viel mehr Schwierigkeiten. Ich meine das gar nicht negativ; ihre Augen sind einfach besser darauf geschult. Und selbst ich hatte gesehen, dass die fehlenden Feinstimmer nicht das einzige Problem an der Bratsche waren. Und die sind ja eigentlich gar kein Problem; ich bin nur nicht gewöhnt, die Wirbel zu benutzen, weil meine Bratsche in Deutschland sich so gut wie nie verstimmt hat.

Also hat Niall letztendlich auch noch den Obersattel angepasst. Er sagt, die Bratsche braucht außer einem neuen Obersattel auch noch einen neuen Steg, aber das muss ich mit dem Besitzer der Musikschule absprechen.

Das war eine sehr gemütliche Erfahrung. Ich musste nichts bezahlen, aber Nialls nächstes Pint in meiner Gesellschaft geht auf jeden Fall auf mich.

Und das mindeste, was ich tun kann, ist Werbung für ihn in Irland und Deutschland zu machen. ;-)

[davidisen]

NYC Music I Like Mar 1-7

...trad jazz, Gypsy, swing, bluegrass, choro etc. w/ folk roots & virtuoso ensemble playing... Explanation/disclaimer.

[Caution! Please verify with musician, venue, etc. before going. Send updata here.]

Allied music listings with overlapping tastes: Jim's Roots and Blues Calendar.  Eileen's Lindy Blog - This Week in Swing.

This Week

<<<SPECIAL>>>: Tuesday, Feb 28 through Sunday, March 5, Django a GoGo, an amazing week of workshops and concerts presented by Stephane Wrembel. More info here. Concerts that are open to the public listed below.

Wednesday, March 1, 5:30 PM: David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Birdland (Most Wednesdays.) 7 PM: Jeanne Gies (vocals) w/ Bruce Edwards (guitar). Andanada.   7:30 PM: The Robert Edwards Quintet w/ Rob (trombone), Joe Magnarelli (cornet), Dave Barron (bass), Aaron Kimmel (drums), Adam Birnbaum (piano). Smalls. 8 PM: Django a Gogo presents Django Flamenco w/Alfonso Ponticelli and Juanito Pascual (guitars).  The Woodland, Maplewood NJ. Info/tix. 10 PM: Tatiana and the Mood Swings w/ Tatiana Eva Marie (vocals), Amos Rose (guitar), Joanna Sternberg (bass). Jalopy. 11 PM: Avalon Jazz Band hosts Hot Jazz & Gypsy Jam. The Keep. (Most Wednesdays.)

Thursday, March 2, 7 PM: Bill Scorzari, Live in the Lobby. The Patchogue Theatre, Patchogue, NY 8 PM: Django a Gogo presents Rhythm Future Quartet w/ Olli Soikkeli (guitar), Max O'Rourke (guitar), Jason Anick (violin), Greg Loughman (bass).  The Woodland, Maplewood NJ. Info/tix. 8 PM: The Blacktail Songbirds w/ Molly Ryan (vocals), Dan Levinson (reeds), Mike Davis (cornet), Terry Waldo (piano). Blacktail. (Most Thursdays.) 8 PM: Andy Statman Trio w/ guest Pete Rushefsky. Charles Street Synagogue. 8:30 PM: Gene Bertoncini (guitar) and Josh Marcum (bass). Ryan's Daughter, upstairs, 350 E. 85th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues. (Most Thursdays.) 9 PM: Abbie Gardner. Rockwood One. 9 PM: Gypsy jazz jam, Fada. (Most Thursdays.) 10:30 PM: Linus Wyrsch Birthday Celebration Jam Session w/ Gene Bertoncini (guitar), Josh Marcum (bass) and special guests. Ryan's Daughter, upstairs, 350 E. 85th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues.

Friday, March 3, 5 PM: The Glenn Crytzer Quartette. Broadway Lounge in the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.  7 PM: Peter & Will Anderson (reeds). Shanghai Jazz, Madison NJ. 8 PM: Django a GoGo w/ Al DiMeola, Stochelo Rosenberg, Ryan Montbleu, Stephane Wrembel (guitars), others. Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. Info . . . tix. 10:30 PM: Fridays at Mona's, This Friday Reggae w/ The Brooklyners featuring David Langlois (washboard), others. Mona’s, 14th & Avenue B.

