Have you heard of a harp music that makes tap your feet the way you do with a bodhran? If not then I recommend you listen to Rachel Hair. Her style is exciting and the vibrancy of her music rubs on you like expensive perfume-it lasts.
She is aware that the soul of Celtic music is not just playing with speed and ease. It is also about atmosphere. It is perfected in the track Cancro Cru where the melody pulls you inside. I think the voice layering is artfully crafted. Jenn has the voice of an angel. The varied artistry of the tracks are also due to the contribution of band members Jenn Butterworth alongside top Scottish double bassist Euan Burton. To know more about her, simply read this very detailed interview made by Arperia: http://arperia.com/2012/05/07/interview-with-rachel-hair-english-version/
Cécile Corbel
“Sweet Amaryllis” (John Wilbye/Corbel)
Original music video (c) Bran Music 2012
from the album “SongBook vol.3”
Cecile Corbel on tour!
Do you ever get this impulse of being stuck in one song and finding your self playing it again and again? I know it isn’t what normal people do because what happens is when a song ends you move to the next track. Today, I found myself getting stuck in this one song by Breton musician Cecile Corbel. The song is called Mary and there is this stanza that goes:
Mary was a sailor
But she is drowned to die
She sleeps under the sea
Mary ever on her way
Kind of morbid don’t you think? But the music of Brittany has always been steeped in stories of seafarers. This song made me go to her website and I saw her new video called Sweet Amaryllis taken from the new album Songbook 3. I am impressed by her knack for powerful melodies and tight vocal harmonies. This is a kind of music that artists like Moya Brennan and fellow Breton Nolwenn Leroy make. Very catchy and haunting at the same time. Need I say that her videos are always appealing ? She is on tour right now and more can be found in http://www.cecile-corbel.com
I spend the rest of my afternoons looking for new music either on the web or through friends. I have a close knit circle that loves Celtic music. My taste is eclectic. That is why I run another site called http://www.spheremusic.wordpress.com. There are times when I think the the music is appropriate for this blog or on that blog. There are also times when it is hard to decide so it is either this or that. The point is: music speaks a universal language.
In the end it doesn’t really matter. Labeling is a marketing strategy to help consumers decide where they should look if their interest is specific. But you always know when you need to get that record regardless of the genre. You always know that there is somethings special about the songs that grab you. Such is what I found when I listened to the tracks of Brendan O”Shea. The guy is down to earth and he is sending me his newest CD in the mail. He agreed to have an interview as well.
I also realize that apart from maintaining this site and posting songs, I need to act like a disc jokey too. So therefore I need to talk to you my readers. It isn’t so hard after years of experience in customer service hahahahaha. Time is really precious. Once we have it, we can do a lot of things. I wish we have more time to discover new music. And I hope you all stay with me through this journey.
Jamie Smith’s MABON – Spring Tour / Taith y Gwanwyn
Tuesday, 6 March 2012 at 19:00 until Saturday, 24 March 2012 at 22:30
Tuesday, 6 March 2012 at 19:00 until Saturday, 24 March 2012 at 22:30
Milton Keynes / Reading / Powys / Solva / Somerset / Winchester / Bristol / Norwich / Cumbria / Caerleon
A perfect chance to catch the fearless five-piece on fine form as they prepare to record their new album in April.
New music will feature alongside established repertoire, songs alongside instrumental music, all bound together by consummate musicianship and joyful performance.
Dates are all in MARCH as follow:
WAVENDON, Nr Milton Keynes – The Stables Theatre – Tues 6th;
READING – South Street Arts Centre – Thurs 8th;
POWYS – Llanbedr Village Hall – Fri 9th;
SOLVA Memorial Hall, Pembs – Sat 10th;
BRIDGWATER Arts Centre, Somerset – Fri 16th;
WINCHESTER – The Discovery Centre – Sat 17th;
BRISTOL – The Thunderbolt – Sun 18th;
NORWICH Arts Centre, Norfolk – Weds 21st;
COCKERMOUTH, Cumbria – The Kirkgate Centre – Fri 23rd;
CAERLEON Town Hall, Gwent – Sat 24th.
Dewch i ymuno a ni wrth inni baratoi am albwm newydd eleni – cyfle gwych i weld y band mewn cyngerdd agos, personol. Fe ddwlen ni’ch gweld chi yno!
Come and hear what tunes are in the pipeline for this year’s new recording…!
Weaving a Celtic Past – Moya Brennan, Cormac De Barra, Edel Bhreatnach
Click
The Society welcomes Edel Bhreathnach and musicians Moya Brennan and Cormac de Barra to its headquarters for their presentation “Weaving a Celtic Past.” Through song, history, music and images of books and manuscripts protected by Irish Franciscans, Brennan, de Barra andBhreathnach weave a vivid portrait of Celtic history. Edel Bhreathnach is a historian of medieval Irish history and literature, and is deputy director of the Mícheál Ó Cléirigh Institute for the Study of Irish History and Civilisation at University College Dublin. Moya Brennan is the lead singer for Grammy award winning Irish band Clannad and Cormac de Barra is a traditional harpist. The program is a narrative lecture, interspersed with songs and music performed by Brennan and de Barra. Bhreathnach says the presentation is “the story of preserving and reviving the memory of Irish identity.”
