It is almost impossible to talk about the Irish Bouzouki without the name of Andy Irvine or Donal Lunny passing your lips. Two of the true pioneers of the instrument and also an extremely important part of it’s development and indeed popularity, through such bands as Planxty, Patrick Street, Mozaik, Sweeney’ men and the solo work of Andy Irvine.

The Irish Bouzouki is without a doubt the one of the most exciting new instruments of the century, and with its very short history it is already surrounded by myth, confusion, and arguments of origin. I was very late in discovering the Irish bouzouki myself, but it has been around since the days of Sweeney’s men in 1969. It is now a very important part of Irish music, and a part that gets stronger by the day.

I am definitely not going to add to the confusion and arguments by attempting to write a historical piece. But the story goes that Johnny Moynihan swapped his mandolin for a Greek bouzouki. The members of Sweeney’s Men begged him to take it back but he didn’t and it stayed to be start of a long Journey.

The very first Irish Bouzouki was made by John Bailey and commissioned by John Pearse. Although it was not actually commissioned to be a new instrument, or indeed commissioned to play Irish music on. This instrument was to fuel the minds of Irish musicians for years to come. Here is what John had to say,

“I commissioned John Bailey to make me a bouzouki to replace an old
Greek one that had fallen into disrepair. I gave him my Portuguese guitarra as a model for the flat-backed instrument that I wanted him to build.

When the instrument was completed, I was never very happy with the sound. It was too 'sweet' for Greek music, so I eventually hung it on the wall and got Andreas Hadji Yianacou to build me a bowl-backed bouzouki.

The Bailey hung on my wall until Johnny spotted it, strung it in fifths,
and took it home.

The rest is history!” John Pearse.

One part of its history that has become almost legendary is the involvement of Andy Irvine. A musician and songwriter, who has changed its style of playing from the original Greek method. Changed the string set up from Octave strings to Unison strings and even the changing of its appearance, to a point where it bares little resemblance to its original form. There have indeed been many attempts to change its name over the years but the word ‘Bouzouki’ seems to have stuck, and the new instrument was simply named ‘The Irish Bouzouki’.

Sweeney’s Men are famed for the introduction of the instrument, Johnny Moynihan playing a key role that. Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny would later take this instrument to become a very important part of the future of Irish Music.

“I used Johnny Moynihan's bouzouki when we were in Sweeney's Men. I played it on "Johnston". That was my bouzouki debut! It took quite a long time for me to fall in love with the instrument though. I bought one in Greece in 1969 and gave it to Donal Lunny in 1972” Andy Irvine.

Donal’s playing style being very heavy rhythmic and a key role in bands such as Planxty, Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Coolfin and Mozaik. Andy’s more melodic style has played a key role in Planxty, Sweeney’s men, Patrick Street, Mozaik and as well as a long list of Solo work and collaborations with names like Paul Brady, Mick Hanly, Davy Spillane and Dick Gaughan.

In the early days of Planxty, Andy would mainly be seen with his mandolin but when playing the bouzouki it would have mainly been a Greek styled instrument. This instrument would have been tuned up to GDad, as he still tunes it today and had a lovely jangly tone. In Later years he would play instruments by Fylde, Stevens, Stuart and mainly Sobell.

“I didn't play the bouzouki much in Planxty in the early days. I had a car crash in 1977 and spent three weeks in hospital in Dublin. When I came out, Diane Hamilton gave me a Bouzouki made by Andrew Manson. While I was recuperating, I got more and more into the bouzouki. Mind you, it was probably my main instrument before that. When did I first play "Plains of Kildare"? Probably about 1976. Somewhere around there......”

Over the years Andy has experimented with many eight stringed instruments, mandolins, mandolas, Greek Bouzouki’s, Portuguese Guitarra’s, German Waldzithers, Bass Bouzoukis, Irish Bouzoukis and Guitar shaped models. In a recent online interview I asked him which instrument was his favourite? Looking back over the long list of instruments, which he would like to play again?

“I never realized till you listed them, how many different versions I have played! The Italian mandolin was superseded when I got my first Gibson. I don't think I would ever go back to an Italian job. The Greek bouzouki is still a viable instrument for me. The Portuguese Guitarra had a convex fingerboard and I find it hard to imagine how I played that for so long. The Waldzither was a nice instrument. I'm probably happiest with my Sobell guitar-bouzouki”

The fact is, you never know what he will appear on stage playing. Last time I say him play live he played his Sobell Guitar Shaped Bouzouki, a Stuart Bass Bouzouki, and a Sobell long necked mandolin. With Planxty 2004 gig, he played his Stuart ‘Andylin’ long necked mandolin, Sobell mandola and his Sobell Guitar shaped Bouzouki, and on a recent Workshop he used a Large bodied Stevens Bouzouki.

Either way, what ever combination of Bouzoukis and Mandolins he plays you are in for a musical adventure that carry you through 35 years + of the best music played on the Irish Bouzouki. Definitely, they are not many people that could even attempt such a journey !

Kieron