His arrangement of The Ashokan Farewell for acoustic guitar. Played on a McIlroy AJ16
Dermot McIlroy is a versatile artist. Apart from playing in his project bands, he is also a guitar builder. Have you tried visiting McIlroy Guitars? The video will give you an idea what one of them sounds like(the McIlroy AJ16). And he plays really good! He executes that depth and craft in the video Ashokan Farewell which has a rather interesting background.
Dermot McIlroy in Antrim, Antrim, United Kingdom. Photo by Daniel Burne.
I love instrumental music. They don’t have resistance or aggression. They are compatible with almost anything. The Ashokan Farewell plays like a peaceful river. Everything flows without bumps and uncertainty. And the notes are clear like golden silver. Can you hear it? That certain feel to it?
I think there should be a solo instrumental album from McIlroy don’t you think? I think, for that to be realized one day will be a truly wonderful experience. Solo guitar music is timeless. I love collecting them. I can play them anytime and anywhere. I hope this post(and most importantly the accompanying music lights up your week) inspires you as you start your day or recline to sleep.
I will be posting a blog about Derek Smith of this Welsh trio, Glasnant. According to him:
“Glasnant means Blue Stream in English. Our music will be like a stream flowing through the Celtic countries.” They will go to Ireland on March 12th-16th to take their interceltic music to the Aran Isles. Sounds exciting!
They’ve come a long way – performing with their previous and current groups- and have now unveiled an exciting Irish trad duo.
It took two years in my not so accurate memory to witness something exciting from these two stars of traditional Irish music. I am taking about the two Cillians: Cillian King and Cillian Doheny. I know of King from Ealu and Doheny from Moxie. Both have devilish fingers that can tap through hundreds of notes in a few seconds. This agility matched with their youth and photogenic appeal can be intimidating. But this is also part of their assets. They are good to hear and good to look at. Such combination works!
I’ve listened to them perform in their other projects as well as solo artists.The passion for perfection is there. Give them any musical instrument and they will record tunes that will make angels weep. But you might say ATLAS is too young to make such revelation. If you’ve seen their performance in Musicophilia(August 2014) then you’d know what I am talking about. It’s savage and elegant. Everything that we love about traditional Irish music-of the instrumental kind.
I’ve learned that the project has been conceived back in 2009 and it’s only now that this has taken a front seat. Just goes to show that these artists are very serious about crafting and also the emphasis on artistic maturity. They call their style as more ambient folk but still has heavy leanings on traditional Irish music.
What makes these two lads interesting? Just perusing through their influences made me smile: Coldplay, Jon Hopkins,Hanz Zimmer, Chris Thile, Imogen Heap etc. And yeah I listen to these artists too and I am hoping to find their styles seep into one of their recordings.
ATLAS is exciting. It is already showing volcanic promise at its early stage of unveiling. Because they have already mastered their craft before putting this project to the fore makes me really passionate.
Still with Allison Crowe…About the song:Canadian poet, singer-songwriter, sailor and islander Andy Vine (http://www.andyvine.com) composed this song in the late 1970s. While music-making in St. John’s, Newfoundland he discovered “Woman of Labrador”, the remarkable autobiography of Elizabeth Goudie. Of Inuit, Indian, French and English roots, Goudie (née Blake) was born in 1902 in Mud Lake, Labrador. At 18 she’d wed a trapper, raising their eight+ children in the brush – her memoirs recounting life and travails and dwellings from a trapper’s “tilt”, and log cabins to a Summer lake-shore fishing house and beyond – all that comes with and from such a pioneering existence in territory that encompassed family homes in Mud Lake, North West River and Happy Valley-Goose BayTo read the complete description, go the You Tube link: http://youtu.be/uYBp3ooX-2Q
About the song: From Corner Brooker Allison Crowe’s album, “Newfoundland Vinyl II”, comes this stirring song of a shipwreck and brave rescue efforts that occurred on November 29, 1875.To read the complete description, go to the You Tube link: http://youtu.be/LEM9DIRAGyk After listening to Souling and The Newfoundland Vinyl !! repeatedly, I notice something I never mentioned in my last article. Allison Crowe has a strong and distinctive voice. Singer/songwriters or musical artists who play their own instruments have always been associated with having soft singing voices. There are those who do have powerful voices but this is rare. Feel free to correct me but this is my observation. I think it comes with the fact that singing while playing an instrument is hard. You got to pick at least one instrument to channel your skills and emotions. Pop divas have their voices as their primary instrument. And for instrumentalists who don’t sing, they channel their power to that instrument they are using. But to master both is a challenge-I think. I have tried performing before and it is really hard to channel intense emotions when you are strumming a guitar. It feels awkward. When you belt out a tune, you do it easily when you are just holding a mic. And this is what I have noticed in Allison Crowe’s singing. She sings like a pop/rock vocalist but she is also that woman with the guitar. But he is certainly not Suzanne Vega or Judy Collins. She’s more like the late Nina Simone with bit of Natalie Merchant.