Saturday, March 4, 11 AM: Songs inspired by “Cool Hand Luke” by Glass Carnival w/ Sasha Papernik (vocals), Justin Poindexter (vocals, guitar), Dave Speranza (bass), Mark Dobbyn (guitar), Peri DiLorenzo (fiddle). Nighthawk Cinema136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn. Followed by the movie. Info. 11:30 AM: Tara O'Grady Quartet w/ Tara (vocals), Michael Howell (guitar), David Shaich (bass), Michael Hashim (sax). Tanner Smiths Tipsy Tea Jazz Brunch. (Most Saturdays.) 12:30 PM: Amos Rose jazz duo w/ vocals. Jules Bistro. (Most Saturdays.) 1 PM: Garden Party Quartet frequently with Emily Asher (trombone). (Most Saturdays.) Fraunces Tavern. 4 PM: Roy Williams & Friends. The Shanty. (Most Saturdays, personnel varies). 7 PM: New York Mandolin Ensemble w/ Steven Antonelli, Wayne Fugate, Richard Robinson, Roy Goldberg, Bob Green, Barry Kornhauser and Barry Mitterhoff, (mandolins). Church of St. John Nepomucene, 411 East 66th Street in Manhattan. Info. Tickets at the door ($10). 7 PM: Hazmat Modine, w/ musicians such as Joe Daley (tuba), Pam Flemming (cornet), Kevin Garcia (drums), Reut Regev (trombone), Michaela Gomez (guitar, steel guitar), Erik Della Penna (guitar, banjo & vocals), Steve Elson (wind instruments), Wade Schuman (diatonic harmonica, lute guitar, vocals). Terra Blues. 7:00pm Tara O'Grady Quartet w/ Tara (vocals), Darren Wallis (guitar), David Shaich (bass), John Campagna (sax). Chappaqua Station, Chappaqua NY. 8 PM: Django a GoGo w/ Paulus Schafer.  The Woodland, Maplewood NJ. Info/tix. 8 PM: Mama Juke Duo w/ Amos Rose (guitar) and Elijah Bridges (guitar). Santos Anne, Williamsburg. 8 PM: Eddie Barbash & His Orchestra. The Roxy. 9:30 PM: Svetlana & The Delancey Five: Born To Swing! w/ Svetlana (vocals) Billy Test (piano), Rob Garcia (drums), Endea Owens (bass), Corey Wallace (trombone), Charlie Caranicas (cornet), Michael Hashim (sax & other reeds), Dewit Flemming Jr (tap dancing). Joe's Pub. Info/tix. 9:30 PM: Jovino Santos Neto (piano) w/ Itaiguara Brandão (bass), Mauricio Zottarelli (drums). Club Bonafide.

Sunday, March 5, 11 AM: Songs inspired by “Cool Hand Luke” by Glass Carnival w/ Sasha Papernik (vocals), Justin Poindexter (vocals, guitar), Dave Speranza (bass), Mark Dobbyn (guitar), Peri DiLorenzo (fiddle). Nighthawk Cinema136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn. Followed by the movie. Info. 11:30 AM: Tara O'Grady Quartet w/ Tara (vocals), Michael Howell (guitar), David Shaich (bass), Michael Hashim (sax). Tanner Smiths Tipsy Tea Jazz Brunch. (Most Sundays.) Noon: Megg Ryan Jass Band w/ Sweet Megg (vocals, guitar), Ryan Weisheit (reeds). House of Yes. (Most Sundays.) 1:30 PM: Koran Agan (guitar), others. Radegast.  (Most Sundays.) 5 PM: Roda de Choro with Regional de NY. Genuine Brazilian choro with a slight NYC accent. Beco. 5 PM to midnight. Django a GoGo party & jam session hosted by Stephane Wrembel, including many great players. Barbes. 5:45 PM Terry Waldo’s Gotham City Band. Fat Cat. 6:30 PM: Glenn Crytzer All Stars. The Row Hotel. 8 PM: The EarRegulars w/ Jon-Erik Kellso (cornet), and this week Scott Robinson (miscellaneous wind instruments), Matt Munisteri (guitar), Patrick O’Leary (bass). The Ear. (Most Sundays.) 8:30 PM: Dan Levinson (reeds) plays the music of Django Reinhardt, hosted by Koran Agan (guitar). Cornelia Street Cafe. 10 PM: Baby Soda Jazz Band w/ Jared Engel (banjo), others. St. Mazie. (Most Sundays.)

