07:57:53pm neilreel> Miramichi country

07:58:01pm sarah_trumpet_06> Hi

07:58:09pm neilreel> Good evening Mr. O\'Connor

07:58:10pm TheBug> The great one has entered the room!

07:58:14pm cricketdance> Hi Mark!

07:58:20pm sarah_trumpet_06> I really enjoyed your concert last night in Tyler

07:58:46pm neilreel> SIR

07:59:23pm ababeonlegs> hello

07:59:25pm MarkOConnor> Hello everybody, Mark O\' here

07:59:33pm ababeonlegs> anyone talking?????

07:59:33pm sarah_trumpet_06> Thanks for the autographs!

07:59:40pm ababeonlegs> Claire here

07:59:59pm ababeonlegs> are you the famous fiddler?????

08:00:02pm neilreel> Are you on tour right now?

08:00:35pm MarkOConnor> I really enjoyed my concert with the orchestra in Tyler, I am still here for a day off.

08:01:05pm ababeonlegs> glad to have you here

08:01:13pm ababeonlegs> *smiles*

08:01:30pm sarah_trumpet_06> Are you enjoying your stay here in Texas?

08:01:32pm grubs> What violin do you play most often?

08:01:36pm neilreel> What are you doing when your not on tour? New Album? Project etc?

08:02:23pm ababeonlegs> no sound coming through

08:03:10pm ababeonlegs> hello???????

08:03:21pm neilreel> Hey Mike is this record usage for one chat?

08:03:34pm TheBug> Question. I love the way you play sally johnson. is it mainly improvised or planned?

08:03:33pm MarkOConnor> My projects are many right now. I am combining different things in to my current tours; my jazz trio, Hot Swing, and a new trio called \"Appalachia Waltz Trio\" with viola and cello! In addition to the orchestra work too.

08:03:44pm TheBug> whattua mean neil?

08:04:22pm neilreel> Is that a sequel to the Appalachian Journey?

08:04:25pm TheBug> you mean people in the chat room? yes. Mark seems to have attracted the most so far. Gee... I wonder why?

08:04:51pm MarkOConnor> I play an old 1830\'s French.

08:04:52pm ababeonlegs> are you able to play us something online Mark?????

08:05:37pm grubs> sound NOT reaching Alabama.

08:05:43pm nb_fiddler> Love your music!!! Missed you when you came to New Brunswick w/Ivan Hicks. Still kicking myself for that!! Hope to actually get a chance to hear you live someday.

08:05:46pm neilreel> Heaven on earth.

08:06:37pm ababeonlegs> Hi Cheryl

08:06:40pm MarkOConnor> The App. trio of mine is so cool because it is the music I wrote for the Yo-Yo Ma project, but now I have two new string players that can play it with me all the time these days. Wonderful Carol Cook on viola, and Natalie Haas on Cello.

08:06:49pm ababeonlegs> Thx for telling me about this site

08:07:15pm neilreel> When is the CD due out?

08:08:05pm dobrodan has entered the chat room

08:08:16pm MarkOConnor> And I loved New Brunswick! Got to participate in a real \"native\" fiddle jam up there in a little fish shack right on the coast in a little fishing village. Heard the real stuff, and had penty of \"salt cod\" on the grill!

08:08:37pm TheBug> When do we get to see you on TV? When are you making your next trip to Canada?

08:08:50pm sarah_trumpet_06> hey Bug, is voice chat available? or is this just a typing chat?

08:08:51pm nb_fiddler> Hope you come back someday. Ivan was talking about you lately.

08:09:05pm neilreel> I really like the stuff you did with James Taylor a few years back. Any other stuff with him soon?

08:09:26pm TheBug> just typing chat. voice would require too much bandwidth and some folks are on dialup.

08:09:45pm sarah_trumpet_06> oh okay

08:09:49pm MarkOConnor> Regarding \"Appalachia Waltz Trio\" again, these two players are amazing classical players out of Juilliard, but can absolutely fiddle up a storm on their instruments. They both grew up playing Scottish fiddle music too!

08:09:50pm sarah_trumpet_06> thanks

08:09:56pm TheBug> besides, with voice there would be too many people talking at once.

