Riches of Clare (2009)

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Riches of Clare (Clare Arts Office - 2009)

Recordings from the 2009 Riches of Clare free lunchtime concerts, put together for a free CD which was handed out at the Riches of Clare concerts, and in libraries throughout County Clare earlier this year. It features brilliant playing, predominantly from Clare musicians, as well as a number of musicians from further afield. Hopefully recordings from the equally brilliant 2010 series will be available next year.

1. Maeve Donnelly, Geraldine Cotter, Charlie Harris & Conal Ó Gráda -
The New Mown Meadow/The Dublin/The Steampacket [Reels]
2. Chris Droney, Michael Kelleher, Francis Droney and Aine McGrath -
The Little Stack of Wheat/The Flowing Tide [Hornpipes]
3. Colm Healy, Eric Healy, Kieran Hehir and Seánie McGrath -
Martin Wynne's/Tom Ward's Downfall/The Silver Spear [Reels]
4. Kevin Griffin, Eoin O'Neill & Quentin Cooper -
The Green Mountain/The Humours of Westport/The Bucks of Oranmore [Reels]
5. Paul Madden, Maria O'Donnell, Sinéad Heagney & Eimear Howley -
Fergal O'Gara's/The Duke of Leinster/The Cameronian [Reels]
6. John Moloney, Elaine Hogan, Sheila Garry & John Kelly -
Kiss me Kate/Mayor Harrison's Fedora/Liz Carroll's [Jigs]
7. Shane Mulvey, Siobhán Peoples, Murty Ryan & Martin Dermody -
Pat Mahon's/I Was Born for Sport/The Miller's Maggot [Jigs]
8. Tony Linnane, Jim O'Connor, Mick Conneely & Johnny McDonagh -
The Wind that Shakes the Barley/The Reel with the Beryl [Reels]
9. Eimear Arkins, Damien O'Reilly, Brian O'Loughlin & Keith O'Loughlin -
The Enchanted Lady/The Shaskeen/The Sailor's Bonnet [Reels]
10. Seán Vaughan, David sanders, Eddie Moloney & Ian Lambe -
Lucy Campbell/The Green Gates/The Duke of Leinster's Wife [Reels]
11. Éamonn Cotter, Conor McCarthy, Oisín MacDiarmada & Padraic O'Reilly -
The Yellow Tinker/Tim Moloney's [Reels]
12. Kieran Kissane, Edel Vaughan, Brian Mooney & Liam O'Flanagan -
Jim Donoghue's/The Ashplant [Reels]
13. The Kilfenora Céilí Band - Ward's [Marches]
14. Pádraig Rynne, Noel O'Donoghue, Brian Mooney & Liam Murphy -
Connolly's/The Chattering Magpie/Martin Ainsboro's [Reels]
15. Karol Lynch, Cyril O'Donoghue, Samantha Morris & Mickey Dunne -
The Limerick Lasses/Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel [Reels]

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False Alarm...

Every day since I received my first takedown notice, I sent an email to IFPI requesting that they specify exactly which link generated the Copyright Complaint Notice so I didn't re-post it in ignorance and receive yet another blast of fiery denunciation from the upright folks at Blogger (the takedown notice is actually very polite). I received the following response:

'Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your emails. We have now investigated the matter internally and it appears that, despite our earlier good faith belief, the video does not infringe our members rights. We have informed Google accordingly.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

Yours Faithfully

IFPI Notices'

Apology accepted gratefully. Thank you, nice IFPI people. It really is appreciated...

DR

(I did wonder why, of all the material I've posted, a link to a Youtube video should incur the wrath of those most legitimate opponents of the dubious right to copy...)

First Takedown Notice

I received my first takedown notice today - informing me that one of the posts featured in the 'P' section of the Artist Index & Video Vault constituted an infringement of copyright. Helpfully, the specific post wasn't actually indicated...

