18 August 2021
If you don’t wish to read through the notes below, you can go straight to playlist C, part 3 on YouTube here.
This playlist is brought to you in collaboration with Cormac Leane, a fellow mandolinist. Cormac was one of the first people to follow my twitter feed and his support in helping to spread the word about this site and my YouTube channel is really appreciated!
Many thanks, Cormac, for taking the time to share some of the music that matters to you! Much appreciated. Let’s check the playlist out…
C is for ZOE CONWAY AND MEABH O’HARE. Cormac says: I have a real fondness for slip jigs. I love the drive created by their off kilter rhythm. This tune is one of my very favourite slip jigs and this video is one of my very favourite versions of this tune. Zoe Conway & Meabh O’Hare – An Phis Fliuch/Tiocfaidh Tú Abhaile Liom
C is for CAPE BRETON JIGS Aidan says: On her album, “Basil And Thyme”, Breda Smyth plays two Cape Breton jigs as the closing set to a superb collection of tunes. Both have become quite popular among Irish Trad players and after listening to this, I hope you’ll see just why they’ve captured so many players’ attention. Breda Smyth – Charlie Hunter’s/Peggy’s Jig
C is for GERRY O’CONNOR & GAB FAURE. Cormac says: One of things that fascinated me most when I began playing trad music was the idea that while the notes of the tune are more or less a constant the music lives and breathes through how these notes are interpreted. I love hearing how a tune changes depending on the instrument it is being played on. Likewise I love hearing how a players musical heritage and playing style influences a tune. I am aware YouTube is a mixed blessing but I do find it wonderful to be able to access so many diverse and often wonderful interpretations of any tune that catches my fancy. Gerry O’Connor & Gab Faure – Tatter Jack Walsh
C is for THE CLANCY BROTHERS AND TOMMY MAKEM. Aidan says: They get a bad rap in some quarters but along with The Dubliners, the begansied brothers and their colleague, Tommy Makem, were pretty much on constant rotation in my house when I was growing up and I have a soft spot for them. On this song, Tommy takes the vocals in one of those “comics” which relies for its effect on some very clever internal rhymes… The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem – Nell Flaherty’s Drake
C is for John Carty & Kevin Burke. Cormac says: Sometimes you can study how a tune being played, slow it down, speed it up, zoom in on the fingering, analyse the picking or bowing and you are still none the wiser how these musicians are making their magic. In these instances you just have to put it down to class…pure class. John Carty & Kevin Burke – The Pipe On The Hob/The Wheels Of The World/Julia Delaney
C is for O’CAROLAN Aidan says: I sometimes find it difficult to listen to O’Carolan pieces. Guess my tastes just aren’t sophisticated enough! However this version of the concerto by Leo Rowsome is just lovely… He follows it with Planxty Davis, composed by another harper, Thomas Conellan of County Sligo, before reprising the concerto. The second tune is played widely in Scotland, where it’s known as Killiecrankie. An aside – as I was typing the above, spellcheck automatically changed Leo Rowsome to “Leo Awesome”. Hmmm… how very, very apt! Leo Rowsome – O’Carolan’s Concerto/Planxty Davis/O’Carolan’s Concerto
C is for CaOIMHIN O RAGHALLAIGH & MICK O’BRIEN. Cormac says: I am also tempted to put this video in under the title of C for community. Apart from loving the tune Sixpenny Money as it was one of the first tunes I learned, I chose this video as it I think something about the playing captures the magic of playing in an Irish trad session. Caoimhin O Raghallaigh & Mick O’Brien – Sixpenny Money
C is for CHRISTY MOORE Aidan says: Cormac is due to suggest one of Christy’s songs from the Planxty era next. This is from the years just after Planxty disbanded. Despite – or maybe because of! – the fact that it’s very early in his solo recording career, ‘The Iron Behind The Velvet” remains one of my favourite of Christy’s output. This comic song is so well-delivered by Christy and so well-backed by a stellar cast of supporting musicians. Christy Moore – Patrick’s Arrival
C is for CHRISTY MOORE Cormac says: I grew up listening to Christy Moore and Planxty. Perhaps more precise to say I grew up listening to my father listening to Christy Moore and Planxty! This musical education through osmosis is where the seeds of my love for Irish music were planted. Their music was the soundtrack of my childhood and I only need hear the sound of Christy singing over a bodhrán and I am once again a child sitting in the car beside my dad watching the world outside go by. Planxty – The Hackler From Grouse Hall
C is for THE WHITE COCKADE. Aidan says: Lankum are one of those bands who have a rare ability to play with and play within the Irish music tradition. I have unfailing respect for those musicians who are true purists but I have equal respect for musicians like Lankum who take the tunes and the songs off in new directions. In this video (which I must have watched a hundred times!), Raydie Peat’s vocals and the drone accompaniment are pure spine-tingling and their version of The White Cockade (which they call The Townie Polka) is a perfect companion to the song. Lankum – What Will We Do When We Have No Money/The Townie Polka
It only remains for me to thank Cormac for some great tunes and songs and, of course for the time and the effort he has put in to sharing them. It is really very much appreciated, Cormac. Thank you kindly and I’m sure we’ll meet again soon in the ether!
Listen to playlist C, part 3 here.
All playlists on my channel here.
Return to the “A to Z” home page here.
The Irish Mandolin - a website from Aidan Crossey 