Customer Reviews

Carolan's Gift

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fans of Celtic-rooted acoustic music are well aware of the premier offerings that Maggie's Music makes available to this widely popular genre. Some very highly recommended additions to personal and community library CD music collections would necessarily include Carolan's Gift showcasing traditional Irish folk music in the manner of famed Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) with a chamber music style performed on Celtic harp, Irish flute, fiddle, hammered dulcimer, viola da gamba, guitar, and piano. Consisting of fourteen superbly performed and recorded selections, Carolan's Gift features Miss Murphy (3:10); The Two William Davies (6:33); Sir Charles Coote/Captain Higgins (4:30); Terence MacDonough (2:14); Elizabeth McDermott Rowe/Miss Noble (4:36); Bridget Cruise (2:58); Constantine Maguire (2:35); Paspie Minuet/Mr. Waller (5:11); Sidh Beag, Sidh Mor (1:29); Mary O'Neill (2:38); Mabel Kelly (3:31); Isabella Burke (3:57); Carolan's Quarrell with the Landlady (3:19); and Fanny Poer (3:43).

I've been into O'Carolan's music for a few years and found this CD a nice addition to my collection. Some of the tunes are more obscure on this record, which I like. There are various instruments played here, not just harps, so you get to hear and feel his music interpreted differently. I will say this is not the most energetic collection of the composers tunes out there. This set is great for playing in the background over dinner, or while you paint or garden, or while you work at your computer. At least it struck me that way. I think the last track, Fanny Power, is worth the price of the entire CD.

I am a big fan of celtic chamber music (think of The Chieftains) and of course, of the great harpist Turlough O'Carolan. Most collections of Irish harp music contain a few of his pieces, and some collections are Carolan exclusively. What makes this CD special is that it contains a mix of well known pieces (ok, well known to some of us) and others less well known - at least to me.

The quality of playing, to my amateur ear, is very good, the mix of instruments is always interesting. It also features a variety of artists, some of whom I will be looking for in the future.