08:10:58pm neilreel> Did you compose the Olympic Reel?

08:11:42pm neilreel> Scots rule!!!!!

08:11:53pm ababeonlegs> I\'m from England.......are you coming this way sometime????????

08:12:17pm MarkOConnor> And, App. Waltz might record a live album next year of this music. They booth teach at my fiddle camps, and they are partly the reason why I have decided to add the viola, cello and doublebass to the San Diego camp!

08:12:44pm ababeonlegs> I brought Cardinal Points from America here to England *smiles*

08:13:14pm ababeonlegs> Come here to England.........

08:13:34pm neilreel> What about Tulsa on this tour?

08:13:48pm MarkOConnor> I composed Olympic Reel for the Atlanta Olympic Games\' Closing Ceremonies. Later I recorded it as a duet with Natalie MacMaster on her album \"In My Hands.\"

08:13:49pm cricketdance> There were some really fun fiddlers from England at the first San Diego camp!

08:14:40pm ababeonlegs> *smiles*

08:14:46pm neilreel> You do some neat stuff in that cut. Awesome.

08:14:55pm neilreel> I play CB fiddle too.

08:15:11pm TheBug> Mark. Should a person use a pickup or a microphone? What would you recommend?

08:15:11pm ababeonlegs> but we need some american ones to come here.......they are the best

08:15:15pm sarah_trumpet_06> Mr. O\'Connor I noted that you also play the guitar, have you ever played a Seagull?

08:15:31pm MarkOConnor> I have a really big gig coming up in London this summer, I believe it is August 11th. It will be my world premier of my \"6th\" fiddle concerto commissioned by the Academy Of St. Martin In the Fields. We will perform it at the Proms in Albert Hall.

08:15:52pm ababeonlegs> of course he hasn\'t silly they squeak too much.......

08:16:34pm ababeonlegs> Oh I was in a show at the Albert Hall two weeks ago........

08:16:50pm TheBug> gettin crowded in here. maybe someone should start selling burgers pretty soon.

08:16:52pm MarkOConnor> After using a pickup for many years on stage playing with bands that had loud bass and drums, I will have to say it is great to play acoustically 100% these days!

08:17:27pm neilreel> Now you can really play the stuff you want to play.

08:17:31pm ababeonlegs> 11th August?????

08:17:35pm ababeonlegs> <<<<<<making note

08:17:44pm TheBug> I agree. playing acousticly has the greatest sound, warmth and feeling.

08:17:47pm ababeonlegs> i will be there.........

08:17:47pm ababeonlegs> i will be there.........

08:18:21pm ababeonlegs> what do you consider to be the best pick up????

08:18:37pm ababeonlegs> My barcas berry is a bit harsh

08:18:43pm neilreel> Did you enjoy your stint in Nashville when you were there?

08:20:02pm MarkOConnor> I loved my time in Nashville. Spent 15 years living there of which 6 of them were studio sessions wall to wall. Lots of experinece, and I was able to get the New Nashville Cats album out of it all in the end!

08:20:05pm w0lfmanjack> hello

08:21:04pm MarkOConnor> I have not played with pickups in a number of years, but then I thought the Lloyd Baggs was the best.

08:21:07pm w0lfmanjack> my first time in this type chatroom, is anyone there?

08:21:29pm neilreel> Did u really skate on a skateboard in the NNC video while fiddling or was that a camera trick?

08:21:38pm JoelJ> Excellent performance last night Mr. O\'Connor, I enjoyed it very much. Thank you

08:22:02pm neilreel> It was pretty hard for the rest of us second rate fiddlers to top that one.

08:22:23pm sarah_trumpet_06> JoelJ, I thought it was beautiful

08:22:46pm sarah_trumpet_06> I attended in Tyler too

08:23:16pm cricketdance> I\'m beginning to feel really bad that I couldn\'t make it to Tyler.

08:23:23pm MarkOConnor> The skateboarding scene in one of my Nashville videos was real, and it was from the Heroes album, Devil Came Back to Georgia with C. Daniels, J. Cash, M. Stuart and T. Tritt as the Devil!

