Flutist and composer Karin Leitner has sound magic.
With her extensive studies in classical music, flutist Karin Leitner has mastered the tempo, dynamics and expression of the instrument. She also plays the Irish tin whistle Susato Kildare model key C and Yamaha wooden flute. Whither she is playing the classical pop rendition of the theme from the Titanic, or rendering the chromatic beauty of some of her works, it is true that she leaves listeners enchanted and refreshed.
She already released evocative albums titled: Earthmagic, Seamagic and the upcoming Skymagic (June 21). Earthmagic has received positive reviews from music critics. The album has 16 tracks. If you are stressed out and in the mood for escapist tunes then just take out one of her CDs and you are off to go with the destination of your choice. Even if such journey is in your head. Seamagic has twelve tracks all water themes asopposed to the Earth themes of Earthmagic. Her compositions are closer to the elements : Earth, Sea, Sky…go figure.
Her delivery is seamless as she slides from meno mosso to molto expressivo with the grace of a swan. You should check out her Theme from the Titanic video. She breathes new life into the wooden flute making the instrument sound the way we sing. I can hear traces of vibrato the way a human voice does, until the diminuendo leaves listeners gasping for more.
For those who are hungry for classically inspired music with Celtic, orchestral or mystical influences then I am sure she has a hungry market out there waiting to get her releases, all eight of them! Trivia: She is playing concerts with harpist Cormac de Barra-they recorded an album for Ireland’s Blue Book Music of Great Irish Houses.
Check out the album release launch of Moya Brennan and Cormac De Barra:
Grammy award winning musician, Moya Brennan, and internationally renowned harpist, Cormac De Barra, are set to release their brand new album titled ‘Affinity’ this June. The recording is the result of a merging of two of Ireland’s most acclaimed musical minds. Join the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/177927489035726/
01 – Frying Pan 3:01
02 – Cliffs of Galway 3:24
03 – Molly’s Eyes 3:36
04 – Mary Hogan’s 4:05
05 – Collier 3:46
06 – Parnik 3:49
07 – Jim 5:03
08 – Poor Man’s Hat 2:24
09 – Tearberries 2:36
10 – I’ll Never Be the Same Man Again 3:47
11 – Rugged Day 4:11
12 – Wrong & Right 2:59
13 – In the Maze 5:07
Release date: 9 May 2013
Running time: 47:46
One of the most energetic releases in the Celtic punk genre is Wrong & Right by Czech band Cheers. I featured an interview with the lead man Pavel(Pafka)Steidl last year and it was fun. You get to feel the punk attitude sandwiched between melodic tunes. Wrong & Write is fun to listen to.This is an all out party album not for the faint of hearts. But the sweet melodies will keep the balance between spicy strong sounds and crunchy beats. Yes take a bite. Feel it sizzle. Get drunk to the music!
The confidence is present. Take note: this band has performed in many live shows prior to recording this album. All the tracks were recorded live at the Saloon Roudna. The sound quality is also excellent. You really get to savor the crunch of the drums and the sharp edge of the guitars. The Celtic instruments aren’t drowned by the louder sounds as they are given room to breath in Rugged Days, Wrong & Write as well as other tracks. Katka Hofmanova also sang the female parts in the tracks when not playing the flute. This creates a balance with Pafka’s testosterone induced voice.
Freddy Kruger who played the accordion maintained that melodic envelope all throughout. The fiddle of Filip Matyas has that Irish feel which I really like. The punk power of Wrong & Right is brought to you by the guitar of Mates Sistek who also provided the backing vocals. His rocking contribution is really important. Paja Vesela made the groove and the fullness of the recording with her bass.I just love it! And last but not the least, Prema Broz kept the tunes in one place with his drums. As you know drummers are awesome.
The lyrics are in English but they are translated to Czech in the liner notes. I think the cover rocks. It shows a tattooed hand holding a lollipop . This clearly showcases the band’s sense of humor. My favorite song is the ballad in track 5. This is one of the tender moments when the band show their intricate and expressive side. I think this is a track that should be a single because it is easy to sing along. The other one is track 13 called In The Maze. But I tell you Wrong & Right is an album intended for energetic gatherings where you invite your friends for a pint of Guinness and great live tunes. All the tracks in Wrong & Right are recommended for big speakers.
Wrong & Right is one of the releases you should not fail to check out as it provides a satisfying listening experience. Especially if you want your tunes to rock big time.
Music keeps me alive. I am sure it is doing the same to you. Whatever problems we may face in life I have learned to rely on the wisdom of the Sound and how it has the power to pull us from the darkness into light. I know that our brothers and sisters are having problems over there in Europe as flooding continues. My prayers go to the people of the Czech Republic, Germany and the neighboring countries. These are hard times. I had hard times last month but I know that as long as we live our lives in music then nothing will ever destroy us.