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Holiday albums I listen to year after year.
The list of Holiday albums I listen to change year after year depending if there are artists who are able to squeeze into my top 5. This usually happens upon new releases. But here are the albums that made it to my holiday list which I will be listening to next year.
Loreena McKennitt- Midwinter’s Night Dream: This Canadian artist never fail to dazzle me with her amazing voice and marketing smarts. What is Christmas without the elfin appeal of McKennitt’s music?
Enya-And Winter Came: Every year I listen to this because her arrangements bring down the snow. I won’t say more but perhaps you know what I mean.
Moya Brennan-An Irish Christmas: After her US tour, she will be performing a Christmas special in Ireland. The first lady of Celtic music continues to dazzle.
Souling-Allison Crowe: Yes she made it to my top 5 and I know I will be playing this album next holiday season.
Together at Chritmas-Various artist: I want to thank Anita Daly for giving me this sampler as there are many amazing Celtic artists out there worth discovering.
*** Martin Tourish and how Celtic music continues to inspire me. I sometimes get asked, how I am able to keep up my passion for blogging . Especially that it’s been years since I started this baby? The answer is simple. Music. When I hear something that I like , that tune inspired me to write something about it. It is like discovering a beautiful plant that you just want to take care of it because seeing it bloom give you much pleasure. Of course it’s been obvious that I also like other types of music. And this liking for other styles of music made me marvel at the beauty of Celtic music. Because it remains different and ‘not mainstream.’ We all have our degree of elitism and this is my little elitist guilt ….and well, let’s face it, you don’t want to be part of the herd right? You gotta find your niche and hone your creativity around it. For me the sound of uilleann pipes, harp and other Celtic instruments inspire me. I love hearing them and also the comments that I get from people when they say that my music is something they could not find anywhere and that when they hear it they are soothed. So let me give you a taste of this wonderful playlist by the very talented Martin Tourish. This is presented by Trad Connect, the leading site for lovers of traditional Irish music. http://www.martintourishmusic.com
My Christmas thoughts. Warning it’s a little bit personal.
Never be afraid to be vulnerable. I read that via Flipboard this week. I must confess, one of my fears to bare my weakness for anyone to say. And so I hid behind the guise of a blogger who just wants to post updates and ‘new stuff.’ Of course the ‘enterprise’ can be about that and building a brand. But that’s way behind me now. What I just want to do is to share music, and my thoughts about music. And perhaps a bit of my ‘voice.’
I know everyone has his or her own holiday plans. It could probably involve visiting relatives or holding a party. Mine is receiving relatives, playing Yuletide tune, completing a book by Anne Rice about werewolves of mid-winter and watching great movies. My aunt who raised me to become who I am today passed away last May 16, 2013. So it’s the second Christmas without her. I have to tell you, it is not an easy thing to go through year after year. But she also raised me to be strong and despite the pain I might be feeling inside, the ‘show must go on.’ There are moments of crippling pain especially when I am alone. There are moments when I feel I lave lost my relevance. I feel that she took the meaning out of existence with her, when she went away. As if living is a just a task I have to do because there is nothing else to do but to endure and to live for others.
I want to thank everyone who followed this blog through the years since its first launch in 2009. So may things happened. Amazing and tragic things. I met amazing people through this blog. And I know nothing lasts forever. We don’t have inexhaustible source of energy. Who knows one day I might stop writing simply because I could no longer go on. Perhaps because I have moved on to another venture. But I just want to say that this is my baby. I nurtured it, poured my love and sometimes pain to it. And I tell you, there is one thing that makes life beautiful and that is the feeling of being connected. That we are all part of a bigger picture, whatever that is. That we are not alone. No one is insignificant.
For my late aunt:
To my late aunt whom I call mama. You were the meaning of my life. And when all the stars fade and I have given all I have to give to life, your smiling face will be the last thing I will see…your voice , the last thing I will remember. And the universe will go on.
