Customer Reviews

Children of Lir

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What? Nobody's reviewed this yet? Well, permit me. If you, like a lot of people, were blown away by Patrick's amazing operatic duet "Vide Cor Meum" on the "Hannibal" soundtrack, you may be a bit surprised to find this title listed under "pop". Aren't we all. But yes, you've come to the right place - this is *that* Patrick Cassidy, and Children of Lir represents his major-label debut - quite a while ago now! Not in the least "pop", it is in fact a neo-baroque oratorio telling the Irish legend of the Children of Lir, who were turned into swans by a spiteful stepmother. Admirably performed by the LSO, choir and soloists, not-so-well-recorded at EMI/Abbey Road (Patrick's stuff was *made* for the warmer, more intimate sound of AIR Lyndhurst, as the Hannibal soundtrack testifies), the music here is well-constructed technically, musically quite alluring, and has some inspired moments that clearly permit the discerning listener to see the potential for a brilliant future career. To me, the standout track is still the "broken fugue" "Iongnadh Liom An Baile Seo" - there's a particular modulation in there which had me convinced, the first time I heard it, that this guy is a genius. I remain convinced. Buy the Hannibal soundtrack first, but then buy this - it's a fascinating glimpse into the development of a talented young composer who is going to be huge - just huge.

As many may guessed, this is not an ancient composer who has been dead since the 1700's or further back, but from a fairly new, young, and certainly promising New Age composer. Yes, I admit, I fell for it like everyone else did. You know what I'm talking about, we watch Hannibal, and we hear that particular piece where the opera scene takes place and we are awe struck by it's beauty and we then think to ourselves "How could someone with my classical knowledge have missed this in the operatic/vocal world"?

I couldn't figure out how when so many other famous musical inserts from operatic and choral works are used in movies, how this one was the first time I had heard it's use in a fairly new movie such as Hannibal. Surely, such a piece like this would have been used and re-used much like the "Dies Irae" in Verdi's opera, or the "O Fortuna" from Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana". I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone for a bit. Then, when the credits came up I paused the DVD. There it was, the composer. Patrick who?

So I therefore, like so many others have/will, decided I needed to investigate on this composer more. I pulled this CD up during a search on Borders.com for this composer. I hesitated at first, but then, I decided to buy this bad boy. Know what? I dont regret it at all. To the contrary, this man has potential and promise in the years ahead of him. Actually, my only real regret is that it's almost over as soon as it began. The entire CD is about 45 minutes. Dont let that stop you, the London Symphony Orchestra and Tallis Chamber Choir do a great performance, though there is something about the recording itself thats a little off as may have already been pointed. Not the fault of Cassidy or the performers though. I have respect for this talent.

Simply marvelous. I first came upon Mr. Cassidy's name when I was trying to place the composer of the opera within 'Hannibal'. I saw the opportunity to buy this CD as I knew that from 'Vide Cor Meum' Cassidy was no lightweight, and so I did. Easily one of the best music purchases of my life, the Children of Lir is truely an outstanding work. He carefully blends classical opera and Irish lore, producing a longing feeling in the heart. I was astounded by the score, and had to check more than once that I was not listening to one of the masters. After many listenings, I have realized that I was wrong - I WAS listening to one of the masters. Hail Patrick Cassidy! Touted the Irish Mozart, and yet so very young still. Expect wonders to come from this miraculous Irish composer.

This CD is very enjoyable. The similarity to classical composers from the past only enhances the positive aspects of the finished product. It's sad that people feel the need to review music negatively because a composer sounds similar to a previous composer from the past ... calling them WANNABE'S. New classical music that picks up the former styles is just what it is .. a continuation. I think some people Wannabe critics.

Everthing positive I've read about this CD made me buy it without hearing a note first. In a word: Excellent. Cassidy, a 30ish Irish gent, is truly a classics master. I can't wait to hear his other music. The only piece of his work I had heard before is "Vide Cor Meum" from the Hannibal soundtrack. This is the moving piece from the opera scene (which is messed up on the soundtrack by the alarming "crash" added at the end). Buy this CD, and make an effort to read the cliff notes as it explains the moving story of the Children of Lir.