08:24:02pm ababeonlegs> Oh how should we address you????Mr OConner...or Mark????

08:24:16pm ababeonlegs> *blushing*

08:24:24pm TheBug> Is there a way we can get a virtual autograph through the chat?

08:24:40pm neilreel> Sorry wrong album. Mind getting old you know. I am remember you doing some fancy fingering for the Restless cut...

08:24:46pm MarkOConnor> Don\'t worry \"Cricketdance; by the way, is your user name taken from my tune called The Cricket Dance?

08:24:52pm ababeonlegs> and.......is the 11th or August a Saturday???

08:25:05pm cricketdance> Yes, and I\'m waiting for you to figure out who I am!

08:25:25pm ababeonlegs> of Aug...not or......fingers won\'t type......*giggles*

08:25:26pm w0lfmanjack> ah-hah, Love a mystery

08:25:26pm w0lfmanjack> ah-hah, Love a mystery

08:26:31pm dobrodan> Mr. O\'Connor, I\'ve been playing for about 8 mths, any advice for us beginners?

08:27:30pm sarah_trumpet_06> Again, thank you for the autographs last night Mr. O\'Connor. I was so nervous just to be in your presence.

08:27:33pm MarkOConnor> I purposefully did not tell my web site mailing list about this chat so I could be more intimate with the folks from this particular site, as the others have my attention during the year.

08:27:57pm neilreel> Good strategy.

08:28:16pm fiddlerwoman> Hi.

08:28:18pm TheBug> That was a good move, otherwise we may have been swamped in here. Many thanks for the personal moment with us.

08:28:33pm JoelJ> Lucky I found out about this chat then, I got it from your schedule on the website

08:28:35pm w0lfmanjack> hi fiddlerwoman, are you the lady with \"acres of clams\" on your website?

08:28:41pm neilreel> Being that you have an Irish name did you play Irish tunes when you were younger?

08:28:47pm fiddlerwoman> Yes.

08:29:13pm Judson> mark, how long will you be in this chat

08:29:15pm sarah_trumpet_06> Wow, this is so awesome..........laughs

08:29:18pm w0lfmanjack> Thanks, I\'m a beginner, like \"clams\"

08:29:41pm Judson> Mark, how long will you be in this chat?

08:30:10pm MarkOConnor> I wonder how so many of you new about this chat from here in Tyler? hmmm.

08:30:11pm fiddlerwoman> Thankx, Wolfmanjack.

08:30:20pm TheBug> The chat usually lasts only 1 hour, thus it is scheduled to end near 9pm CST.

08:30:40pm fiddlerwoman> Only knew about it from Fiddlefork.

08:30:56pm neilreel> Let\'s extend it tonight only....

08:31:20pm w0lfmanjack> Mark, My violin teacher told me about you, so I bought a cople cd\'s, great!

08:31:23pm sarah_trumpet_06> I hope that you have enjoyed your stay here in Tyler Mr. O\'Connor.

08:31:30pm MarkOConnor> I guess it was posted on my web site, but we did not send it out in the mailing which would have alerted people at least!

08:32:09pm ababeonlegs> My friend Cheryl told me.....she is nb_fiddler

08:32:33pm ChrissyMontague> Did I hear that you have a new string trio?

08:33:07pm sarah_trumpet_06> I listened to your CD that i purchased at the symphony last night Mr. O\'Connor.

08:33:14pm TheBug> Speaking of strings, what strings do you recommend for fiddle tunes?

08:33:14pm sarah_trumpet_06> Brilliant

08:33:22pm MarkOConnor> I did not play celtic music when I was young. But I was influenced as an adult by it.

08:33:35pm JoelJ> I\'ve seen the \"Fiddle Sonata\" on your sheet music site, and was wondering, is that recorded on any of your albums?

08:33:51pm neilreel> Where did you grow up, Washington state?

08:34:46pm sarah_trumpet_06> When you performed your encore last night, what was that you played?

08:35:26pm MarkOConnor> I do have a lot of sheet music up on www.markoconnor.com now for download. The Fiddle Sonata is a recent piece for fiddle and piano. It was commissioned by the Library Of Congress. Not recorded yet.