Monday, March 6, 7 PM: The Abbie Hollander Band. Rockwood Three. 7 PM: “Divine Ella” w/ Brandee Younger (harp), Jean Baylor (vocals), Camille Thurman (alto sax and vocals), Courtney Bryan (piano), Dezron Douglas (bass) and Kassa Overall (drums). Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Info/tix. 7 PM: The Brain Cloud, the full band w/ Tamar Korn (vocals), Dennis Lichtman (clarinet, mandolin), Andrew Hall (bass), Raphael McGregor (lap steel guitar), Kevin Dorn (drums) and Skip Krevins (guitar). Barbes. (Most Mondays.)  7 PM: Peter & Will Anderson (reeds) w/ Julliard alumni & students. Paul Recital Hall, Julliard. 8 PM: Eddie Barbash Bluegrass Band. Rockwood One. 9:30 PM: First Monday Bluegrass Jam hosted by Michael Daves. Rockwood Three. 8 PM: Vince Giordano & his Nighthawks, with an array of the best traditional jazz musicians in New York, Iguana. (Most Mondays). 8 PM: Sweet Megg & The Wayfarers. The Belfry. (Most Mondays.) 9 PM: Svetlana & The Delancey 5 - Svetlana (vocals), Jon Weber (piano), Mike Hashim (reeds), Charlie Caranicas (trmpt), Rob Garcia (drums), George Delancey (bass). Back Room Speakeasy - 102 Norfolk Street. (Most Mondays.) 10 PM: Mona’s Bluegrass Jam, Mona’s, 14th & Avenue B (Most Mondays.) 10 PM: Terry Waldo & The Rum House Jass Band w/ Terry (piano), Jon-Erik Kellso (cornet), Jim Fryer (trombone), Eddy Davis (tenor banjo) and frequently Dan Levinson (clarinet) & Molly Ryan (vocals). The Rum House. (Most Mondays.) 10 PM: Jim Campilongo, Roy Williams, Luca Benedetti (guitars). Rockwood Two.

Tuesday, March 7, Noon: Gotham Jazzmen. New York Library for the Performing Arts. 6 PM: Bucky Pizzarelli (7-string guitar), Ed Laub (guitar, vocals), Martin Pizzarelli (bass). Luca's Jazz Corner @Cavatappo Grill. 8 PM: Vince Giordano & his Nighthawks, with an array of the very best traditional jazz musicians in New York, Iguana. (Most Tuesdays).  8 PM: Tara O'Grady & the Black Velvet Band w/ Tara (vocals), Vinny Raniolo (guitar), David Shaich (bass). Winnie’s Jazz Bar. (Most Tuesdays). 9:30 PM: Mama Juke w/ Amos Rose, others. (Most Tuesdays.) East Village Social, St Marks @ Ave A. 10 PM: Svetlana & The Delancy Band. Brooklyn Speakeasy at Bedford Hall, 1177 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn. (Most Tuesdays.)  10:15 PM: Michael Daves' Wax Lion. Rockwood Three. (Most Tuesdays.) 11 PM: Trad Jazz Jam hosted by Mona’s Hot Four. The Original Hot Four house band is Dennis Lichtman (clarinet, etc.), Gordon Webster (piano), Nick Russo (guitar, banjo) & Jared Engel (bass). Mona’s, 14th & Avenue B.

Future

March 8, 7 PM: Dan Levinson (reeds), Mark Shane (piano), Kevin Dorn (drums) play the music of Benny Goodman. Shanghai Jazz, Madison NJ. 8 PM: Bill Scorzari. At Finley's of Huntington, Huntington, NY.

March 9, 7:15 PM: Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge (guitars). Rockwood Two. 9 PM: Sam Raderman Quartet w/ Sam (guitar), others. Luca's Jazz Corner @Cavatappo Grill.

March 10, 7:15 PM: Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge (guitars). Rockwood Two. 8 PM: Tony Trischka (banjo) & Territory. The Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck NY.

