Contentment Is Wealth

Matt Molloy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 5, 1993)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Green Linnet
• ASIN: B000005CMS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #310,609 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Contentment Is Wealth by Matt Molloy and Sean Keane

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't GET much better than this..., January 5, 2006

By 

Zachary R. Leger "fluteboy" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Contentment Is Wealth (Audio CD)

I would tend to disagree with both of the last two reviewers.
I've played trad music for years and as a flute player myself I understand the relationship needed between musicians in order to form a very tight duet. Playing solo is very different from playing with other people. Matt and Sean obviously grasp this very important concept. Neither of these musicians are playing on this album the way they might if they were playing solo. They both understood that, in order to create a musical relationship (a conversation, if you will), both needed to put aside some differences and concentrate on their similarities. The result is some of the tightest, note for note flute and fiddle you will ever hear. Sure, in his solo work, Sean shows his amazing virtuousity as a fiddle player. But as a duo, many of the complexities are dropped in order to maintain the melodic flow and tightness (having said that, there are some incredibly tasty variations played out at breakneck speed; that takes work and dedication to arrangement and much time spent playing together) Both players unselfishly work to each other's strengths and they obviously are enjoying the conversation immensely. Sure, you will never be able to play every note or phrase exactly the same way on instruments as extremely different as fiddle and wooden flute. But the fact that they have nearly succeeded is testament to this album's lasting impact. Also, it features some really great and classic tunes;) Arty McGlenn's guitar playing at this time was also revolutionary and has gone on to influence many guitarists playing today. One of the album's (and producer McGlenn's) other great strengths is that many of the tracks were recorded with no backup. We hear the fiddle and flute together with nothing else to distract (although I wouldn't have minded the tapping feet of either player along with the tunes to further effect).
The Molloy, Peoples, Brady album was huge influence on me in my early days of playing Irish music and it is still one of the great recordings, but in finally hearing this album my assessment is exactly the opposite of an earlier reviewer's: Keane and Molloy are actually tighter, both in their rhythmic sensibilities and in their personal musical styles than Molloy and Peoples. This remains one of THE classic duet albums in the Irish trad consciousness.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Must have" album for a real traditional Irish Music collection, March 4, 2009

By 

Michael (Placerville, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Contentment Is Wealth (MP3 Download)

I agree whole heartedly with Zachary. Before there were studios, albums, CD's, MP3's downloads and larger bands there was pub music. You would be lucky to get two or three musicians to rub together let alone a few schillings for a pint of Guinness. The early work of Matt is phenomenal for his fluid speed. He was a real pioneer of Irish flute. I appreciate the opportunity to hear Sean away from the Chieftains and full band playing. Instead of rate one album against another, I would say that this album and the album Matt did with Tommy Peoples and Paul Brady make a nice companionship of classic Irish traditional music in any collection. This is how it was back in the day. Sean recently retired from the Chieftains, and the Cheiftains themselves as a group is close to retirement. That means in real life they will be at their favorite pub playing music with friends and family. I don't want to leave out Arty McGlynn on guitar. His wonderful counter point and chord back up can be heard over decades with various bands, including Patrick Street.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the best, January 16, 2002

By 

David Levine (Hopkinton, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contentment Is Wealth (Audio CD)

These are two wonderful musicians. Of course their approaches are different. One plays a fiddle and one a flute. E.g., each will ornament a C# differently. Matt has his roots in a solid dance tradition while Seane seems more Ceoltas oriented, more for performance than for dance. Matt approaches the music far more creatively, IMHO, than Sean Keane. Matt Malloy makes love to a tune; Sean Keene wrestles with it. I may be projecting, since I play both instruments and find the flute easier, though perhaps not as expressive as the fiddle. At any rate, no-one denies that this is a top-ten CD, the Chieftains without the show. Just the music. These are classic tunes played with passion and great beauty, solidly within the great tradtion. Buy it. You'll wonder how you've lived so long without it.