Now on the lighter side, check this youtube playlist from another Celtic band from the Czech Republic called Poitin which I am sure you have read about them in my past posts. I love posting their music because I have their albums and yes I am a certified Poitin fan. Do check this out:
Info: It’s taken from a show they had recently in Prague- with a live webcam and the sound quality is quite good.
Dundalk, Scotland,Canada and anywhere in the world, Nuala Kennedy plays music for every ear.
Help me welcome this fantastic musician this week. She is Nuala Kennedy. She became the focus of my interview request after seeing a post by The Riverside Celtic Society announcing her Canadian tour. It’s to promote her third release “Noble Stranger.” After seeing her youtube videos and listening to her tunes, I told myself that I have to get her story. She would make a wonderful featured artist. I was right.
Youhad a show in Canada this 24th of February! You must been very excited to greet your Canadian listeners. After all we know how Canada and Ireland are linked closely.
It was great to visit Canada again. It’s a fantastic country with a wonderful connection musically with Celtic music in Ireland and Scotland, especially on its Eastern seaboard, in places like Cape Breton Island and Newfoundland. I love the diversity of Canada, from Vancouver and the stunningly beautiful west coast, to Toronto and Quebec. I’m looking forward to touring and exploring more there, but I do have a special fondness for Cape Breton, its culture and people resonate with me and I love playing there.
You have a jazzy approach to Irish and Scottish music. Where did all the vibes come from?
I wouldn’t say my approach is jazzy, but I guess there’s a few different influences in there side by side with the traditional music. Edinburgh in the late nineties was an incredibly inspiring place to be a traditional player, with a lot of sessions and different musicians crossing paths and playing together. That was a hugely influential time for me. I always had an interest in other types of music too, in songs, contemporary music and in American folk music from the sixties and seventies.
Dundalk is the same place where The Corrs originated. It must be a wild place for Celtic music.Can you give us a background of your musical development? Do you think that the environment plays a big role in an artist’s artistic direction?
Definitely. I learned to play the whistle at around age seven, with a local teacher Mary Grennell. She taught me tunes out of the back of a shoemakers shop at the end of town. After I had a few learnt, I joined a local ceilidh band, ‘Ceoltoiri Oga Oghrialla’ which had some great older players as members. People like Tiarnan O Duinnchinn and Suzanne, Lisa and Patrick Conway, Brendan Needham. Fantastic players all, and I think I learned a lot from playing alongside them in the band, without even realising it really.
I was also encouraged to be independent and think for myself from an early age, by my parents but also by teachers and particularly my art teacher in secondary school who was a big influence on me. I loved the practical aspect of creating, the fact that you have a tangible finished ‘something’ at the end of a period of work. In Edinburgh, where I first went to study at the College of Art, it was difficult not to be influenced by all the amazing music that was in the city at that time. I returned often to Dundalk, where I grew up, and played with Gerry O Connor, with whom I now perform in the band Oirialla. I still go home very regularly, and it’s very satisfying to play traditional music from my own native area.
What do you look forward to this year in terms of live shows and recordings?
I’m currently working on a duo record with Mike Bryan, the guitarist from my band. It’s called “A Wee Selection: Some Scottish Tunes on Flute and Guitar” We recorded a bunch of our favourite traditional Scottish tunes. I’m really looking forward to seeing the finished CD! In a couple of weeks, we are launching Oirialla’s new CD. (Oirialla is an Irish trad. band featuring Nuala, Gerry ‘fiddle’ O’Connor, Martin Quinn and Gilles LeBigot) We are having a home town gig at the Square in Dundalk, as part of the Homecoming Festival. And I’m particularly excited about making my first trip to Alaska in September to play with John Doyle and Eamon O’ Leary. In October I’m taking the Snowflake Trio to Celtic Colours International Festival on Cape Breton Island, in Nova Scotia. It’s one of my favourite places in the world. The Snowflake Trio is myself, with Frode Haltli and Vegar Vardal, two incredible Norwegian musicians.
Can you cite other artists whose works inspired you?
by Louis De Carlo
Oliver Schroer was a huge inspiration to me. I also love Will Oldham’s singing and writing. I met the Birds of Chicago at Folk Alliance in Toronto this year, and really enjoyed their music. I’m a fan of lots of strong female singers and traditional musicians such as the late Ishbel Macaskill, Fiona Hunter, Kathleen MacInnes, Cathy-Ann MacPhee, Christine Primrose, Margaret Stewart, Padraigin Ni Uallachain, Catriona Mackay, Lori Watson, Shona Mooney… Also accordionists Martin Quinn and Julian Sutton. Of course Cathal McConnell continues to inspire me, especially with his musical musings on well known traditional tunes. I love his sense of creativity and the detail in his music.
