Austin has a lot of great Irish & Celtic music. Groups like the Brobdingnagian Bards, Cluan, Sarah Dinan and The Tea Merchants dominate the local Celtic music headlines. That leaves some of the most-amazing in the shadows, a secret, well-hidden.

That's what I was seeking Friday night when I drove to meet my friend Nancy at Mother's Cafe & Garden. For the past eight years, an Irish harper has played at Mother's. He now plays there three times a week. He is the best-kept secret of Irish traditional music in Austin. His name is Thomas "Doc" Grazuer.

Three centuries ago, there was an Irish harper named Turlough O'Carolan. He was blinded by smallpox as a child. So he did what many such unfortunates did at the time, he started playing the harp and roamed the countryside as an itinerant musician and poet, a bard.

O'Carolan was the role-model for many traditional musicians today. He composed hundreds of melodies that are still played today by Irish musicians.

Doc is a lot like I am. He sees his role as a musician who preserves the traditional music of Ireland. He keeps O'Carolans songs alive for our generation. The prevalence of contemporary rhythms found in Celtic rock or even most contemporary Irish music compromises the traditional sound, but Doc keeps traditional Irish music alive by staying to the path founded by O'Carolan and centuries of harpers.

When we walked into the Garden at Mother's and heard those ancient melodies waft to our ears like the food did to our noses, I knew I was in for an Irish treat.

The garden or food alone is worth a trip to Mother's. But to sit in the garden with an Irish harp playing that recalls memories of Yore is the absolute best way to enjoy all that Mother's has to offer.

Nancy and I talked quitely. We clapped. We listened in placid joy as Doc shared his love of Ireland through his harp.

By the time we left Mother's Cafe & Garden, we were relaxed and at peace with the world. I will definitely be back to enjoy this secret Irish music gem very soon.

You can find Thomas "Doc" Grauzer playing at Mother's Cafe and Garden every Thursday, Friday evening, and now also Saturday at Brunch.

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Marc Gunn is an Irish and Scottish folk singer with a strange affinity for Celtic ballads, drinking songs and cats. He is the lead singer for the Brobdingnagian Bards. He is also Celtic music podcaster and Irish music magazine publisher and promoter. Last but not least, he is poet, photographer and music business educator.

Labels: music_news_2006

Posted by Marc Gunn, Saturday, February 04, 2006.
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