Customer Reviews

Song of the Irish Whistle 2

5 star:		(14)
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3 star:		(1)
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the music is beautiful. but nothing is more haunting than the track john of the glen. It brought tears to my eyes.

I picked this CD up while vacationing in Colorado. I heard it in a store called (I think) "Nature's Own" and couldn't get it out of my mind. I returned a day or two later and bought it. No regrets! Each song is beautifully and lovingly performed. Her soul is all over this recording.

Some may be critical of Joanie's generous use of reverb or of the way that she ends a musical phrase by allowing the note to "drop off", which is actually a very traditional style of playing. However, the good on this CD far outweighs any criticism. The theme from "Pinehurst", a film which I have never seen nor heard of, is an excellent example of other tunes besides the love theme from Titanic which use a full string section along with a haunting whistle line. "The Cat's Meow" is pure fun and a challenge to any whistle player with its radical arpeggiations and dynamics. And the traditional "Come By The Hills" is not "messed with" which is greatly appreciated by the purists. In all, SOIW 2 has eclipsed the original and displays the artist's true diversity with an instrument which many look upon as a child's toy. Pat O'Riordan is a master craftsman whose whistles are concert instruments in the hands of such a fine player.

As somebody who completely enjoyed the first album, "Song of the Irish Whistle", I expected a lot from this one. Instead, I was not enthralled. With many more slow tracks than the first album, I found it rather boring. This isn't to say it's not a great album of Celtic music in its own right, but if you liked the first one for its fast-paced dance-type tracks, you won't find a whole lot to relish in this one.

Joanie's follow up to Songs of the Irish Whistle is a more-than-worthy successor to the best-selling tinwhistle album of all time (if you don't count The Titanic, which you certainly shouldn't). In addition to her fine interpretation of traditional Irish tunes, she records pieces from the movie "Pinehurst," and, to my delight, a piece from the neglected soundtrack album, "The Way West." This CD will deservedly rival the first volume in sales and devotees.

This work has become one of my all time favorites. It is a dynamic piece of music which is technically wonderful.

It is a unique and singularly beautiful instrument, beautifully mastered.

The movie Titanic is what turned me on to this music. The mellow, soothing and sometimes mysterious harmony of this music makes me feel like I'm in another place and time. A must for those who want to get away from it all (albeit in your mind)! :)

A follow-up to "Song of the Irish Whistle 1," this CD continues in the same vein, featuring Joanie Madden on an array of Irish whistles, backed by an even wider array of guest instrumentalists. The selections are, again, mostly traditional tunes arranged by Madden and Brian Keane, with a few original compositions thrown in for good measure. Overall, the tone of "Song of the Irish Whistle 2" falls somewhere between lilting and gently ambling, with occasional forays into the livelier, percussive realm of jigs and other dances. This installment does have a few more fast-paced numbers than its predecessor, while the slower numbers remain orchestrated by Keane in a syruppy mixture of acoustic and electronic backings. (I really like some of Brian Keane's modern additions to other traditional music, such as his collaborations on Middle Eastern music with Omar Faruk Tekbilek. But in the realm of Celtic music, I'm inclined to be more of a traditionalist, preferring orchestras (or electronic sound-alikes) to stick to the wonderful repertoire of music written specifically for them, leaving traditional folk fare to stand ably on its own two, tappin' feet.) Standout numbers on this album include #6, a spirited dance with creative percussion by Arto Tuncboyacian, #8, a lovely, folksy duet by the Black sisters, and #11, a mournful, heartfelt piece from the film "The Way West" featuring Carol Thompson on harp and Mary Rafferty (of Cherish the Ladies) on accordion. Joanie is the whistle player for the group Cherish the Ladies, and that group appears here for three songs: "The Munster Cloak," "Nuala's Bonnet/The Croton Dam," and "Come by the Hills." Also adding to the rich, complex sound of this album are the following guest artists: harpist Carol Thompson, percussionists Arto Tuncboyacian, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Jimmy Higgins, and Emedin Rivera, piper Jerry O'Sullivan, guitarists Zan McLeod and Bill Shanley, fretless bass player Dave Anderson, Phil Bowler on acoustic bass, pianist John Boswell, singers Mary and Frances Black, fiddler Eileen Ivers and cellist Dan Barrett. For more takes on Irish Whistle music, try "The Irish Low Whistle" by Joe McKenna, "Everybreath" by James McNally, "Journey of the Celts" by Will Millar and Paul Horn, and anything by Brian Dunning.

hi im from lubbock but i live in brownwood now and this is without a doubt one of the best albums EVER.

Absolutely love it! Saw artist live, and she is wonderful. This CD is soulful, with tremendous feeling. A must have if you love Irish Whistle!