Top 5 albums you are listening to right now?
Some of my favourite albums at the moment include Mary Custy and Eoin O’Neill, Oliver Schroer’s Hymns and Hers, Rickie Lee Jones’ Traffic in Paradise, Devon Sproule “I Love You’ Go Easy”, Oliver Swain’s CD ‘Big Machine’ and Nels Andrews’ Scrimshaw.
I am curious how you would describe this as a flutist: What’s amazing about the flute?
That it’s a physical extension of the human body, powered by breath? That every aspect of my particular flute was made from scratch by hand by one artist, including all the keys and silver work. (It’s a Chris Wilkes flute.)
1. The Long Note / One Horned Sheep
2. The Dawn / Morning Dew / Speed the Plough
3. Gan Anim
4. The Thatchers Are Here / Old Joe’s Jig / Allistrum’s March
5. Toss the Feathers / Jenny’s Chickens
6. The Haunting
7. Waves / Farewell To Connaught / McFadden’s Handsome Daughter
8. The Providence Reel / The Month of January
9. Limericks Lamentation / Daddy When You Die / The Merry Blacksmith
10. Killarney Boys of Pleasure / The Fyket
From the start of the thundering crystal clear piano of Paul Cienniwa, Baal Tinne aims to do what every musicians want: to transport the listeners into another world where the note is king. The haunting flute of Noel Rice takes us back into the times when New Age music was new and everyone was captivated. The fiddling of Cathleen Rice creates a balance between Traditional Irish and avant-garde instrumental music. And yes, Matt Sundstrom contributes a folk vibe into The Haunting which thanks to Ceolwind Productions, this is my introduction into the quintet’s music.
The group’s name suggests the relationship to Celtic celebration especially the feast of fires which is celebrated during the month of May. The atmosphere of the entire album is that of the changing of the mood brought about by the seasons. The tracks shimmer with authenticity and magic. For a truly stunning listening experience, I suggest the use of headphones. There is something intimate about The Haunting that makes you turn the lights off and light candles.
I miss this sound because it reminds me of groups like Nightnoise and The Secret Garden. Back in the days when Celtic music was not just about technical skills, energy and tradition but also the beauty of the moods and atmosphere that musicians brought to the music. The classical and jazz influences are undeniable which can be found in tracks like The Long Note, The Dawn, Gab Ainm, The Haunting and Waves. Killarney Boys of Pleasure showcases the group’s love for folk and traditional tunes. I love their interpretation of Toss the Feathers because of the arrangement and the clarity of each instrument.
Don’t miss the hymn like Limerick’s Lamentation which I think is one of the most memorable and tunes in The Haunting. Take note of the low pizzicato when the tune starts to catch tempo at 2:30.
Remember that this is their early album. The group has undergone changes. To see the current lineup please visit: http://www.baaltinne.com/
Track list for Affinity: 1. Intro (Suas Síos) 2. Sailing 3. The Lass of Aughrim 4. Worlds Collide 5. I Feel You Breathe 6. Crúiscín Lán 7. Captain O’Kane 8. Seoithín Seó 9. Stóirín Rua 10. When the Morning Breaks 11. Ardaigh Cuan 12. Suas Síos
This year marks the release of Affinity which is a product of musical collaboration between Clannad’s Moya Brennan and Corma De Barra. This project has been anticipated due to the build up of interest mostly brought about by their live shows. Listening to Affinity( 12 tracks plus on radio edit of the single Sailing), one can’t help but notice the musical chemistry between these two artists. It isn’t surprising considering the fact that they have worked together for years.
The album’s official single is Sailing. It’s a song originally done by Christopher Cross in the early 80s and now given a new life. With the harp replacing the piano as the song’s official and consistent hook, the two have preserved the rhythmic element of the original song but added an original sound and atmosphere to it.
Sailing showcases Moya’s contralto range that was seldom highlighted during her years with Clannad(with the exception of Banba). I often marveled at the evolution of her voice. If you picked up Clannad’s 70s recordings you will notice the difference. In this decade, she often sang in the soprano range. Then came the 80s and the voice evolved with more depth and expression. It’s also during this time that she became known for her haunting style of singing: part airy and part traditional-in which she has been known to possess up to the present.
