`The floor is always under you in Flynn's piping," says Seamus Heaney at the start of a new documentary about the outstanding uilleann piper, Liam O'Flynn, whose stillness and grace when playing - whether solo or in session with a colourful troupe of musicians - always manages to centre the music utterly.
And so this tribute travels across many idioms, including a repertoire of traditional airs, such as Cath Ceim An Fhia and Sliabh Na mBan to session playing with his close friends Matt Molloy ("there's a lot of piping going on in his flute playing") and Sean Keane (who, "when he gets the Porsche out" finds "the corner in the tune where the piping is").
Not to mention the years woven with Planxty, collaborations with the likes of Mark Knopfler, his black tie performance at the National Concert Hall with Shaun Davey, or an arrangement of Bean Dubh A Ghleanna by Micheal O Suilleabhain played with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Whether solo or ensemble playing, his concentration and proficiency are immeasurable - and it is therefore always an especial delight when the occasional smile cracks across his solemn face.
This is a fine portrait of a life of quiet genius, with music well worth recording on your video player. Liam Og plays alongside his father as he recalls a glad childhood in their house in Kill, Co Kildare, where music was a constant and where traditional musicians would always "call into the teacher" - his father, who added a sidecar to his Harley Davidson as his family expanded. His parents met at a session in Milltown Malbay and O'Flynn cherishes that connection to Co Clare.
His first teacher was Leo Rowesome, who also made his first set of pipes, and the formative influences of Seamus Ennis and Willie Clancy are also lovingly acknowledged. And he plays with the barefooted Steve Cooney, the gallant Galician piper Carlos Nunez, Arty McGlynn, Rod McVey and Liam Bradley.
There is not only sorrow in the huge measure of O'Flynn's piping, says Heaney, but yearning - and there is joyfulness.
Laoi Na Pibe will be shown on TnaG on Tuesday at 9 p.m. and on RTE 1 on Wednesday at 9.30 p.m.