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 These justly celebrated recordings were originally made in 1974 and subsequently issued by Gael-Linn on a double LP in 1978.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

link to the free album

John Doherty - Taisce: The Celebrated Recordings