08:35:54pm sarah_trumpet_06> Whatever it was. it sure was a crowd pleaser

08:35:58pm fiddlerwoman> Mark, did yopu learn to play classical violin before or after you learned fiddle?

08:36:14pm sarah_trumpet_06> It was fun to listen to and watch.

08:36:58pm MarkOConnor> Encore was a medley of tunes from the Revolutionary War period on my album called Liberty!

08:37:16pm sarah_trumpet_06> it was SO COOL!!

08:37:33pm JoelJ> Is that medley availible for purchase on your website?

08:37:33pm neilreel> What style of music has influenced you the most?

08:37:42pm ababeonlegs> <<<<<<typing in www.markoconnor.com

08:37:50pm sarah_trumpet_06> after last night, i\'m definitely a big fan of yours!

08:38:49pm MarkOConnor> Chrissy, the new string trio conists of viola, cello and me. I took a lot ot the music I wrote for the Yo-Yo, Edgar projects and transposed them over the the viola and cello, and it is ideal! All of that music is available on my web site.

08:39:12pm w0lfmanjack> Hi Molly, guess what, Mark O\'Connor is here!

08:39:31pm Molly> Hiya Wolf Hi Mark

08:39:55pm sarah_trumpet_06> By the way Mr. O\'Connor, did you have fun in Music of the Heart?

08:40:00pm w0lfmanjack> I\'m gonna rate his record high!

08:40:19pm Molly> Way To Go Wolf

08:40:25pm sarah_trumpet_06> I\'ve had to of watched that movie 5 million times!

08:40:43pm MarkOConnor> Joel, the Liberty! tunes are abvailable in the book by the same name, on the sheet music page for download.

08:41:11pm JoelJ> Great!

08:41:58pm sarah_trumpet_06> mr. o\'connor, not only are you such a marvelous musician, but you really are an all around nice guy.

08:42:15pm Molly> Hi Mark I See On a CD I Bought You Have Worked With Charlie Daniels

08:42:35pm nb_fiddler> Mark, what\'s the biggest piece of advice you could say to us newer fiddlers...besides practice practice practice.

08:42:43pm neilreel> Mark, you scored big with this chat!!!!

08:42:45pm JoelJ> I\'m seeing references about \"movie\" & \"Music of the Heart\". Do you have a music video, and if so, where can I find it?

08:42:51pm MarkOConnor> Sarah, The Music Of The Heart was a joy and even more th thought behind it. Getting inner city kids in Harlem violin lessons. I am on the board of their organization (Opus 118) and we organize concerts to benefit the program.

08:43:57pm neilreel> I really enjoyed the show you used to have on TNN. Anything like that again soon?

08:44:02pm sarah_trumpet_06> I think that\'s really sweet of you.

08:44:18pm Judson> mark, i played a job yesterday night and played Pupville. The piece is one of my favorites and it sounded ok. It certainly is challenging!

08:44:26pm w0lfmanjack> Molly, I just bought the cd today with Mark and Charlie Daniels \"Heroes\". It\'s terrific.

08:44:56pm Molly> Wolf Yes I Love Charlie Daniels

08:45:01pm MarkOConnor> The video that I do have is one of me performing my 6 Caprices. 25 minutes of hand exhaustion!

08:45:43pm JoelJ> lol, I have the music (can\'t play it). I can see what you mean

08:46:02pm w0lfmanjack> Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart and Travis Tritt are on that same song ... The Devil Came Back to Georgia.

08:46:07pm sarah_trumpet_06> Mr. O\'Connor, do you still ever get nervous before a performance?

08:46:08pm neilreel> I think the most laid back fiddle tune I\'ve heard was Bowtie.

08:46:14pm JoelJ> where could I find that video?

08:46:26pm Molly> Yes I Have That Same CD Wolf

08:46:49pm sarah_trumpet_06> Even after all your years of experience.........

08:47:09pm MarkOConnor> Neilreel, the TNN show (The American Music Shop) was very fun and pretty successful. We were on four years, but I see now that TNN is no longer music.