The Lass of Aughrim is a moving remake. If you haven’t seen movie version of The Dead where this song was performed then you better see it. I swear it’ll give you goosebumps as the implication of the song weighs heavily on your heart:
O don’t you remember
That night on yon lean hill
When we both met together
Which I am sorry now to tell
Moya has given this song new life while adding her sound signature. Worlds Collide is notable for its dynamic percussion arrangement. Actually the whole album is a showcase of percussive beauty. They are all over (I feel You Breath, Cruiscin Lan, Captain O’Kane, Storiin Rua, When the Morning Breaks and Suas Sios) giving the songs their driving power yet toned down for a less intrusive effect.
Cormac DeBarra shines in Seothin Seo. His sean nos style of singing feels at home to his unique way of playing the harp. He also made amazing backing vocals to Worlds Collide.The merging of acoustic and electronic instruments is what fans of Clannad will love about this album. Focusing on the beauty of voices and harps, Affinity has achieved what few albums have achieved in this decade: A haunting, captivating and inspiring listening experience.
Affinty marks the continuation of the musical partnership which also includes Voices & Harps workshop in Donegal. This is their second album together. You can hear the music samples via : http://www.moyabrennan.com/ and http://www.voicesandharps.com/
Bio:
Moya Brennan and Cormac De Barra both come from large musical families in Ireland and their mutual admiration for each other naturally developed into a stimulating musical relationship.
Their new album, Voices & Harps, is the culmination of their friendship and creative synergy over the past decade. They combine the simplicity, depth and beauty of the extraordinary skills which make them unique in their own field.
The album and workshop unveils a new chapter in their partnership.
Grammy award winner, Moya Brennan is the singer of Clannad as well as having a successful solo career. She has sung on most of the world’s great stages and has collaborated with many notable artists including The Chieftains, Paul Brady and Bono. She is also part of the female traditional group, T with the Maggies.
Cormac De Barra is renowned internationally as a versatile harp virtuoso. He continually pushes the boundaries of the Irish harp through his work with a wide array of artists, including Hazel O’Connor, Julie Feeney and Clannad. Cormac also tours and records with his brothers Fionán and Éamonn in the family group, Barcó. Besides his busy performing schedule he regularly gives workshops and masterclasses around the world.
Press release:
MOYA BRENNAN and CORMAC DE BARRA
Release their brand new album ‘Affinity’ on June 7th 2013
NEW YORK: Grammy award winning musician, Moya Brennan, and internationally renowned harpist, Cormac De Barra, are set to release their brand new album titled ‘Affinity’ this June. The recording is the result of a merging of two of Ireland’s most acclaimed musical minds; both artists hail from highly respected Irish musical families and have successful careers in their own right.
Ms. Brennan has been admired around the world as the ‘Voice of Clannad’; she is the lead singer of that group since 1975, releasing 18 albums with them, including two with her world famous sister Enya. Simultaneously Moya has managed to parallel an incredible solo career, with 7 albums to her name. Overall her career to date includes over 20 albums, numerous film scores and performances with many great artists such as The Chieftains, Robert Plant, Shane MacGowan and Bono.
Cormac De Barra is renowned internationally as a versatile harp virtuoso. He has continuously pushed the boundaries of the Irish harp through his work and collaborations with an extensive range of artists including Hazel O’Connor, Julie Feeney and Clannad. He writes and records regularly with his family group Barcó and hosts master classes world-wide.
‘Affinity’ features Moya and Cormac trading talents on harps, vocals, keyboards and bodhrán backed by a host of incredibly talented musicians. The record has been independently produced by the duo and mixed by John Reynolds (Sinead O’Connor, David Byrne, Peter Gabriel) and Tim Oliver (Robert Plant, New Order, Indigo Girls).
Christopher Cross’ mega hit, ‘Sailing’, is the lead single on the much-anticipated 12 track album. Moya says about the song, “Sailing is part of the soundtrack of my youth. It was so exciting to interpret the song with our harps and vocal layers. We didn’t want to change it but I hope we bring freshness to a timeless classic.” There are original tunes on the album including a number songs sung in Gaelic, the native Irish language.
Over the years Moya and Cormac’s reverence for one another has grown strong and they have forged a powerful musical relationship. The past decade has seen the musicians unite their creativity on several projects. “I think that the fact that Cormac and I understand Irish traditional music so well has given us a shared confidence to extend ourselves, push the boundaries and venture beyond our comfort zone”, says Moya. Along with their first collaborative album, ‘Voices and Harps’ in 2011, Moya and Cormac have joined forces to host an annual ‘Voices and Harps’ workshop in Ireland, which is geared towards those with a keen interest in combining singing with harp playing and is now in its third year.
background of your musical development? Do you think that the environment plays a big role in an artist’s artistic direction?
Celtic Music Fan 