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Coming up…
I will be posting a review of North Star by Kyle Carey
THE CELTIC TENORS announce their US Christmas tour!
Feels Like Home is still going strong in my list of last year’s awesome albums! I still love to play it in the morning and I adore their version of Going Home originally composed and performed by Mary Fahl for the movie Gods and Generals. These tenors have voices that can sooth your heart and refresh your weary mind. I also love it when they start harmonising , raising their voices as if imploring the heavens to come down to us, for only then shall the impossible be made possible and all dreams will come true.
I looking forward to play their holiday album, Christmas this December as I am in the mood for something classical with a pop flavour. And they are really good at it, as they jump seamlessly between genres. I still read the interview I did with Matthew Gilsenan way back and I like how he provides insights into the current state of music in this category. If you haven’t yet please do and leave comments.
As usual my big thanks to Anita Daly for keeping me informed about these things!
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John Breen “Origins” Album – New Single Pre-Sale
My Irish pal, the singer/songwriter John Breen will be releasing a new album soon. I am excited about it as I already reviewed his last album Old Men in Hats and I admire the arrangements and exciting twists he adds to traditional tracks. His deep mellow voice is addicting and I know you won’t be disappointed when you get a copy of any of this albums. The new album is called Origins. Beautiful title eh? Here’s a sampler of the album. Ok hold your horses Irish music lovers!
*** Enda Seery Soundcloud. Fantastic tunes uploaded for trad ears!
Now I don’t know when will be the the follow up the last album Síocháin Na Tuaithe: Peace of the Countryside
because I am constantly looking forward to Enda Seery’s new recordings. I have been listening to this playlist at work and they are great in relieving stress. But of course you do know traditional Irish music is not just about THAT. It’s about celebrating the Irish culture that touches the heart and mind.
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I made this blog at 3 pm. Now it is almost 4 and I am chilling’ out in the garden after. Please stay strong and beautiful music lovers! Talk to you soon.
It is great to be visited by the muse of the cold months. With that comes the kind of music suited for reflection. It is the time of year when people like to stay indoors watching the leaves fall. It is a moment of contemplation and artistic stimulation. It is an honour to introduce this new recording by England-based ambient/folk group Red Sonnet. Their music has been likened to Enya and Clannad due to the haunting female vocals and fascinating melodies.
The piano is the dominant instrument in this album but there are other gossamer instruments that weave their smoky embellishments around classical and soft rock influenced tunes. I love how the tympani in Across the Bridge creates that epic moment as if I am in Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. And yes that is the title of the album too.
The overall experience is pleasant. I recommend this for people who love Loreena McKennitt, Sarah McLachlan and those I have mentioned earlier. There are moments when the vocals can sound a bit shy so I would encourage more confidence in future Red Sonnet recordings. But this is a great atmospheric treat and you know me, I LOVE atmosphere.
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For a taste of trad and fusion here’s King & Cillian Doheny with MUSICOPHILIA. I let the purity of the music embraced me again. I remember the first time I started this blog and how this type of music inspired me and the creativity I found within. Perhaps traditional music is mostly technical but if you go further and see it in a different perspective, you will realise the spiritual aspect that has always been elusive but prominent. And I am reconnecting to that source again and hopefully bring you more review.
This is performed by Cillian King and Cillian Doheny. I just found out the name is pronounced as ‘Kill-yan” and not with the Sil-yan as I used to do. Beautiful performance. You can see the listeners love them!
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Been listening to this today. This is a perfect tune to welcome Autumn. I am a fan of Robert Doyle so whatever he puts up in his youtube gets me excited. This man is an amazing artist with his strong grasp of contemporary and traditional Irish music. He also expands his interests to include other styles and cultures.
About :Sliabh Russell/Out on the Ocean
These are two jigs I first heard on Matt Molloy’s classic ‘Heathery Breeze’ album from 1985. The arrangements are by Scottish guitarist Mark Thomson.
The tuning is DADGAD with capo on 1 and the guitar was built by Frank Tate.
Let me express my huge apologies to this band for not posting this video sooner. I got this on August but was not able to post due to my hectic work schedules. They are based in France specialising in folk and world music. Very good! You should check them out. This is Nabila Dali & band performing the traditional “Bedlam Boys” in Paris on December 6th 2013.
Official Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nabila…
Celtic Music Fan 