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Ceol na hÉireann / Irish Music, Volume 1, Issue 3, Page 39

Ceol na hÉireann / Irish Music, Volume 1, Issue 3, Page 39
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periodical Publisher
Na Píobairí Uilleann
periodical Editor
Chairman, NPU
periodical Title
Ceol na hÉireann / Irish Music
volume Number
1
issue Content
7071Ceol na hEireannIrish MusicPaddy Keenan and Davy Spillane, young players often not only play like theirheroes but play their heroes tunes as well. This, whether we like it or not, is theway of things in piping, imit on, followed by development, until gradually apersonalised style and choice of tunes, that become the piper s own mature wayof playing, is arrived at.The pipers on volume 2 of The Drones and the Chanters have all developedtheir own styles through the solid grounding of playing like their musicalmasters. In years to come I fully expect they too will have their adherents andpipering will diversify even more. The production and music on volume 2equals the first volume. Certainly what the compact disc format lacks in themagisterial presentation of the former is made up for by the sheer quality ofsound and a generous helping of twenty tracks of great musical interest,superbly played. The variety of tune types, reels, jigs, airs, set dances andhornpipes is aided and abetted by the piping piece Nra CrIonna, played byMlchel O Briain. The pieces are the old heavily embellished airs or slow,slow jigs which were played by the old pipers and though currently being re-discovered by younger pipers, very few have been recorded commercially, yetindeed MIchel 0 Briains rendition is the first since Pat Mitchells playing ofthe same tune on the Topic disc in the early l970s. It is likely that these worthytunes and interesting ways of playing them could be revived by enterprisingpipers.Most of the pipers include tunes currently in the general repertoire of Irishmusicians but they add a lot more flair than most. Robbie Hannan, for instance,plays some popular reels like The Silver Spear and The Dublin Reel, tunesyou could almost count on hearing in any session, but the rendition here is fullof sparkle and brilliance. That is the general standard, no fillers, nomakeweights. You could say that Joe McLaughlin s version of The Lark in theMorning is a commonplace jig - but it isnt played in a commonplace way andpipers will enjoy the little nuances in his playing. The Bees Wing Hornpipeis an unusual choice for the pipes and its adaptation from the Northumbrianfiddle tune in E flat to an Irish piping tune is as audacious as the playing. Theinfluence of Sdamus Ennis is always there. Though not always so obvious in thetechnique of these players, many of his tunes are however and indeed LiamOFlynn plays on his very pipes. The influx of Donegal tunes in the last dozenyears is notable, whether tunes from Donegal fiddlers Jimmy Lyons or JamesByrne. Robbie Hannan, well known for his adaptations of Donegal fiddle tunes,doesnt play any here, but he once put forward the intriguing notion that theuilleann pipes as played by John Dohertys great grandfather, An DochartaighMr, would probably be playing the very earliest adaptations of Scottish musicon the early Irish pipes, and therefore the music has come full circle as Donegalfiddle tunes, often Scottish, are adapted back again to the pipes.It is good to see the airs played once more, three of them plus Nra Chrlona.All the players are superb air players. Liam OFlynns Mire NI Mhongainis an uncommon though lovely air and learned from Samus Ennis. RonanBrownes air of Port na bP icaI is a splendid adaptation for the pipes. JoeMcLaughlins version of The Bright Lady is an air that has been on its travelsvia Cathal McConnell, Willie Clancy and back to Leo Rowsome who recordedit.Gabriel McKeons Ace and Deuce of Piping sums up the playing on thisexceptional album. It has everything. It is vital for anyone with an interest inIrish music - it is the real Irish music. The players on this album are worthyheirs of the music of the great pipers of the previous generation. They have theability, the taste and the careful guardianship of the music of the pipes. Thealbum is well up to the high quality of production that we take a little forgranted from CeirnlnI Cladaigh, with fine, extensive, informative notes fromDermot McLaughlin on the music and the pipers, plus, first rate photographsfrom Tony Kearns and Jim Maginn. The cover painting is an unusual and notoften seen painting of a piper from, presumably, the middle of the last century.All in all then, an album that, like the first, is vital for the collection of anybodywith a liking for Irish music, and piping in particular. All concerned with theproject have done the music a great service and every piper is a credit to thegreat old players. We would hope that volumes 3 and 4 will be available beforethe pipers on volume 2 are of pensionable age!Joe CraneV
issue Number
3
page Number
39
periodical Author
[Various]
issue Publication Date
2001-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Ceol na hÉireann / Irish Music, Volume 1, Issue 3

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