Customer Reviews

Star Above the Garter

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Denis Murphy (b 1910) and his sister Julia Clifford (b 1914)were born to a Co. Kerry family of "music morning, noon and night." Their teacher was the legendary Padraig O'Keefe. Julia emigrated to Britain and played fiddle all her life, winning the All Ireland title and playing in numerous combinations and venues to an advanced age. Denis emigrated to America and played with a long list of musical heroes, James Morrison, Andy McGann, etc. This seminal 1960s recording includes just their two fiddles, no accompaniment (nor needs any!) This is brilliant and pure Irish fiddling - fine reels, emotive slow airs, and polkas, including the now ubiquitous Ballysdesmonds 1,2,3. There is delicate ornamentation and technically fine playing, but this is not about showing off, this is about how tunes sound when they are played with love, respect, memory and sense of place. This recording is a cornerstone of any Irish music collection.

This album is an inspiration. I'm an amateur fiddler, been playing for less than a year, and this album (and music from Sliabh Luachra more generally) keeps me motivated. Wonderfully dancable fiddle duets and a few moving solo airs. Today's traditional Irish music scene can sometimes get on my nerves as over produced and out-of-touch with tradition. This on the other hand is just an album of straight-ahead, very well played fiddle music. No guitars or basses or dumbeks(which I usually find very distracting if not distasteful in ITM). Just good music, well played.

If you want to learn Sliabh Luachra this will get you there. If you can't get to Sliabh Luachra this will take you there. Just absorbing the Knocknabower(Knocknaboul) polkas in their purest form is enough to believe. You MUST have this recording if you love the polka - slide - hornpipe connection. Only Padraig O'Keefe could provide a better lesson...

My favorite Irish fiddling CD. Dennis Murphy and Julia Clifford perform traditional fiddle music from County Kerry (Don't panic - that other "Kerry" wasn't really from there). This was recorded in the 60s and retains the purity of that past era. You will not be disappointed!