The Elysian Fields

Hey, how come nobody mentioned this? I stumbled across this while double checking exactly when the Celtic Classic is (that would be September 28-30). The last couple weeks of September are seriously busy, what with the First Day of Autumn hawkwatch on the 23rd and the Smithsonian's museum day is the 29th - we're going to the Independance Seaport Museum, should anyone wish to join us! Anyway, while perusing the calendar, I came across this...

Clandestine is back, and is playing the Fest, new and - for some values thereof - improved! Emily, Gregory, and EJ will be joined by new guy Al, who wields another set of bagpipes (in addition to cittern & voice).

I'm working from home that day - looks like I will be heading down anyway, though. I might reschedule the doctor's appointment, but if I don't I can bring Justin and Rachel, if they want to come along. I might also try to convince everyone to go Festing on Sunday, as well...

Those of you who enjoy Celtic music and haven't heard Clandestine need to correct the error of your ways! And, although their recordings are excellent, the pale next to a live performance.

Completely coincidentally (unless it's not), The Haunting is next up on the listening stack, following Davy Spillane...

Port Righ - Na Bi Gòrach -- Don't Be Foolish

In the spirit of the disclaimer on the prior review, there's one here as well. tewok (Wayne) is also a Housemate, and, in addition to that, I've actually listened to Port Righ - Wayne and his wife Jo - perform live. At that event, Wayne came out into the audience and performed while piping and stood up on the picnic table behind us. He's also performed on my front porch, on this past Musical Day. My dad would have gotten a kick out of that - he was a big fan of the bagpipes - and, after he died, Wayne played a tune for him, and I value that performance highly.

As if the title in Gaelic didn't give it away, this album is filled with Celtic tunes, very much in a traditional manner. Yes, Frank, there is most certainly a reel present amongst the tunes. And one sea shanty that is wholly accurate in its description of the denizens of a certain curly hook-like bit of Massachusetts real estate.

Wayne - who insists he's only a semi-professional musician - plays bagpipes (both the shuttle pipes, which he brought along for Musical Day, and the highland pipes), sings, and plays the concertina. Jo plays harps and the drum, in addition to singing. Despite Wayne's protests, done in part to differentiate what he does from Jo's full time teaching music and performing, both excel at their craft.

There's excellent notes - and lyrics for those tunes what come with them - that describe a bit about where each piece came from, or, for the material written by Jo. The title track is, surprisingly enough given its title, a silly little piece penned by Wayne and Jo.

Some of my favorite tunes include the opening set, wherein a reel resides; Bidh Clann Ulaidh, where Jo sings with the pipes; and Cape Cod Girls, which is the aforementioned sea shanty.

For some odd reason, I like to listen to Celtic music in the fall, and this will get fairly constant rotation, alternating with lesser known performers such as The Chieftains and Loreena McKennitt.

In a brilliant follow up, I have, a couple of Fridays late, remembered I need to announce who won The Complete Caledonian Ball...

In one sense, there are really three winners, because I'm sure shadesong will let her daughter and yendi listen to the disc. Another neat thing is that the disc spent most - if not all - of its life in the United States in one town (it emigrated from Scotland doncha know,) then moved about 300 miles southwest for six months, and now it will be heading back.

I am debating bringing it by personally, en route to patrixa's new place further north... not that I would use that as an excuse to stop by Brothers Pizza or Mimi's Roast Beef & Seafood or... =)

A Waulking Tour of Scotland by Jo Morrison

I feel particularly lucky to be able to play discs in a wide variety of musical styles by many different people and explain how I know them - from Autumn Tears to Meliah Rage to Extreme to Elliot Fisk, but this is perhaps the only disc I own that was personally selected by one of the musicians. I had asked tewok to pick the disc he played on the most, as the recordings were technically works performed by his wife, and this is what he came up with.

Although this does feature Jo playing the Celtic harp, there's a number of other people who join in on this, playing a variety of Scottish tunes. tewok plays shuttle pipe on two tracks and sings on two others.

The playing throughout - even by the guest artists I don't know! - is excellent. I listen to a lot of harp music in a variety of styles, and these performances fit in with the best of them, better than most. Although I haven't verified against every single one of the discs I inherited from my dad, I'm fairly sure there's little overlap on tune selection, Skye Boat Song being the one exception I've found.

Although alternate versions of traditional tunes are not a bad thing, it's also nice to be exposed to tunes you haven't heard. The notes on this disc deserve special mention - they carry through the tour theme mentioned in the title, and take you around Scotland, starting and ending in the Edinburgh area.

All in all, an excellent disc that has already had many repeat playings!

voxwoman's band Music for the Goddess has a very moving tribute song called Tuesday's Lament that can be listened to here for a limited time only!