If the employee of IFPI who sent the Copyright Complaint Notice to Google would like to be a bit more specific, I could probably save you future time and effort by removing anything else that infringes the copyright of the record companies your organisation represents, and by making sure that when I post the 'P' section of the Artist Index & Video Vault again, the offending link has been removed.

Best wishes,

DR

(By the way, anybody who has a legitimate commercial, legal, or artistic interest in either the copyright or moral ownership of any of the recordings or videos posted on this blog, can contact me directly at pashadragutreis@yahoo.co.uk to arrange for the offending items to be removed.)

Artist Index & Video Vault

Artist Index & Video Vault

I've added an alphabetic artist index to the blog, allowing for easy browsing among the albums that I've uploaded. It can be found on the right hand side of the screen under the Navigation heading.

The Artist Index also features a growing number of links to Youtube videos of performances by traditional Irish musicians. I've tried to include only those videos which are of a high quality - both in terms of musicianship and sound reproduction - but the sound quality of a number of videos which have both musical and historical significance can be less than perfect.

Any suggestions regarding videos of traditional Irish musicians you think worthy of inclusion will be gratefully received...

Father Charles Coen - Father Charlie (1979)

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Father Charles Coen - Father Charlie (Green Linnet - CSIF 1021 -1979)

A slightly strange album in that it features two songs in Irish sung by a childrens' choir and directed by Father Charles Coen. Apart from that the music is sparse and unaccompanied, with the exception of the final tune, an unusual and particularly pretty 6/8 march on which Father Coen's concertina is joined by Mick Moloney on guitar. Father Charles also plays whistle and flute on several tracks. It's not in the same league as the brilliant album 'The Branch Line' recorded two years previously by brothers Jack and Father Charles Coen, but it features some lovely playing and some interesting tunes nonetheless.

'The Branch Line', featuring Father Charles Coen on concertina and Jack Coen on flute, can be purchased in CD form from Compass Records, and downloaded via Topic Records from Thinkindie. You will have to enter it into the search function to locate it. You can also download it from EMusic, Amazon and iTunes.

1. Tommy Meara's/Swinging on the Gate [Reels]
2. Gallagher's Frolics/The Templehouse [Jigs]
3. The Echoo/The Wonder [Hornpipes]
4. Ag Seoladh Na Gamhna [Air]
5. Paddy Fahey's/The Tynagh [Jigs]
6. An Londubh is an Chéirseach (The Blackbird and the Thrush) [Song]
7. Mike Coen's/Mike Coen's 2/The Flour Bag [Polkas]
8. Kitty Jones/Castlekelly [Reels]
9. Madeline's Frolics/The Foxhunter's [Slip Jigs]
10. Feach a Phádraig [Song]
11. Ambrose Maloney's/Richard Dwyer's [Reels
12. Tim Kelly's/John McMahon's [Reels]
13. An Cailín Rua [Song]
14. Parnell's [March]

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Johnny Doherty - Fiddler on the Road (1972)

Fiddler on the Road (UTV - 1972)

A lovely documentary made by Ulster Television in 1972 about the legendary fiddler and tinsmith from Ardara in County Donegal, Johnny Doherty.

The film is a real gem, describing the lives of the traveling families of Donegal in the early part of the century, their trade, their music, and particularly the Doherty family's place in the musical traditions of the countryside. It describes Doherty's life as a young man earning money playing traditional Irish music and American jazz until forced to return to his occupation of tinsmith as the music of the big bands grew in popularity. Not only does the film shine a welcome spotlight on a great fiddler and fascinating character, but offers a glimpse into a world that has all but disappeared in the four decades since it was made, and shows aspects of Donegal life that are all but memories. We see Doherty at his trade, working a sheet of tin as he talks of his occupation and his music; there are great schttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifenes of old-style dancing - even by Doherty as he plays - and of course, there is an abundance of priceless footage of the great man's brilliant playing, which has made him such a legendary figure in the world of Irish music.

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The full-length version of this film is provided by Donegal Daily.


