Customer Reviews

Feadoga Stain

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This album is perhaps the single most influential recording of tin tin whistle music ever made.

The majority of the tracks are traditional Irish jigs and reels, but Bergin's dynamic style and astounding technical mastery of the instrument set an entirely new standard to which most if not all players of the tin whistle now aspire.

Each track features either solo work by Bergin, or Bergin accompanied by a bouzouki and/or a bodhran (the traditional Irish drum) or bones (that's right, rib bones used as highly distinctive percussion instruments). For those masochistic whistle players who wish to try to play along, the liner notes include the key of the whistle she plays on each track. I cant recommend any one track over another, they are all my favorites...and thanks to the wonders of Amazon technolgy you can hear samples using the links above. The music speaks for itself.

It is also interesting to note that most of the whistles used on this album are Generations whistles, common whistles obtainable at music stores for less than $15.00. It is her skill that makes them sound like a million bucks.

Mary Bergin is the definitive tin whistle artist. Recorded in 1978 in one day at the beginnning of the traditional music revival in Ireland, this recording offers an entertaining collection of jigs, reels, hornpipes. The key to Ms. Bergin's music is the emotion she conveys in the tune; her playing is not just about virtuosity, although there is certainly plenty of that. Her settings of these tunes are deeply connected to the stories and emotions underlying these tunes and they are fully expressed in her playing. Accompanied by Alex Finn and Ringo McDonagh, this recording is one of the ones to have if you are at all interested in Irish traditional music.

This album is perhaps the single most influential recording of tin tin whistle music ever made.

The majority of the tracks are traditional Irish jigs and reels, but Bergin's dynamic style and astounding technical mastery of the instrument set an entirely new standard to which most if not all players of the tin whistle now aspire.

Each track features either solo work by Bergin, or Bergin accompanied by a bouzouki and/or a bodhran (the traditional Irish drum) or bones (that's right, rib bones used as highly distinctive percussion instruments). For those masochistic whistle players who wish to try to play along, the liner notes include the key of the whistle she plays on each track. I cant recommend any one track over another, they are all my favorites...and thanks to the wonders of Amazon technolgy you can hear samples using the links above. The music speaks for itself.

It is also interesting to note that most of the whistles used on this album are Generations whistles, common whistles obtainable at music stores for less than $15.00. It is her skill that makes them sound like a million bucks.

If you love Traditional Irish Music and particularly the sound of the tin whistle played by a true master of that instrument, then you must treat yourself to a copy of this extraordinary CD. My love for Ireland (especially the west coast of Eire) has absolutely no bounds, and I have been fortunate to spend more than 16 months total traveling throughout the country during 14 visits. Mary Bergin's tin whistle music always takes me back to the magical places and special times that I have spent in Ireland. She captures the essence of the spirit and beauty of Ireland in every note she plays. I own about 150 CD's and cassettes of Traditional Irish Music by the finest musicians and singers. This CD by Mary Bergin will always be one of the most special additions to my collection. Do yourself a big favor and acquire a copy of this music. It is guaranteed to fill your home with the sounds of the spirit of Ireland!

I have literally hundreds of Celtic CDs and albums. I have been playing whistle, fiddle, and mandolin for 30+ years. Other than family, it is the one true love of my life. This is easily one of the best albums I have come across. The joy that pours out of each track is astounding. For technical people, her playing is totally clean, at an unbelievable speed. This makes the awesomely lovely Tin Whistles album by Potts and Moloney look like a warmup. This is the pure, true, real Irish music at its best. Mary has really raised the bar with this one, in quality and performance. It is an act of love.

In a review of Mary's second CD, someone referred to this, her debut recording, as "a washout", spoiled by bad production, or something like that. He concluded: "Don't but the CD."

I say: *Don't believe it!*
This one, the original "Feodoga Stain" is essential.

Well, after Coleman, Cooley, Killoran, O'Brien, and OC the modern - but sadly rarely recorded, Paddy Cronin ( Irish Traditional Fiddler ) ..to mention a few and not leaving out Matt Molloy 'An Ri na Ceol' IMHO - I thought I had heard it all.

Wrong!

This is not merely essential, it is the foundation of modern Itrad since it contains everything and some more that modern and earlier exponents of the art are striving to express but not quite delivering the goods.

If you want to be astonished and surprised again like the first time you heard Coleman, Cooley or indeed any of the great exponents of the art, then go buy and be reborn to a new level of Irtrad!

When I first heard Feadoga Stain it scared me! Mary Bergin plays so fast! At least I thought so. I had been trying to learn to play the Irish tin whistle and I had bought this CD to see how Irish songs should sound. I had been stumbling through "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" trying to get the notes and tempo right. The speed with which Mary Bergin plays an Irish reel left me in the dust! I figured she had to be showing off so I put on a CD by The Chieftains. Nope, she's not showing off; the Irish do play that fast! For people who love the sound of this sweet, inexpensive little instrument, this CD is for you. It showcases the tin whistle ("feadoga stain" in celtic) with very little accompaniment. She plays traditional Irish music from fast reels and jigs to slow airs. I use her music as an inspiration while I work on perfecting my skills on the tin whistle.

I first heard and owned this album in the 1970s.
Mary Bergin is a unique and talented musician
focusing on traditional Irish Music. Her attack
on the penny whistle is clean and brilliant, each
set reinforces her mastery of the instrument and
the ability of Irish Music to center your sense
of well-being