VARIOUS: THE INDEPENDENCE SUITE
This recent compilation features tracks from some great Irish albums which have been offered through Celtic Grooves for a while, for instance the fabulous "Kitty Lie Over," Tommy Peoples' "The Quiet Glen," and Gearoid O'hAllmhurain and Patrick Ourceau's "Tracin'," to name a few. Complementing those are recordings by sean-nos singer Aine Meenaghan, flute player Michael O'hAlhmain, and vocal ensemble Navan, as well as a couple of tracks of Cape Breton music, by fiddle player Dougie MacDonald, and by Barbara MacDonald Magone (piano) with Alasdair Fraser (fiddle). While this may make the collection less attractive for those who own some of the albums featured, it is a well designed compilation which would make an excellent introduction to music from the Irish and Scottish traditions.
Rating: ****
Price: $17.99
Contents:
1. Jigs: Don't Touch that Green Linnet / Doolish / Gráinne's Jig -Tommy Peoples
2. Reels: The Maids of Mitchelstown / The Bunch of Keys - Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin & Patrick Ourceau
3. Jigs: Traditional Cape Breton Jig / Dan Hughie’s / Donald Angus’s - Dougie MacDonald
4. Hornpipes: Captain John's / The Queen of May - Geraldine Cotter
5. Hornpipe & Reels: Caisleán an Óir / The Humours of Scarrif / Over the Moor to Maggie - Aidan McMahon & Anthony Quigney
6. Song: The Road to Dunmore - Robbie O’Connell with Clancy, O'Connell & Clancy
7. Reels: An Trí is a Rian / The Ballymahon Reel / Caher Rua - Randal Bays & Dáithí Sproule
8. Strathspey & Reels: The Laddie with the Plaidie / Athole Brose / Captain David Stewart / The Spey in Spate - Barbara MacDonald Magone & Alasdair Fraser
9. Song: Hè Mo Leannan (Scottish waulking song) - Navan
10. Reels: The Bush in Bloom / The Munster Reel / Captain Kelly's Reel - Geraldine Cotter, Maeve Donnelly, Peadar O’Loughlin, Eamon Cotter
11. Song: Bríd Thomáis Mhurchadha - Áine Meenaghan
12. Air: An Buachaill Caol Dubh - Mícheál Ó hAlmhain
13. Hornpipes: The Boys of Bluehill / The Stack of Barley - Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin & Pádraig O'Dea
14. Clog & Hornpie: Shrip’s Clog / Virtuoso Hornpipe - Maeve Donnelly
15. Reels: The Silver Spear / Mullin's Fancy - Mick O'Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh
