Dominic Behan - Ireland Sings

Dominic Behan was an Irish songwriter, singer, short story writer, novelist and playwright who wrote in both Irish and English. He was also a committed socialist and Irish Republican. Born into a literary family, Dominic Behan was one of the most influential Irish songwriters of the 20th Century. He was a prolific composer and had more than 450 songs published during his lifetime. His songs were very popular in Ireland and also among the Irish living in Britain, especially "The Patriot Game", "McAlpine's Fusiliers", "Avondale", and "Liverpool Lou". In 1958, he released The Singing Streets: Childhood Memories of Ireland and Scotland on Folkways Records along with fellow folksinger Ewan MacColl. Behan, who was unequivocal in the defence of his copyright, publicly accused Bob Dylan of plagiarizing "The Patriot Game" in writing his own "With God on Our Side".

1 Not a Star From The Flag Shall Fade

2 The Sodding

3 Sit Yeh Down And I'll Treat Yeh Decent

4 Fineen The Rover

5 How Ceasar Was Driven From Ireland

6 Dicey Riley

7 Kerry Boatman

8 Trust In Drink

9 Love Of My Heart

10 My Redhead Mot From Ringsend

11 Brown And Yellow Ale

12 The Sea Around Us

13 Irish Famine

14 Patriot Game

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Dominic Behan - Ireland Sings

Jeannie Robertson - The Great Scots Traditional Ballad Singer (Topic Records 10T52 1959)

Jeannie Robertson is a monumental figure in Scottish traditional song whose influence and importance as a preserver of folklore will sustain for as long as traditional ballads are sung.

Regina Christina Robertson was born into a traveller family in Aberdeen on October 21, 1908. Her father, Donald, who died a year later, was a piper and her mother, Maria, was a singer with a vast store of songs and stories.

There was music going back generations on both sides of the family and as Jeannie grew up in the traveller life, spending six months of the year in Aberdeen and spring and summer on the roads up Deeside and down Donside, there were musical gatherings round both hearthside and campsite. Music wasn’t just entertainment. The songs and stories formed guides to traveller history and lessons in life.

Some of the songs Jeannie sang weren’t quite as old as her callers suspected, as she often made up songs of her own while doing her housework. Her singing of ballads including her most celebrated song, Son David, and the Battle of Harlaw was, however, the long oral tradition at work and she gave battle songs added realism through visualising swords clashing and men falling as she sang.

In 1968, Jeannie was appointed MBE for services to folksong, an event made all the more significant since she was the first folksinger and the first traveller to receive this honour. She died in March 1975 having passed on her songs to students including her daughter Lizzie Higgins, her nephew Stanley Robertson, Ray Fisher, Andy Hunter, and Jean Redpath, and having enriched the lives of everyone who heard her sing.

01. The Bonny Wee Lassie Who Never Said No

02. What a Voice

03. My PIaidie’s Awa’

04. The Gipsy Laddies

05. When I Was No but Sweet Sixteen

06. MacCrimmon’s Lament

07. Roy’s Wife of Aldivalloch

08. Lord Lovat

Recorded by Bill Leader in 1959

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Jeannie Robertson - The Great Scots Traditional Ballad Singer

John Doherty - Taisce: The Celebrated Recordings

The late John Doherty was one of the greatest traditional musicians ever to record, and fortunately he was recorded extensively with examples of his work from the 1950s to just before his death in 1980 being issued commercially on many different labels. Sadly some are no longer available. These justly celebrated recordings were originally made in 1974 and subsequently issued by Gael-Linn on a double LP in 1978. This is of course a CD of Donegal fiddle music, as exemplified by the drive and speed of the bow work and the sparse but intricate and dexterous ornamentation. The music on this CD is unmistakably that of Donegal but John Doherty's repertoire shows all the signs of cross fertilization from other areas in Ireland and Scotland

Donegal music is generally recognised for its strong clear tone, skilful bowing with little finger ornamentation. Johnny’s style bore all those hallmarks but was made much more dramatic by his aggressive staccato bowing and frequent use of double stopping. He was entirely self taught, read music, and key changes seemed unchallenging to him, no matter how awkward fingering became. The influence of the strong highland piping tradition in his family was noticeable by his vast repertoire of marches and strathspeys.