March 11, 8 PM: Celtic Appalachian Celebration w/ Mick Moloney, Athena Tergis, and The Green Fields of America, w/ Billy McComiskey (button accordion), Liz Hanley (fiddle and vocals), Jerry O'Sullivan (uilleann pipes and whistle), Brendan Dolan (piano), Niall O'Leary (dancer) and special guests Erynn Marshall (fiddle), Carl Jones (guitar, mandolin, banjo), Sheila Adams (singer), Megan Downes and City Stompers (dancers), Haley Richardson (fiddle), Jake James (fiddler and dancer). Symphony Space. Info/tix. 10 PM: Alash (Tuvan throat singers). Barbes.

March 13, 7 PM: “Ella is Present” w/ Terri Lyne Carrington (percussion), Casey Benjamin Charenée Wade (vocals). Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Info/tix. 8 PM: Mike Davis (cornet) and friends celebrate Bix Beiderbecke. The Bickford, Morristown NJ. Info/Tix.

March 14, Noon: Gotham Jazzmen. New York Library for the Performing Arts. 9 PM: Brother Roy w/ Roy Williams (piano, vocals). Rockwood Two. 10 PM: Michael Daves (guitar). Rockwood One. 11 PM: Jordan Tice & Horse Country. Rockwood One.

March 15, 9:30 PM: Gordon Webster Band CD Release w/ Gordon (piano), Charles Turner (vocals), Danny Jonokuchi (cornet), Danny Lipsitz (reeds), Rob Edwards (trombone), Ricky Alexander (reeds), Danny Zieman (bass), Kevin Congelton (drums). Joes Pub. Info/tix.

March 17, 8 PM: Leann Rimes. Patchogue Theatre, Patchogue NY. Info/tix.

March 18, Rhonda Vincent. Ramapo College, Mahwah NJ. Info/tix. Margi Gianquinto and the world famous TBD band featuring TBA (wtf) and TBA (ftw). J House, Riverside CT.

March 19, 12:30 PM: Brunch with w/ Hilary Gardner (vocals) plus Greg Ruggerio (guitar) & Joel Forbes (bass). North Square. 4 PM: The Stride Piano Jam w/ Terry Waldo (piano) & Ehud Asherie (piano). Fat Cat.

March 21, Noon: Gotham Jazzmen. New York Library for the Performing Arts.

March 22, 7:30 PM: Cole Porter’s “The New Yorkers” (a story of the 1930s & prohibition) w/ Cyrille Aimée & many others. City Center, 130 W. 56th Street. Info/tix. 7:45 PM: Chris Eldridge & Julian Lage plus Aoife O'Donovan. Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield CT. Info/tix.

March 23, 7:30 PM: Cole Porter’s “The New Yorkers” (a story of the 1930s & prohibition) w/ Cyrille Aimée & many others. City Center, 130 W. 56th Street. Info/tix. 9 PM (unconfirmed time): Jon-Erik Kellso Quartet. Luca's Jazz Corner @Cavatappo Grill.

March 24, 8 PM: Cole Porter’s “The New Yorkers” (a story of the 1930s & prohibition) w/ Cyrille Aimée & many others. City Center, 130 W. 56th Street. Info/tix. 8 & 10 PM: Bucky Pizzarelli  (7-string guitar), Ed Laub (guitar, vocals), Larry Fuller (piano), Martin Pizzarelli (bass). Kitano. 

March 25, 2 & 8 PM: Cole Porter’s “The New Yorkers” (a story of the 1930s & prohibition) w/ Cyrille Aimée & many others. City Center, 130 W. 56th Street. Info/tix. 8 & 10 PM: Stephanie Nakasian (vocals) & Veronica Swift (vocals) with the Tardo Hammer Trio. Kitano.

March 26, Noon: Women of the Guitar w/ Sheryl Bailey, Jiji Kimm, Kaki King & Ann Klein. 92nd Street Y. Free but limited seating. Info 2 & 7 PM: Cole Porter’s “The New Yorkers” (a story of the 1930s & prohibition) w/ Cyrille Aimée & many others. City Center, 130 W. 56th Street. Info/tix. Time?: The Peewee Russell Memorial Stomp w/ Midiri Brothers Quintet, Peter and Will Anderson Quintet, Dan Levinson's Russell of Spring Band & Professor Cunningham and his Old School. Birchwood Manor, Whippany NJ. Info/tix.

