Ar an Bhfidil: On the Fiddle

by Oisin Mac Diarmada

Overview

Subtitled "Irish Fiddle Music from Sligo," this solo album from Diarmada (the fiddler with the excellent Teada) offers music mostly from Sligo -- although it's quite possible to hear the softer influence of County Clare in some of the pieces, such as "Mary Brennan's." Although still young, Diarmada is well steeped in the traditional music of his native Irish county. The stripped-down settings for much of the music here -- only one piece, "The Tinker's Frolic/John Egan's" goes as far as a trio -- bring out the tunes themselves, especially when he plays solo, as he does on much of the album. Diarmada makes the fiddle sing on pieces like "The Frisco Hornpipe/Walsh's Hornpipe," and there's an obvious, communicated joy in his playing. It might have been good to have had a little more information about the Sligo style in the CD booklet -- explaining the things that set it apart from other regional Irish styles. However, the music alone is quite eloquent, and this album marks Diarmada as one of the country's best up-and-coming players. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	04/06/2004
Label:	GREEN LINNET
UPC:	0048248122726

Tracks

1. The Tap Room/The Kerryman's Daughter Reels
2. Mary Brennan's Favourite/The White Leaf
3. The Strayaway Child
4. The Flannel Jacket/The Maid That Dare Not Tell Reels
5. Moneymusk/Jim Gannon's
6. Jackson's Morning Brush/The Rambling Pitchfork
7. Bean A' Leanna
8. Larry McDonagh's/Cock Up & C & C
9. The Maids of Mount Kiscol/Johnny Henry's Reels
10. The Morning Thrush
11. The Lark in the Morning/Tony Kenn's/Sheila's Jig
12. The Frisco Hornpipe/Walsh's Hornpipe (Hornpipes)
13. The Tinker's Frolic/John Egan's Reels
14. The Merry Girl/Charlie O'Neill's
15. The Rainy Day/The Trip to Durrow Reels
16. Peter Wyper's/The Killarney Wonder
17. Aughamore/Hughie's Cap Reels

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Oisin Mac Diarmada   Primary Artist,Fiddle,Whistle (Human)
John Carty   Fiddle
John Blake   Guitar
Seamus Quinn   Piano
Sean McElwain   Bouzouki
Damien Stenson   Flute

Technical Credits

Damien Stenson   Arranger
John Carty   Arranger
John Blake   Arranger
Ed Reavy   Composer
Seamus Quinn   Arranger
Rod Callan   Engineer
Harry Bradshaw   Producer
Sean McElwain   Arranger
Oisin Mac Diarmada   Arranger,Sleeve Notes
Tony Kenny   Composer
Traditional   Composer