Customer Reviews

Ceol Cill Na Martra

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Connie is a competent traditional Irish fiddler playing a style and repertoire largely influenced by the traditions of the Sliabh Luachra "Rushy Mountain" district of the Cork-and-Kerry border.

This disc has much nice playing, but be warned that accompaniments are pervasive--bouzouki, guitar, piano, what have you--even on the slow air. This gives the music a rather produced sound and deprives it of much of the the freedom, lift, warmth, melodic rhythm and joyful exuberance so characteristic of the best Sliabh Luachra playing.

If you are looking for one more Sliabh Luachra disc for pleasant listening and perhaps to learn a few new tunes, this is a good selection.

If however you are not yet acquainted with Sliabh Luchra music you will do yourself a disservice by making this your first choice. Seek anything by the great fiddle master Padraig O'Keeffe and his star pupils, brother and sister Denis Murphy and Julia Clifford (O'Keeffe also taught Paddy Cronin, whose recording are sadly mostly unavailable).

Two landmark discs still currently available include Kerry Fiddles and The Star Above the Garter. Both feature unaccompanied solo, duet (and in the first disc), trio fiddle playing. The frequent doubling of octaves and the sheer exuberance of the players gives the music a wonderful fullness and vivacity.

In general, if you are interested in Irish band music, seek the quality Irish traditional bands. But if you want the unadulterated pure drop, stay away from recordings with lots of accompaniment. The usual effect is to hamper and restrain the melody-player(s)' rhythm, and to impose false tonalities and harmonic shapes on music that, when "written", might appear to be in a conventional key signature, but typically cannot be accurately classified under a classical system.

The playing of O'Keeffe, Murphy, and Clifford is also available on discs such as Seoltai Seidte, The Milestone at the Garden, Round the House and Mind the Dresser, "The Lark in the Morning" (Tradition Label), the Globestyle records series, and some Topic reissues.

In general, RTE (in particular) and Topic are to be reproached for sitting on archives without reissuing this indispensible music.

For more recent Sliabh Luachra-influenced music, "Kitty Lie Over", mostly excellent duets by fiddler Ó Raghallaigh and uilleann piper Mick O'Brien, captures much of the warmth and style of Sliabh Luachra playing. Caoimhín's spirited playing is very much in the O'Keeffe tradition, and it is great to hear Sliabh Luachra music played with such affection by a piper. There is nice variety in that a few tracks substitute tin whistle and/or flute in place of fiddle and/or pipes. The balance in this recording is also generally good, so it is possible to follow and appreciate the playing of both musicians individually, just as in celtic-interlace design it is possible to trace the individual lineaments of intervowen beasts or birds, as well as to enjoy the complexity of their unity. Warmly recommended.

I found this CD a most enjoyable listen- and was not surprised as Connie O Connell is one of the most well respected musicians in Ireland. There are some fantastic tracks including two if I am not mistaken which Connie wrote himself. I bought the CD having recently heard Connie give a recital at University College Cork and what a fantastic performance that was. The previous review makes me laugh when you here somebody wanting to hear Irish Music played fast you know they haven't got a clue what they're talking about-stick with Riverdance friend!

i find that this cd lacks any musical substance or talent. The fiddle player is neither in tune or in tempo. I accept that this may be the typical style but in my opinion the term 'sliabh luachra'is an excuse for fiddlers who cannot play fast or in tune. Therefore Connie O'Connell is a perfect example of the Sliabh Luachra style.