Customer Reviews

High Part of the Road

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Tommy Peoples is justly regarded as one of Ireland's greatest fiddlers ever recorded. He has a unique style, particularly his way of executing bowed triplets, one of the signatures of his playing. What makes his playing great is the combination of his mastery of the fiddle, the power and emotionalism that run through his playing, and his fluid bowing. He is accompanied here by the superb guitarist Paul Brady on a collection of reels and jigs that have become standards of the Irish fiddle repertoire. This album is powerful and beautiful, and regarded as a classic, though his earlier album on the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann label is even more exciting and contains more tunes from his native Donegal. I do not know if that one has been reissued on CD, but let's hope it is or will be. If not, then search the collector's bins for that one, but by all means get this one. It is a great recording!

Tommy isn't just showing off here. Of course the fiddling is extraordinary, but the tunes are a joy to listen too--not just for the virtuosity, but for the delightful music. This cd is overflowing with beautiful interpretations of traditional tunes. The guitar adds rhythm in the background, but this is primarily fiddle music romping through jigs and reels. Put it on and go paint the walls around your stairs, like I did. The problem is you'll keep stopping to read the back of the jewel box to find out what great tunes you just heard. The other problem is that the music ends way too soon.

This is a superb album by Tommy Peoples - it is quite old now, and lots of Irish fiddle albums have come out in the intervening years - however, Peoples still towers above the rest, and this recording remains one of a small number of classics. The playing is dynamite! While Peoples has a deeply peronal distinctive style, his Donegal musical roots come through both in the selection of tunes he has chosen, and in his style of playing. The guitar accompaniment is unusual. Overall this album is very highly recommended!