I wrote about LiveTrad and did an interview in my previous article. The people behind it deserve our cheers as they continue to bring traditional Irish music to the world. Well, I was happy when I heard that Moya Brennan was going to be featured along with her daughter Aisling. It is nice to see Moya perform in such an intimate setting with just few instruments . Her voice can really take the whole room with it’s confounding mystery.
I am also going to note here that Aisling Jarvis is creating her own musical path. I have heard her older tracks in myspace when she was just starting to compose and perform. Her style is modern with ethereal flavor and electronic embellishments. It is really great to see both of them perform together. I am happy to watch these videos despite my flu. This sickness is getting to my friends these days. I think it always happens when the weather moves from cold to warm. Anyway thanks to LiveTrad for capturing these moments on video.
This blog caters to all types of styles under the Celtic umbrella. Don’t be surprised if you see featured styles as diverse as electronica, dubstep, jazz, rock, metal, new age, pop and even reggae. As long as they have that ‘flavour’ then they are welcomed here.
Yesterday, a friend Tim who plays the Uilleann pipes performed outside Lyon in what turned out to be a street music performance. I love to be one of these events because it’s intimate and at the same time the performers bring the music out of the stage into the crowd. I remember Fête de la Musique(which usually happens in June) and how amazing it was to have everything musical in one venue and everyone was involved as I said, very intimate.
Speaking of Uillean pipes here’s one side by side with the Northumbrian pipes.
Jarleth Henderson, Uilleann pipes, and Andy May, Northumbrian pipes
LBPS Grand Concert, Lennoxlove House, June 2nd 2010
Another friend Jimmy sent this video today. I am amazed with the style of music and at the same time the step dancing. This is one inspiring video!
Info: This is How We Fly’ is a contemporary Folk band consisting of Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh on fiddle & hardanger fiddle, Seán Mac Erlaine on bass clarinet, saxophones & live electronics, Nic Gareiss on percussive dance, and Petter Berndalen on drums and percussion.
My friend Anita Daly always has something special in the mail! Her company got this press release for everyone. I have a Barleyjuice album and they have be rockin the whole year round. I am glad front man Kyf Brewer has something for fans to huddle to this Christmas. ‘Tis a season of peace and giving…now let’s get the ball rolling!
Hi Ladies and Gentleman, last week we sent you Emma Kate and George Murphy’s recording of the Pogues infamous tune, ‘Fairytale of New York’ we hope you like it as much as we do and that any of you with radio shows and websites will play it or stream it for the Holiday and that you writers review it! It is now available on iTunes…
NOW we have the fabulous Barleyjuice’s front man, Kyf Brewer and his family’s rendition of the same tune, not for sale directly, just as a gift to you for Christmas to play and enjoy. It is available free to fans that purchase some Barleyjuice merchandise for Christmas. (See note from Kyf below!)
Happy Holidays to all!
From Kyf: Happy Kringle!
Barleyjuice’s Kyf Brewer and his wife Kay had been joking for years about what a kick it would be to record their own version of the classic Pogues tune, Fairytale of New York, and this year seemed to be the perfect time. It became a Brewer joint after daughter Scotlyn joined in on bass. The “beautiful” factor was covered nicely by the Juice’s Shelley Weiss on violins and violas, and Mary Bryson from the Divine Hand Ensemble on harp.
Kyf Brewer’s “Fairytale of New York” is not presently available anywhere until it appears on iTunes after the holidays. Fans can get a free mp3 of it this holiday season by going to http://corporatemohawk.net/holiday-sale and buying some holiday Barley gear.
Yay! Moya Brennan is back to serenade us with her haunting voice and amazing tunes. I have almost all of her albums and my favorite is still Tapestry where there’s this wonderful track called “Gone are the Days”.
An Irish Christmas never goes out of style and year after year I play it in loud speakers. Nothing beats the feeling of Irishness as she introduces her touch to traditional as well as contemporary tunes. I fell inlove with her version of “Gabriel’s Message” the first time I heard it. It’s beautiful that it hurts!
I admit, the reason why I don’t listen to much of the radio is because there’s nothing really Celtic there. I wish Celtic music would go mainstream and all the money should go to real musicians and not those we hear now. They should go out of business. Can’t stand them. Hahahaha now I am sounding like a musical elitist.
Here’s the press release from her facebook page:
When
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Time
19:30 until 22:30
Where
Monkstown Parish Church, Monkstown Village, Co Dublin, Ireland
Description
Moya performs her annual fundraising Christmas concert with special guests of local young traditional musicians from Comhltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. All proceeds to the children’s music club and church restoration fund.
Presented by Blathnaid Ní Chofaigh
Tickets 15/10 euro
Available from Hewetts Shop and the Post Office, Carrickbrennan Road, Monkstown, on the door
and online at at http://bit.ly/vtErUAwww.moyabrennan.com
Celtic Music Fan 