Customer Reviews

The Mad Buckgoat - Ancient Music of Ireland

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Baltimore Consort has an incredible knack for infusing early music with a vitality, vibrancy and an improvisational accessibility rarely matched in the genre. They succeed beyond wildest expectations in this more recent of their efforts, featuring "ancient music of Ireland." Happily, they intentionally transcend stereotypic modes on this recording, having as their goal neither "to become a modern traditional Irish band, nor ... to re-create a performance from eighteenth-century Dublin." The result is an intoxicating evocation of ancient spirit interpreted through the twentieth-century mind on historic instruments.

As in their 1990 recording, "On the Banks of Helicon: Early Music of Scotland," the tunes selected for this album amaze in the extent to which they feel remarkably contemporary, to the point where the listener might well reexamine the liner notes and exclaim, "This song originated in the 1690s?!" Compare the hauntingly gorgeous Jacobian air "Wild Geese" (Track 13) to James Horner's love theme from Titanic: they bear some similarity, although the former makes the latter seem decidedly lack-lustre!

A full two-thirds of the album is instrumental; Custer LaRue employs her appealing soprano to the ballads. Those who thirst for the strains of the pipes so often a component of Irish music will be disappointed (pipes make only one appearance), but fans of wooden flute and whistle are certain to be in seventh heaven.

This is a delightfully rewarding collection of tunes certain to coax from within a depth and breadth of emotion that reflect the timelessness of humanity as it is expressed through music.

You can read part of the contents of this delightful CD above on this website--actually there are 21 tracks to fill up the 60 minute program--but you will just have to imagine the spirit with which they are played by the never-seeming-to-fail Boston Consort. Custer LaRue has done fine things for the Dorian label and her work here is distinguished as ever. the lyrics are thoughtfully provided. This CD might be subtitled "Ancient Music of Ireland," but it sounds every bit as jolly as any similar Galway program or "Trip to Ireland" program. The use of "authentic" instruments adds that extra charm that makes this offering irresistable. In short, Dorian has done it again!

Although it doesn't say so above, this CD was recorded by the Baltimore Consort: Mary Anne Ballard, Mark Cudek, Custer LaRue, Larry Lipkis, Ronn McFarlane & Chris Norman (the unnamed star of this CD). The Baltimore Consort has well-deserved fame as interpreters of 17th & 18th century popular music, and this CD is a classic example of their exquisite work.

The selections date mainly from the 18th century. I believe Mary Anne Ballard is to be credited with most of the research into the music of the period for the group. There are several traditional Irish hornpipes, reels and jigs, the style of which hasn't changed much over the centuries. Chris Norman's flute, however, raises these pieces well out of the ordinary and into the area of mind-blowing. Custer LaRue has several wonderful ballads, some sung in Gaelic and one in English: "The Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow." According to the liner notes, this is said to be "an unlucky song because it so charmed the ear of a priest going on a sick call that he tarried and arrived too late." One can see how.

If you are not familiar with the Baltimore Consort's work, this is as good a place to start as any. If you do know others in their wonderful discography, this is one not to miss.

This release by the Baltimore Consort is a real treat for both Celtic and Renaissance music lovers! These are some of the best improvisers in the business. Combining wind and stringed instruments of the Renaissance into an English "broken consort", these virtuoso musicians interpret old tunes for a new audience, offering delightful melodies, blown, bowed and sung, over sprightly plucked accompaniments. Their sound is distinctly their own: Renaissance-based, but with liberal touches of folk, bluegrass and even a bit of modern jazz. On this recording you'll hear both spirited and wistful Irish tunes, which were gathered together in published collections from 1724 through 1909. Chris Norman's inventiveness on wooden flute, whistles, bagpipes and bodhran gives an especially Celtic flavor to the renditions. The Baltimore Consort has recorded many CDs for the Dorian label, and all of them are terrific, but this one is my favorite. Not to be missed! Try also "A Trip to Killburn: Playford Tunes and their Ballads" for early hits from the English dance scene.

Having just returned from Ireland this last summer, I listened to this CD with renewned interest. I felt that the music reflected the history and music that I experienced on that lovely trip. The Baltimore Consort is a talented and senistive musical group that does an exceptional job of bringing this Irish spirit through in this CD. A culture's music is often a window into it's people's soul and if you listen to this CD I think you will have a glimpse of the grand Irish character.

I have a lot of Irish music and I love the Baltimore Consort but I was a little skeptical when I bought the CD. The first time through I thought it was just ok and put it aside. But over the past few weeks it has become my current favorite CD. It was worth the purchase just for track number nine, The Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow. I may not make this my first Baltimore Consort CD, but I'd make it the next.

This CD is a great collection of Celtic music -- period. The Baltimore Consort has never disappointed with any of their collections; from the strong start with "The Mad Buckgoat" through the final notes of "Billy From Bruff," this one maintains the trend. I strongly recommend that this be part of anyone's Celtic music collection.

Heard one song on the radio and I knew I had to have this cd. Firmly rooted in tradition, and yet surprisingly contemporary. You'll dance, you'll cry, the whole nine yards. What a gifted group of musicians! Wonderful.

Superbly done performances here, capturing all the moods of ancient Irish music, from the jaunty to the haunting. For those who like early music, you won't go wrong buying anything and everything by the Baltimore Consort.

I'm sorry I cannot endorse the enthusiatic reviews below.

I bought this CD based on the Baltimore Consort's fine, fun collection of Renaissance French tunes (La Rocque 'n' Roll") and my own love of traditional Irish music. Perhaps I have been spoiled by too many Chieftains CDs, but I found only one tune here memorable, or even interesting: Custer LaRue's rendition of "Catty (sic) Magee" in Gaelic.

If you like the Baltimore Consort (and Custer LaRue), get another CD of theirs. If you like traditional Irish music, try another group.