08:47:50pm neilreel> Yeah too bad. What about syndication on another network or satellite channel?

08:48:05pm Celtica> Any advice for young fiddlers wanting to \'make it\' in the music world?

08:48:10pm MarkOConnor> Joel, the Caprice video is available on my merch. page - markoconnor.com

08:50:17pm Molly> Wolf Ever Hear Of YO Yo Ma

08:50:28pm TheBug> Maybe the question should be, do you ever have time for anything other than fiddle?

08:50:30pm w0lfmanjack> yo yo ma looks like my son-in-law

08:50:46pm Molly> Hes Great Isn\'t He ?

08:50:54pm JoelJ> I see your Midnight on the Water cd, but not the video on the website

08:51:03pm MarkOConnor> Advice for young fiddle players; first thing I would do is to come to my camps in Nashville or San Diego. The faculty lineup is intense this year. Between the two of them probably 30 of the greatest players out there today are going to be your faculty!

08:51:03pm w0lfmanjack> he is soooooooooo good

08:51:14pm neilreel> Well I say you\'ve come a long way from fiddling in Weiser, ID early in your caree.

08:51:45pm w0lfmanjack> yo yo ma is so good, they let him play museum pieces

08:51:55pm neilreel> Where\'s your next gig after Tyler?

08:52:04pm Molly> He Is Really a Great

08:52:20pm ababeonlegs> I went to merchandise Mark.....but could not see any videos

08:53:01pm sarah_trumpet_06> Mr. O\'Connor, I just want to thank you for taking your time out of your busy schedule to come to such a town like Tyler.

08:53:13pm Celtica> I would love to come to your camp....but I don\'t know if I\'m good enough...and I live quite far away from Nashville...But I do want to make it there sometime..

08:53:32pm sarah_trumpet_06> That\'s really cool of you.

08:53:41pm TheBug> Perhaps some folks have got their time zones a little mixed up.

08:53:45pm Livi> yeah

08:53:51pm MarkOConnor> I went back to Weiser, ID, to the National Old Time Fiddler\'s Contest, and hung out for a couple of days. Played some neet old tunes and got ready for me next album coming out this Fall. My 30 Retrospective, with Chris Thile! And Bryan Sutton!

08:54:15pm Livi> oh cool

08:54:17pm ababeonlegs> Do you have a map to the Nashville or Sandiego camps....it\'s a long way from lil ole England......*giggles*

08:54:48pm neilreel> How old were you when you started playing?

08:54:57pm Celtica> Mark, what do you think of Natalie MacMaster\'s fiddling? Does she teach at your camps?

08:56:17pm Celtica> any CB\'ers in here tonight?

08:56:17pm w0lfmanjack> I want to hear \"This ain\'t no Rag\" by Charlie Daniels

08:56:18pm mandomonster> yep

08:56:24pm mandomonster> natalie is good

08:56:25pm MarkOConnor> Sorry, typo. My 30-Year Retrospective. It will be maybe a 3 CD set, at least a two, and it was recorded live in Nashville for three nights at the new hall there at Vanderbilt. Byron House is the bassist.

08:56:33pm Molly> ME Too Wolf

08:56:44pm neilreel> Neil B from Judique CB

08:56:48pm mandomonster> yeah....Byron is awesome

08:57:02pm mandomonster> i like his work on Thile\'s Not All Who WAnder Are Lost

08:57:10pm ababeonlegs> <<<<<<<still looking for the video on your site but cannot find *cries*

08:57:16pm neilreel> Celtica where are you from?

08:57:18pm MarkOConnor> 30-Year Retrospective is the working title.

08:57:27pm sarah_trumpet_06> Again, thanks Mr. O\'Connor for your tyler performence and the autographs!!!!!!!!!

08:57:39pm sarah_trumpet_06> You\'re AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

08:57:41pm Celtica> Port Hawkesbury

08:58:01pm Livi>

08:58:07pm neilreel> What\'s yar father\'s name? HA HA

08:58:09pm w0lfmanjack> Mark, you are the greatest, but you probably know that. I keep adding to my O\'Conner collection, but still haven\'t gotten the song \"Asokan Farewell\". Someone I know said they heard you play it in concert. Is it on a CD?

