Sunday, February 17, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Gentle Breeze: Celtic Music for Flute & Whistle
Gentle Breeze: Celtic Music for Flute & Whistle Review
This collection of pieces originally recorded for the Green Linnet label is ideal for anyone who loves Celtic music, the flute, or both. The music runs the gamut from fast-paced and exciting ("George White's Favourite/The Sligo Maid," "Kitty in the Lane/Captain Kelly/The Green Mountain") to slow and sweet ("Raibh Tu ag an gCarraig," "Gwerz ar Marc' hadourig Bihan/Autrefois Disait un Guerrier/Ton Derobee") to everything in between. There are quite a few standout pieces as well; "Gan Ainm/Emily's" has a traveling feel to it, and "Seamus Ennis' Jig/Connie O'Connell's" is an excellent flute and fiddle duet. The most exciting piece here, however, is "Paddy and the Bandit," featuring a fiddle and drum backing that adds considerable drama. Flute and whistle are the lead instruments here, so much so that it's sometimes hard to hear the backing instruments, but this is overall an excellent sampler. --Genevieve Williams Read more...
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Saturday, January 19, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Celtic Caravans - Road to Romanticism
Celtic Caravans - Road to Romanticism Review
Traditional Celtic music has almost continually enlivened the world of formal classical music. While Celtic-speaking peoples lived through much of central Europe during the first millennium BCE -- including modern France, Austria, Switzerland and beyond -- during the following 2000 years leading up to our own time, their range has gradually narrowed to just the British Isles and western France. While 'Celtic' in America and Britain increasingly refers simply to 'Irish' music, in Europe 'Celtic' may refer broadly to the music of any of the far-flung branches of the ancient linguistic tree.
Our program explores actual Scottish, Welsh and Irish music as well as arrangements conceived by Haydn and Beethoven to flatter the 'exotic' taste of art-music audiences. In addition, we present Haydn's canzonettas, which are essentially newly created works inspired by English folksong style. At this time, when music was beginning to overflow the banks of Classicism to become Romanticism, the term 'Celtic'had not truly emerged as a political and artistic term. Only in the late 19th century did the 'Celtic Twilight' movement associated with William Butler Yeats consciously attempt to revive ancient relationships between the various far-flung Celtic peoples. Read more...
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Monday, January 7, 2013
Heritage
Heritage Review
2011 release celebrating the musical culture of Ireland. The program features 12 new recordings including 'An Irish Blessing', 'A Place In The Choir' and 'Whiskey In The Jar'. Over the past three years, Celtic Thunder has been one of the most successful PBS music programs. Celtic Thunder have sold over 100,000 tickets in concert during the last year Read more...
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Feasability Studies
Feasability Studies Review
The trio (Laura Bailie, Janet Larsson and Ruth Morley) are joined by percussionist Tim Williams on this disc of chamber music by four very different composers with individual takes on contemporary music. This is a unique and wonderful sound unlike any other in modern music. Read more...
