Top Ten Traditional Albums of 2010
by Earle Hitchener for the Irish Echo
The Quality of many Irish traditional albums I received and heard over the past year was exceedingly high. I knew that culling a top ten list from them would be a tough challenge. I agonized over omitting several strong candidates, such as “3 Triur Sa Draighean” by Peadar O Riada, Caoimhin O Raghallaigh, and Martin Hayes, “The Ewe with the Crooked Horn” by Colm Gannon, Jesse Smith, and John Blake, “Side by Side” by the Kane Sisters, “The Killavil Post” by the Dartry Ceili Band, “Aurora” by Michael McGoldrick, and “Abocurragh” by Andy Irvine. Second-guessing and complaints are what all critics must accept as part of their trade. Still, I stand confidently behind the following ten choices. They gave me the greatest joy in listening last year. All ten should be in your home music library or on your iPod.
#8: O'SULLIVAN MEETS O'FARRELL, VOLUME TWO, by Jerry O'Sullivan (self-issued):
In 2005 New York City-born uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan released "O'Sullivan Meets O'Farrell, Volume One," 15 tracks of the melodically verdant, largely neglected compositions found in O'Farrell's tune collections from the 18th century. In volume two, O'Sullivan focuses on the more pronounced baroque compositions from those collections that demand more than just uilleann pipes to convey their full flavor. To achieve that, he brought into the studio two masters from the Newport Baroque Orchestra: Paul Cienniwa on harpsichord and Audrey Sabattier-Cienniwa on period cello, for whom Boston musician Kevin O'Brien wrote continuo parts. The album consists of four beautifully arranged suites teeming with tunes, plus the concluding "Sheeling O Guira" performed as a glistening uilleann pipes solo. The long-deceased, oft-forgotten Mr. O'Farrell comes alive again through the muse and mastery of Mr. O'Sullivan. This second meeting between them is a drop-dead gorgeous recording.
Click here to listen to excerpts from this recording and to purchase it.
by Earle Hitchener for the Irish Echo
The Quality of many Irish traditional albums I received and heard over the past year was exceedingly high. I knew that culling a top ten list from them would be a tough challenge. I agonized over omitting several strong candidates, such as “3 Triur Sa Draighean” by Peadar O Riada, Caoimhin O Raghallaigh, and Martin Hayes, “The Ewe with the Crooked Horn” by Colm Gannon, Jesse Smith, and John Blake, “Side by Side” by the Kane Sisters, “The Killavil Post” by the Dartry Ceili Band, “Aurora” by Michael McGoldrick, and “Abocurragh” by Andy Irvine. Second-guessing and complaints are what all critics must accept as part of their trade. Still, I stand confidently behind the following ten choices. They gave me the greatest joy in listening last year. All ten should be in your home music library or on your iPod.
#8: O'SULLIVAN MEETS O'FARRELL, VOLUME TWO, by Jerry O'Sullivan (self-issued):
In 2005 New York City-born uilleann piper Jerry O'Sullivan released "O'Sullivan Meets O'Farrell, Volume One," 15 tracks of the melodically verdant, largely neglected compositions found in O'Farrell's tune collections from the 18th century. In volume two, O'Sullivan focuses on the more pronounced baroque compositions from those collections that demand more than just uilleann pipes to convey their full flavor. To achieve that, he brought into the studio two masters from the Newport Baroque Orchestra: Paul Cienniwa on harpsichord and Audrey Sabattier-Cienniwa on period cello, for whom Boston musician Kevin O'Brien wrote continuo parts. The album consists of four beautifully arranged suites teeming with tunes, plus the concluding "Sheeling O Guira" performed as a glistening uilleann pipes solo. The long-deceased, oft-forgotten Mr. O'Farrell comes alive again through the muse and mastery of Mr. O'Sullivan. This second meeting between them is a drop-dead gorgeous recording.
Click here to listen to excerpts from this recording and to purchase it.