08:58:09pm sarah_trumpet_06> Please come again if you can!

08:58:28pm neilreel> I live in Tulsa, OK now though.

08:58:37pm neilreel> Sorry Tulsa

08:58:45pm ChrissyMontague> Celtica, i think Natalie MacMaster is gong to be at Mark\'s San Dieo event.. in August

08:59:00pm TheBug> Many thanks Mark for taking the time to come and chat with us for this prized moment.

08:59:02pm JoelJ> Did the program for the Tyler concert have a typo when it said \"Mark O\'Connor Violist\"?

08:59:05pm Celtica> Oh cool, who did you learn the fiddle from Neil?

08:59:23pm sarah_trumpet_06> You are so wonderful Mr. O\'Connor, that I feel like I want to learn to play the violin now!

08:59:26pm neilreel> Huh?

08:59:33pm w0lfmanjack> Joel,no, he plays the violst too

08:59:33pm Livi> haha

08:59:34pm Celtica> Really, I wish I could go to that! That\'d be awesome! Too bad she didn\'g give camps/lessons right in her hometown, then I could go...

09:00:03pm neilreel> Did I learn the fiddle from who?

09:00:15pm w0lfmanjack> whom?

09:00:23pm Celtica> haha no, who did you learn the fiddle from?

09:00:29pm Celtica> who taught you to play

09:00:48pm TheBug> I wish you all the best Mark and hope to see you soon again, in concert. Great stuff!

09:00:44pm neilreel> Mostly self taught.

09:01:01pm mandomonster> me too

09:01:01pm w0lfmanjack> which cd has \"Ashokan Farewell on it?

09:01:11pm mandomonster> mostly self taught

09:01:16pm nb_fiddler> Thanks very much for coming here tonight Mark! Take care and who knows, maybe we\'ll se you in NB again!

09:01:18pm neilreel> Thanks for stopping by Mark. Have a good one...

09:01:39pm MarkOConnor> Yes, Natalie M. has taught every year for us. She is so great, the best. You gotta come!

09:01:41pm neilreel> Celtica what\'s your 1st name?

09:01:42pm sarah_trumpet_06> Thanks a MILLION!!

09:01:49pm sarah_trumpet_06> You\'re the COOLEST!

09:01:51pm mandomonster> WE LOVE YOU MARK

09:02:02pm cricketdance> Thanks Mark!

09:02:06pm Celtica> I have to go now, thanks for the chat Mark!

09:02:10pm TheBug> The chatroom will no longer function within the next few minutes. Many thanks and happy fiddling to everyone, and a big thank you to Mark O\'Connor.

09:02:11pm JoelJ> Thanks for the chat, and for the great concert last night

09:02:11pm MarkOConnor> And where is NB?

09:02:19pm mandomonster>

09:02:29pm Livi>

09:02:45pm w0lfmanjack> NB = Nebraska? go to Missouri river, then go West

09:02:47pm ababeonlegs> <<<<<looking forward to 11th August a the Proms....Royal Albert Hall

09:02:54pm sarah_trumpet_06> Thanks again Mr. O\'Connor!!!!!!!!!!!

09:02:57pm nb_fiddler> New Brunswick Canada

09:03:09pm sarah_trumpet_06> You\'re truly THE GREATEST!!!!!!!!!!!!

09:03:27pm sarah_trumpet_06> Thanks for the autographs!!!!!!!!!!!

09:03:33pm MarkOConnor> Thanks everyody! Thanks for listening to the music, and keep playing. I will see you soon on the road I hope!!! The very best to you all.

09:03:52pm Molly> Later Dude

09:03:56pm neilreel> Happy trails....

09:04:05pm sarah_trumpet_06> hugs to Mark!!!

09:04:15pm neilreel> Don\'t break a string..

09:04:47pm ababeonlegs has left the chat room

09:05:27pm neilreel> Mass exodus...

09:06:02pm nb_fiddler> Good chat. Bye all. These celebrity chats are really great.

09:06:19pm dobrodan> Later Gator