Celtic Music : 3rd Ear - The Essential Listening Companion [Paperback]

Kenny Mathieson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Third Ear | Publication Date: April 1, 2001

This comprehensive guidebook covers all that is Celtic in music today, through essays exploring solo artists, bands, singers, and players of specialized instruments, such as harps, pipes, fiddles, drums, squeezeboxes, whistles, mandolins and more. Performers profiled range from the rock-influenced group Clannad, to Welsh band Ar Log, Brittany group Gwerz, singer Christie Moore, harpist/piper/singer Alan Stivell, and many more! Reviews guide readers to the essential recordings, as well as unexpected, genre-expanding discoveries for any new or established Celtic collection.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Part of the reliable "Third Ear" series (see also Alternative Rock, LJ 2/15/01), this glossy guide to the "Celtic" genre will appeal to both fanatics and newcomers. The form, or "brew," as editor Mathieson puts it, has a singular identity created by fusion with strains of rock, jazz, techno, and trance. A regular contributor to Jazzwise magazine, Mathieson presents a readable historical overview of Celtic music from the 1960s, which saw the folk and traditional music revival, to the present. He forewarns readers that this is not a history of folk or traditional music or of the Celts. In the spirit of the music's roots-rich heritage, this work uses a geographical organization that encompasses Ireland; Scotland; Wales, the Isle of Man, and England; Cape Breton; Brittany; and Celtic Iberia (parts of Spain and Portugal). Artists associated with a particular region are discussed by experts in the field. Very nicely illustrated with more than 150 album covers and several color photographs of performers, this also features a useful artist index and suggestions (though limited) for further reading or research. A solid and inexpensive purchase for public libraries as well and a useful selection for comprehensive world music collections. David M. Turkalo, Suffolk Univ. Law Lib., Boston
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books; 1 edition (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879306238
• ISBN-13: 978-0879306236
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,364,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Primer on Celtic Music (Celtic Music: 3rd Ear - The Essential Listening Companion), July 19, 2010

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This review is from: Celtic Music : 3rd Ear - The Essential Listening Companion (Paperback)

Celtic Music : 3rd Ear - The Essential Listening Companion The two criticism I would have of this book is that it is a little dated. It would have been better in the 90's or turn of the century. It needs an updated version, badly. Second, when it says "Celtic Music;" the book means primarily but not exclusively "Irish Music."

That said; Do not let it discourage you. I try to take a balnced approach - that was the faults; here are the strong points. I thought it was a wonderful book in style, interesting, easy to read, and informative. I don't let it's age bother me. It has a strong nostalagia element to it, that more than compensates for it's age. I would recommend it for what it is. Good and bad! It is now more of a "music history book," more than a "up to date reference book." If you like the Irish Bands and Irish music, you will enjoy this book. I vote: YES!