Customer Reviews

Carolan's Cup: Music of Turlough O'Carolan on the Hammered Dulcimer

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I first heard Joemy Wilson play O'Carolan's music in 1987 at Christmas in July in Oceanside, CA. I had never heard of O'Carolan and was unfamiliar with the hammered dulcimer, but the bright music of this recording struck a chord with me. I bought my first Joemy Wilson tape that day and I was hooked. I went back the next year and bought 2 more, and the next year 3 more. I have since heard other artists perform O'Carolan's works, but no one has come close to Joemy. Of all her recordings, this is still my favorite. I am glad to see amazon.com carries her work.

I have owned this album for more than a decade, and it remains one of my favorites. I find that listening to it helps me clear my mind and improve my mood - there is a joy in the melodies that is infectious. This is very engaging music, but be warned, it can be habit-forming.

I've had this tape in my collection for years, I played it so often, it broke, then I replaced it with the cd.

When I first bought it, I had moved from a sunny climate to a dreary rainy and foggy place, this music helped me through the sad times with it's uplifting, lilting sounds. The melody laughs out loud, and you can't help but to let your soul smile.

This CD is incredible, particularly "Hewlett" and "Carolan's Concerto." The latter item sounds just like a classical piece to me. I understand that O'Carolan heard some classical music and, while he wrote for Celtic harp, thought, OK, I'll do one like that. "Carolan's Concerto" is the result -- upbeat, complex and yet with a clear melody line.

(I play a few O'Carolan tunes on guitar. I think they sound pretty well on guitar -- but nowhere near the fine instruments and musicians heard on his CD!)

If you ever want to hear O'Carolan, this is the CD to play.

For those unfamiliar with the legendary blind harpist and composer O'Carolan, he is a folk icon similar to say, his contemporary Bach is in Baroque or Mozart in Classical music.

And while Irish harp goes way back before him, O'Carolan set the standard for harp composition that still stands today -- and will forever in my mind.

I've had this CD for years, listened to it again in my car recently, and just bought another copy for a friend who is crazy about Classical music. (I want to hear if "Carolan's Concerto" passes muster with her -- as I'm sure it will!)

I bought Carolan's Cup on a cassette at a street fair 2 decades ago. It remains one of my favorites. Buy it for yourself! It also soothed my son and now my grand-daughter.

I love this one and Carolan's Cottage by Joemy Wilson.
Even someone who's never heard of the legendary Turlough O'Carolan will be captivated by this collection of his music. Joemy Wilson's flowing ripple of notes gives the proper lilt to the music on hammered dulcimer. Guitar, flute, violin, and celtic harp contribute but don't overwhelm the pure sound.
O'Carolan's music is always a treat and this album is a favorite of mine. I highly recommend it to all celtic music fans and for that matter, anyone who loves music.