I bought this CD after trying to find the music from Hanibal (like a lot of other people) and did not want to buy a soundtrack. I read the reviews and decided to take a chance - I was not disappointed. There is not one track I do not like, and I liked each one the first time I heard it. I have told several other people about this CD and suggested they get a copy. My only surprise is that I have not heard anything about this talented composer, I shall look out for more of his work. Buy this and you will not be disappointed.

When I first heard a track from this cantata in the early nineties, I was awestruck. As a philosopher who has published in the area of aesthetics, I find much modern and contemporary art in general to be unpalatable. The espousal of the ugly as a fundamental 'value' in recent art in all its media is a reflection a certain malaise in Western culture and, in turn, exacerbates that malaise. I could not believe my ears when I heard an exquisitely beautiful track from the Children of Lir. To my even greater amazement, the composer was Irish! If I were to use one word to describe Cassidy's cantata, it would be 'beautiful'!

The composition is in what one might call hiberno-baroque style - or at least neo-baroque. Parts of it are unmistakeably informed by the composer's native tradition of Irish music. This influence certainly makes for originality.

Beauty is a reflection of very own self-subsistent Beauty. The ancients and medievals were very strongly aware of this fact. The rejection of beauty in modernity is not unconnected with a rejection of the divine. Benedict XVI is aware of the importance of cultivating beauty in creating conditions in which people can once again live and move in a society which proclaims the wonder of God. While not a piece of religious music, we are indebted to Cassidy's music for contributing to the revival of an awareness of beauty in our midst - whether or not he is aware of its wider significance.

In what way would this be especially Celtic? The text is in Celtic though the story is of those misplaced by the Celts according to versions of the story. But there are certainly Celtic aspects of the orchestration as well and certain of the melodies have a Celtic sense - whatever that is. But this is not simply an imitation of Baroque music - Bach or Handel or otherwise, rather a modern Oratorio in Celtic of a pre-Celtic myth that selectively picks the finest melodic lines and harmonies of the genre of Baroque music to develop something new and interesting. There are rich aspects of this music that warrants repeated listening. Frustrating however are the missing lyrics and translations as the copy I borrowed from the library through ILL had the jacket sealed in plastic -- but even so appeared nothing more than a front and back. So no lyrics there either. Nor are they apparently on the web though there is much about the story itself and other treatments of it - even a band by the name "Children of Lir". I was intrigued by this piece having heard "Famine Remembrance" and becoming very impressed with that. CofL is one of PC's earlier works but as the comments show is certainly impressive as such. This is beautiful music regardless of it being a new piece written in an old style.

I have two other Patrick Cassidy CDs, now Children of Lir as well, and they're all incredible. He looks like a young Ricard Wagner, and he writes in very similar fashion to the German master of the Romantic era. His orchestration and operatic works very strongly remind me of Loehingrin and other such writings, except, of course, for the Irish and Gaelic lyrics. It is said that a violin can make you cry in the hands of a proper master. Cassidy's string section coupled with French horns can grab you by the emotion and make you feel whatever it pleases him for you to feel. My only wish is that I could get my hands on more of this composer's music. It all started with one track on "Celtic Christmas - III." The song was Lament, one of his saddest and most beautiful songs. I've been hooked on Cassidy ever since. I can compare it to the Prelude to Act one of Loehingrin by Wagner. Wagner's piece is twice as long and takes to time to wrench your heart out whereas Lament does that a bit more quickly but just as effectively. Cassidy is currently the master of pathos although in a very sweet and tender way. In general, I find his music soothing and inspiring, particularly when I'm writing and doing manuscript work. I guess this ol' rocker is slowing down a bit. That's fine, I can't sit with Metallica all the time now, can I?

i dont understand why he writes this kind of music. its good, but in another time maybe. i dont think anyone should really ignore the past 300 years of music. maybe if it was stylized in a more modern fashion---- like arvo part, who takes renaissance music and concepts in the context of now. i think that is more effective than merely looking back and completely adopting that old form.

either way, it sounds good.