March 27, 7 PM: “J’adore Ella,” w/ Les Nubians (sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart). Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Info/tix.

March 28, Noon: Gotham Jazzmen. New York Library for the Performing Arts.

March 29, 12:30 PM: Jayme Stone's Lomax Project. UBS Atrium, Weehawken, NJ.

March 31, 7:30 & 9:30 PM: John Pizzarelli. The Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck NY.

April 1, 8 PM: John Prine. NJPAC. Tix. 8 PM: Acadia Swing w/ Svetlana & The Delancy Five, Sweet Megg & The Wayfarers, others. Connollys on W. 45th. Tix.

April 3, 7:30 PM: Richard Dowling (piano) & Jeff Barnhart (piano) play the music of Scott Joplin. Bickford Theatre, Morristown NJ. Info/tix. 7:30 & 9:30 PM: Danilo Brito Quinteto. Dizzy’s. Info/tix.

April 11, 6 PM: Bucky Pizzarelli (7-string guitar), Ed Laub (guitar, vocals), Martin Pizzarelli (bass). Luca's Jazz Corner @Cavatappo Grill.

April 17, 8:30 PM: Frank Vignola's Guitar Night w/ Frank (guitar), Bucky Pizzarelli (7-string guitar), Gene Bertoncini (7-string guitar), Olli Soikkeli (guitar), Vinny Raniolo (guitar) and Nicki Parrott (bass). The Iridium.

April 20, 9 PM: Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo (guitars). Luca's Jazz Corner @Cavatappo Grill.

April 28-30, Brooklyn Folk Festival. St Ann's Church. Full Line-up here.

May 9, 6 PM: Bucky Pizzarelli (7-string guitar), Ed Laub (guitar, vocals), Martin Pizzarelli (bass). Luca's Jazz Corner @Cavatappo Grill.

May 13, 7:30 PM: Rhiannon Giddens (violin, banjo, vocals). Alice Tully Hall. Info/tix.

<<<SPECIAL>>> May 15-21. New York Hot Jazz Camp directed by Molly Ryan & Bria Skonberg . Info & registration info here.

May 18, 8 PM: David Crosby. Westbury Theatre. Info/Tix. Tix on sale February 3.

May 27, 7:30 PM: Battle of the Big Bands. Info/tix.

June 6, 6 PM: Bucky Pizzarelli (7-string guitar), Ed Laub (guitar, vocals), Martin Pizzarelli (bass). Luca's Jazz Corner @Cavatappo Grill.

October 13-15, Jeff & Joel's House Party, Branford CT. Info.

-------

[germanlander]

Bow Maker Niall Flemming

Last week, I was allowed to take a viola from the Kilkenny School of Music home for practice. It is a rather large one and it no a string and only the fine tuner for the a string. So I ordered a Dominant a string and three cheap fine tuners. I had asked my violin maker friend in Germany if it is difficult to attach the fine tuners to the tailpiece and he recommended taking it to a violin maker. So I did.

I had met Niall through the first violinist before. He is actually a bow maker, but he was trained as a violin maker, too. Vioin making, he learned in England, and then went on to be trained as a bow maker in Belgium and Ireland. He was born in Australia, but he has spent most of his life an Ireland, so he still has his Ozzie accent, but he’s a great fiddle player. His workshop is above the Home Rule Club, but there is no sign saying so. When I got in, he was still busy putting new hair on a viola bow and a cello bow, so I just sat and watched.

I love the atmosphere in work shops. My granny used to make dolls, and I used to watch her for (in my memory seemed like) hours when I was about five to eight.

Later, the women who had ordered the bows came in and picked them up.

As it always is with craftspeople, you show them a minor fault and they see much more that can be done. I don’t mean this in any negative way, their eyes are just better trained to see things like that. And I had seen that there was more wrong about the viola than just lacking fine tuners.

So Niall ended up fixing the nut as well. He says the viola needs a new bridge and actually a new nut, too, but I’ll have to talk about it to the guy owning the School of Music.

That was a cozy experience. I didn’t have to pay, but I’ll surely pay for the next pint Niall’s having in my company. The least I can do is recommend him to string players in Ireland and Germany. ;-)