You can read about Johnny Doherty and other Donegal fiddlers, and listen to sound files, at the Donegal Fiddle Music website, which is well worth a visit.

You can also see some great footage of Johnny Doherty playing for Pete Seeger and Peter Kennedy following an impromptu visit on their field recording tour back in 1964. Despite the poor quality of the film and the variable quality of the sound recording, the playing is exceptional and it really does make for great viewing.

Part 1
Part 2

Bobby Casey - Casey in the Cowhouse (1992)

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Bobby Casey - Casey in the Cowhouse: The Unique Music of Bobby Casey (Bellbridge - 001 - 1992)

Recorded on a Grundig reel-to-reel tape recorder in a converted shed behind Junior Crehan's house in 1959, this is in my opinion the finest example of Bobby Casey's playing to be made available commercially. Four of the tracks were recorded by Bill Leader in 1971, and they will be familiar to anyone who owns the wonderful Bow Hand Records album 'The Spirit of West Clare', but the greater part of the album was made when Casey was in his early-thirties, playing for friends in a relaxed, informal setting. 'Taking Flight' is surely one of the finest unaccompanied fiddle albums recorded, but the spontaneity, freedom, and immediacy in Casey's playing makes 'Casey in the Cowhouse' stand out from every other recording of this great fiddler that I have heard.

Ciarán Carson writes wonderfully of Casey's playing, and particularly of the music which can be heard on this unpretentious and deeply personal recording: "There is a lonesome note in Bobby’s music, but also devilment and wit, a razor-sharp awareness of the possibilities of a tune, of how a subtle twist to a conventional run of notes can transform what until then seemed mournful into something wry and funny. The humour is deadpan and sometimes wicked." Carson's evocative description of the personality which pours out in Casey's playing is taken from a short essay which can be read here.

Casey is joined by Tommy McCarthy on concertina for two tracks, and by his son Seán Casey, who plays mandolin on the final track of the recording. 'Casey in the Cowhouse' was only released on cassette, and although the recording offered here is a composite of the best parts of two separate copies, there are still a number of artefacts which severely affect the quality of the sound reproduction.

Many thanks to JS and JC for providing the two copies from which this has been put together.

Those who would like to hear Bobby Casey's playing free from the artefacts associated with low-quality reproduction can buy the excellently-restored and professionally-mastered Bow Hand Records album 'The Spirit of West Clare' from a number of retailers including Copperplate Distribution, Celtic Grooves and, oddly-enough, Asda...

There is also a nice clip of Bobby Casey playing with uilleann piper Tommy Keane which you can view here.

1. The Glen of Aherlow/Rolling in the Barrel [Reels]
2. Jenny's Welcome to Charlie [Reel]
3. My Love is Fair and Handsome [Reel]
4. The Musical Priest [Reel]
5. The Shores of Lough Rea/Clancy's Dream/Scully Casey's/The Banks of Lough Gowna/Brian O'Lynn [Jigs]
6. Paddy Ryan's Dream [Reel]
7. Toss the Feathers [Reel]
8. Poll Ha'penny/Murphy's [Hornpipes]
9. The Yellow Tinker/The Bunch of Keys [Reels]
10. The College Groves/Toss the Feathers [Reels]
11. Hurry the Jug [Set Dance]
12. Gerry Daly's/Scully Casey's/The Cuckoo/The Western [Hornpipes]
13. Banish Misfortune/Kitty's Rambles [Jigs]
14. The Old Wheels of the World/The Green Fields of America [Reels]
15. Connemara Stockings/The Ships are Sailing [Reels]
16. The Gallowglass/The Legacy [Jigs]
17. Miss McDonald [Reel]
18/ Farewell to Miltown/The Star of Munster [Reels]

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Paddy Taylor - The Boy in the Gap (1970)

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Paddy Taylor - The Boy in the Gap: Traditional Music from Limerick and Clare (Claddagh Records - CC8 - 1970)

A number of people have requested this album, and as there is no sign of it being made available from Claddagh Records in the near future I will post it here for the time being...

