SEOLTAI SEIDTE - SETTING SAIL - FORTY-THREE HISTORIC RECORDINGS
Sean 'ac Dhonncha, Seosamh O hEanai, Aodh O Duibheannaigh, Aine Ni Ghallchobhair, Sean de hOra, Diarmuid O Flatharta, Maire Nic Dhonnchadha, Sean Ryan (fiddle), Denis Murphy (fiddle), Joe Devlin (fiddle), Johnny Pickering (fiddle), Sean McLaughlin (fiddle), Paddy Canny (fiddle), Tommy Reck (uilleann pipes), Willie Clancy (uilleann pipes), Vincent Broderick (flute), Joe Burke (accordion)

The Irish label Gael-Linn is celebrating its Golden Jubilee and has commemorated the event with the release of this magnificent collection, comprising all the recordings (43 in all) which the label released on twenty 78rpm discs between 1957 and 1961. Remastered to perfection by Harry Bradshaw, this collection is presented on two CDs, in a handsome DVD-style box, with a 96-page companion booklet authored by Irish Traditional Music Archives head Nicholas Carolan. The booklet, almost a book really, contains the detailed story of how the original records came to be made, comprehensive notes on all the performers and on each track, in particular with the full lyrics in Gaelic and English translation of the sean-nos songs which constitute about half the recordings. And what recordings! Since Gael-Linn's original goal was the promotion of the Irish language, it won't be a surprise that more than half of the tracks feature a real who's who of sean-nos singers, representing the major Gaelic-speaking areas, Donegal, Connemara, and Kerry/Cork. The list of instrumentalists is no less impressive, and the unaccompanied tracks by fiddle players Sean Ryan, Denis Murphy, and Paddy Canny have to be among the best recordings of traditional music of all times. Folks, this is how it should be done!

Rating: *****

Price: $36.99                      Recommended
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Contents:
CD 1
1. Sean 'ac Dhonncha - Song: Bean Phaidin
2. Sean 'ac Dhonncha - Song: Is I Do Mhamo I
3. Sean Ryan - Reel: The Dash to Portobello
4. Seosamh O hEanai - Song: Caoineadh na dTri Mhuire
5. Tommy Reck - Reels: Bonny Kate / Mrs. McLeod's / The Fermoy Lasses
6. Seosamh O hEanai - Song: Neainsin Bhan
7. Tommy Reck - Air: Carolan's Concerto
8. Seosamh O hEanai - Song: Bean an Leanna
9. Denis Murphy - Reels: The Kerry Reel / Colonel Frazer / The Steampacket
10. Sean 'ac Dhonncha - Song: Mainistir na Buille
11. Denis Murphy - Reels: Saint Anne's / The New-Mown Meadows
12. Sean 'ac Dhonncha - Song: An Buinnean Bui
13. Joe Devlin - Jigs: The Blooming Meadows / The Queen of the Fair / The Luck Penny
14. Aodh O Duibheannaigh - Song: Geaftai Bhaile Bui
15. Johnny Pickering - Jigs: Jackson's Rum Punch / The Rose in the Heather
16. Aodh O Duibheannaigh - Song: Uirchill an Chreagain
17. Sean McLaughlin - Reels: The Earl's Chair / Tom Steele
18. Aine Ni Ghallchobhair - Song: Ar Maidin De Mairt
19.  Johnny Pickering - Hornpipes: The Wily Old Bachelor / The Harvest Home
20. Aine Ni Ghallchobhair - Song: Brid Bheasach
21. Aine Ni Ghallchobhair - Song: Ar a Ghabhail chun a Chuain Damh
22. Sean McLaughlin - Reels: Rhattigan's / Mrs. McLeod's

CD 2
1. Sean de hOra - Song: An Gamhain Geal Ban
2. Denis Murphy - Reels: The Piper's Despair / Jim Kennedy's Favourite
3. Diarmuid O Flatharta - Song: An Seanduine
4. Willie Clancy - Song Air: Na Connerys
5. Sean 'ac Dhonncha - Song: An Draighnean Donn
6. Paddy Canny - Jigs: Garret Barry's / Brian O'Lynn
7. Sean 'ac Dhonncha - Song: Ta na Paipeir dha Saighneail
8. Willie Clancy - Reels: The Old Bush / The Ravelled Hank of Yarn
9. Sean 'ac Dhonncha - Song: Brid Thomais Mhurchadha
10. Vincent Broderick - Reels: Down the Broom / The Boys of Ballisodare
11. Seosamh O hEanai - Song: Amhran na Tra Baine
12. Vincent Broderick - Jigs: Old Man Dillon / The Battering Ram
13. Seosamh O hEanai - Song: Amhran na Paise
14. Paddy Canny - Reels: Lord McDonald's / The Fair of Ballinasloe
15. Seosamh O hEanai - Song: Sadhbh Ni Bhruinneallaigh
16. Seosamh O hEanai - Song: Measa Liom Bhrodach
17. Willie Clancy - Hornpipes: The Plains of Boyle / The Leitrim Fancy
18. Maire Ni Dhonnchadha - Song: Caislean Ui Neill
19.  Joe Burke - Reels: The Golden Keyboard / Farrell O'Gara
20. Maire Ni Dhonnchadha - Song: Piopa Ainde Mhoir
21. Joe Burke - Reels: The Dawn / The Moving Cloud