01. The Salamanca/The Flood on the Holm

02. The Cat That Kittled in Jamie’s Wig

03. Arthur Darley’s Jig

04. Kitty’s Gone a’Milking/The Dogs Among the Bushes/The Merry Sisters

05. My Love She’s But a Lassie Yet

06. Green Grow the Rushes-o

07. The Hen’s March over the Midden

08. McFarley’s Reel

09. Talk on learning the fiddle and his father’s criticism (omitted from CD version)

10. Bonny Kate

11. The Bluebells of Scotland

12. Miss Crawford

13. The Atlantic Roar

14. Easter Snow

15. The Drunken Piper/Lough Isle Castle

16. The High Level

17. The Low Level

18. King of the Pipers

19. Talk – John’s family and fellow musicians

20. Cathair Rua

21. Mammy’s Plaidie/The Boyne Hunt

22. The Japanese Hornpipe

23. The Old Man Rocking the Cradle

24. The Moving Bogs/The Fairy Reel

25. The Loughside

26. The Blacksmith’s Fancy/Mooney’s Favourite

27. The Donegal Reel

28. The Policeman’s Holiday

29. Air Gan Ainm/Stirling Castle

30. Lord Mayo

31. The Harvest Home

32. Lord Gordon’s

33. Miss Cunningham

34. The Liverpool Hornpipe/The Derry Hornpipe

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John Doherty - Taisce: The Celebrated Recordings

Dwayne Côté - Introduction

Fiddler and composer Dwayne Côté was raised in a family deeply rooted in all aspects of Cape Breton, Irish and Scottish music traditions--his mother being a renowned dancer, instructor, and performer and his father, the late Gordon Côté, a celebrated Celtic fiddler and teacher. Dwayne has been performing since he was four years old and has played all over the world with artists like John Allan Cameron, Graham Townsend, Sean McGuire, Buddy MacMaster, Jerry Holland and Dave MacIsaac. A composer with more than 200 tunes registered with SOCAN, Dwayne is recognized as one of the most unique violinists and fiddlers in Atlantic Canada. This was his first release which came out on tape only in 1991.

 01-Top Of Cork Road

02-Blue Stocking Clog

03-Bog An Lochan

04-Dean Brig O'Edinburgh

05-Loch Earn Reel

06-The High Bridge Jig

07-Mrs. Ferguson Of Rath March

08-Ledy From Cavan Reel

09-Auld Robin Grey

10-Christie Campbell

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Dwayne Côté - Introduction

Gary West - Islay Ball

From Pitlochry in Perthshire, Gary West learned his piping with the much-acclaimed Vale Of Atholl Pipe Band, with whom he played for eighteen years, winning both the Scottish and European Championships. In the late 1980s, Gary began to play a prominent role in the folk music scene, joining Ceolbeg in 1988, and was a founder member of the Scottish ‘supergroup’ Clan Alba in 1991, playing alongside such luminaries as Dick Gaughan and Brian McNeill.

The Islay Ball is the most entertaining piping album I've listened to in a long while. The mix of great tunes, high-quality piping, tasteful and musical arrangements, and excellent guest musicians combine to give a feast for the ears. I got this CD in August 2002. As I write this review 11 months later, the recording is just as fresh and exciting as the first time I listened to it.

Personnel: 
Gary West (highland pipes, Scottish small pipes, whistles);
Carlos Arrendondo (vocals, guitar);
Colin Matheson (guitar, keyboards);
Tony McManus (guitar, bouzouki);
Colin Campbell (fiddle);
Kath Campbell (cello, piano);
Wendy Stewart (electroharp, harp, concertina);
Stan Wilson (bass); Marcos Watt (percussion).

01. Fleshmarket Close/The Yellow Haired Tinker/The Mas - 4:00

02. Dixon's Highland Laddie/Rangers' Frolic/ - 4:08

03. Chi Mi'n Geamhradh - 4:38

04. Willie Angus Macdonald Of Melness/Cleveland Height - 3:51

05. Wendy's Favourite/The Half-Coupit Yowe/The Coupit - 4:34

06. The Plummeting Piper/Douglasfield/The Streaker/ - 5:01

07. Kilworth Hills - 3:49

08. Scarce O' Tatties/The Gold Ring/ - 4:46

09. A Camilo Jorge - 5:06

10. Saligo Bay/Cabar Feidh/The Islay Ball/Broadford Ba - 6:22

11. The Hag At The Churn/The Lark In The Morning/ - 4:21

12. Last Waltz At The Islay Ball - 4:43

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Gary West - Islay Ball

Noel Hill - Irish Concertina

Hill is considered one of the best concertina players in Ireland today, and this, his first solo album (Claddagh Records CCF21CD - 1988), showcases his instrumental skills and his impeccable taste.

Clare is the home of the concertina in Ireland, and there is nobody who plays it better than Noel Hill, from West Clare. This is his only solo album, and on it he plays his instrument as it never has been played. There is fire and exuberance in his music, colour, exultation and total adherence to the tradition. Every lover of the concertina must own it.

Artists:
Noel Hill: concertina
Charlie Lennon: piano

01. Reels: Last Night's Fun / The Trip to Durrow

02. Slip Jig: The Boy in the Bush

03. Reels: Kiss the Maid behind the Barrel / The Dublin Reel

04. Strathspey: Laird of Drumblair

05. Reels: The Pigeon on the Gate, / Seán sa Chéo/Sean in the fog

06. Reels: Farewell to Ireland / Old Gorman's Reel / The Wind that Shakes the Barley

07. Air: Táimse im' Choladh/I am asleep

08. Reels: The Wise Maid / The Bells of Tipperary

09. Jigs: The Gold Ring / The Lark in the Morning

10. Reels: The Salamanca Reel / Over the Moor to Maggie / The Chicago Reel

11. Air: An Draigheann

12. Reel: The Thrush in the Morning

13. Hornpipe: The Drunken Sailor

14. Reels: The Moving Clouds / Devanny's Goat / McDermott's Reel

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Noel Hill - Irish Concertina

Gerry McFadden - Irish Traditional Uilleann Pipes

Gerry McFadden is an excellent Uilleann Piper from belfast and is the Grandson of famous pipemaker Frank McFadden.Recorded in 1976 and rereleased on the Outlet label in 1996 Irish Traditional Uilleann Pipes is a very nice album of solo unaccompanied piping. Gerry has another album out called Drones from the Black Mountain. OAS 3032.

01. John Ryan's Polka/The Lark In The Morning
02. The Belfast Hornpipe/Derry Hornpipe
03. The Coulin
04. Merrily Kiss The Quaker
05. Fox Hunter's Jig/Fermoy Lassies
06. Roisin Dubh
07. Ace And Deuce Of Piping
08. March Of The King Of Laois
09. The Boys Of Bluehill/Chief O'Neill's Favourite
10. The Croppy Boy
11. Drops Of Brandy
12. Planxty Irwin/Si Beag, Si Mor
13. The Lark In The Clear Air
14. The Heather Breeze/The Boys Of The Town/Off To California
15. Cronin's Hornpipe/The Joy Of My Life
16. The Floggin' Reel/Drowsy Maggie

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Gerry McFadden - Irish Traditional Uilleann Pipes

Angus Chisholm - Early Recordings of Angus Chisholm

The Early Recordings of Angus Chisholm: Legendary performances of traditional Scottish Fiddling, Shanachie Records, 1978. Angus Chisholm was one of the first fiddlers from Cape Breton to record a commercially available album. Decca released the recording 14004 on November 18, 1934: Rothermarches Rant, Braes of Auchertyre, Moonlight Clog & Hennessey Hornpipes. This album consists of all the commercial recordings made by Angus Chisholm, the finest exponent of traditional Scottish fiddling ever to record. His playing is defined by the exciting perfection of his brisk, articulate phrasing, each note shaped with total control and exquisite tone, the product of bowing almost too good to be believed. And too, the feeling, the rare eloquence of his music is without peer. Angus Chisholm's playing is the standard all Cape Breton fiddling is measured by. And more, it is esteemed now around the world for its artistry and beauty.

Players:
Angus Chisholm, fiddle;
Maybelle Chisholm, piano;
Bess Sidall MacDonald, piano;
Elizabeth Mellett, piano;
Mickey McIntyre, guitar

1. Newcastle, President Grant (hornpipes)

2. Medley of Inverness Jigs

3. Mrs Murray / The 10 Pound Fiddle / The Baker

4. Miss Lyall / Brother's Letter

5. Miss Minnie Foster / Fred Wilson's Clog

6. Glengarry's Dirk / Bonnie Lass of Fisherow / Bird's Nest

7. Rothermurches Rant / Braes of Auchertyre / Braes of Glencoe

8. Moonlight Clog / Hennessey's Hornpipe

9. Miss Cambell's / Jordie Jig

10. Lochaber Gathering / Bob Johnson's March & Reel

11. Tea Gardens / Mrs McGee

12. Irish Hornpipe / Marguirite McNeill / Joan McDonald

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Angus Chisholm - Early Recordings of Angus Chisholm