Lovely playing from the West Limerick flute player and composer of a number of well-known tunes. I believe this is the first album of Irish traditional music recorded exclusively on the flute...

1. Paddy Taylor's 1/Paddy Taylor's 2 [Jigs]
2. An Páistín Fionn [Air]
3. The Banks Of The Illen [Reel]
4. The Tailor's Twist/The Loughill [Hornpipes]
5. Morrison's/The West Limerick/Hanley's Delight [Polkas]
6. Raghadsa is mo Cheatai [Air]
7. The Hag With the Money/Fasten the Legging [Jigs]
8. Rocking The Cradle [Air]/The Priest in his Boots [Jig]
9.The Bunch of Keys/The Sandmount [Reels]
10. Hinchey's Delight [Jig]
11. The Boy in the Gap [Jig]
12.Taylor's Fancy/The Limerick [Single Jigs]
13. Tiarna Mhuigheo [Air]
14. The Fairy Queen [Hornpipe]
15. The Fermoy Lasses/The Five Mile Chase [Reels]

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Josephine Keegan - Reels, Jigs, Hornpipes, Airs (1980)

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Josephine Keegan - Reels, Jigs, Hornpipes, Airs
(Outlet - SOLP 1040 - 1980)

One of five of Josephine Keegan's solo fiddle albums on which she double tracked her own piano accompaniment. There is some lovely playing as well as a very nice selection of tunes.

1. The Kylebrack Rambler/Gerry Cronin's [Reels]
2. The Queen of the West/Hasberry Howard [Hornpipes]
3. Cronin's Rambles [Jig]
4. Sliabh Geal gGua [Air]
5. Dancing Eyes/Eddie Kelly's [Jigs]
6. Music in the Glen/The Lass of Ballintra [Reels]
7. The Square of Crossmaglen/Coolderry Bridge [Reels]
8. To the Waters and the Wild/The Hazel Wand [Hornpipes]
9. The Lark in the Morning [Jig]
10. An Buinnean Buidhe [Air]
11. The Pear Tree/The Stranger [Hornpipes]
12. Jimmy McBride's [Reel]

Forthcoming digital re-release...

Jim McKillop & Mary Mulholland - The Wind that Shakes the Barley (1976)

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Jim McKillop & Mary Mulholland - The Wind that Shakes the Barley
(Emerald Gem - GES 1151 - 1976)

A straightforward fiddle and piano album from the Antrim fiddler and accordion player Jim McKillop who had, rather surprisingly, only been playing fiddle for around four years when this album was recorded. The playing is calmer and less fiery than that on the recording made with Josephine Keegan on the Outlet label, and his lovely crisp and bouncy style shines through without any of the sometimes excessively-virtuosic fireworks that can be heard on the better-known Outlet album.

1. The Shaskeen/The Pigeon on the Gate [Reels]
2. The Rambling Pitchfork/Jerry's Beaver Hat [Jigs]
3. Across the Fence to the Neighbour's Wife [Hornpipe]/Jimmy McBride's [Reel]
4. The Gold Ring [Jig]
5. Miss McLeod/The First Month of Spring [Reels]
6. The Wind that Shakes the Barley/The Boys of the Lough [Reels]
7. The Sunny Banks/The Flax in Bloom [Reels]
8. Carmel Mahoney Mulhaire [Reel]
9. Rakish Paddy/Jenny's Welcome to Charlie [Reels]
10. The Wise Maid/Farewell to Ireland [Reels]
11. Andy McGann's/Strike the Gay Harp [Jigs]
12. The Salamanca/Providence [Reels]
13. Lord Gordon's [Reel]
14. Byrne's/Murphy's [Hornpipes]
15. The Skylark/The Fisherman's Island [Reels]
16. Miss Monaghan/The New Policeman [Reels]
17. McMahon's/The Flowing Tide [Hornpipes]

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