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“The Flax In Bloom: Traditional songs, airs & dance music in Ulster” - 3 CDs
http://www.topicrecords.co.uk/the-flax-in-bloom-tscd677t/
Peter Kennedy & Sean O’Boyle Field recordings, 1952 & 1953
Selected & presented, with notes, by Reg Hall (“The Voice of the People”)
“Traditional music-making in Ireland in 1952 was flourishing well enough in its own social settings, but it was largely hidden from the view of mainstream society. Certainly, radio and the record industry on both sides of the border scarcely knew of its existence. So it is quite remarkable that Peter Kennedy from London and Sean O’Boyle from Armagh should have combined forces and taken upon themselves, with limited resources and technical equipment, to explore and record what they could find in Ulster. This album presents a selection of their location recordings, most of which have never been issued commercially before. Each of the three CDs is presented as a separate programme but, taken together, they give a wide and varied view of traditional music in Ulster in the early 1950s.”
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Our hearts are definitely in Ulster, some of our favourite memories, and part of the wooing of my wife, taking her along with me on field trips. Such wonderful and hospitable folk, even when just down the road there was an assassination/murder, and before and after a truck load of British soldiers had stopped me and had me empty my backpack. And then, when seeing I had musical instruments, this one soldier lying on his belly aiming his rifle at me pipes up with something along the lines of ~ “I play in a ceilidh band! Give us a tune!”
My wife says, if I go first, she’s scattering my ashes in Donegal. Yes, we love the north, but most of those I had the pleasure of knowing and sharing music and dance with, back then, are no longer with us, except in the heart.
This is a lovely collection that includes some of those we had the pleasure of knowing and sharing time with. Some of the best of who I am has been courtesy of their education, and I don’t just mean music and dance…
Go raibh mile ma’agat! ~ including to Reg for bringing these projects together and releasing their light for others to enjoy and learn from…
“The Flax In Bloom: Traditional songs, airs & dance music in Ulster” ~ CD: 2 of 3
“The Flax In Bloom: Traditional songs, airs & dance music in Ulster” - CD: 3 of 3
Re: The Flax In Bloom: Traditional songs, airs & dance music in Ulster ~ CD: 1 of 3
CD 1 ~ “‘Fermanagh and Donegal’ features songs by Paddy Tunney, now renowned but then unknown, and his mother Brigid, his uncle Mick Gallagher, his sisters Maureen and Annie, and his brother Joe on the accordion, alongwith some lesser-known but equally impressive singers and musicians. The great Donegal fiddle tradition is represented by John and Simie Doherty and N’eilidh Boyle, while the ninety-year-old Sheila Gallagher, still in strong and hearty voice, gives tow songs in Donegal Irish.”
SONG
1 & 19 ~ Paddy Tunney
2 ~ Brigid Tunney
6 & 7 ~ Annie Lunny
15 ~ Mick Gallagher
16 - 18 ~ Maureen Melly
24 & 25 ~ Sheila Gallagher
26 ~ Pat Bell Keown
27 & 28 ~ Maureen Melly
34 - 36 ~ Brigid Tunney
INSTRUMENTAL (& SONG)
3 - 5 ~ Joe Tunney - accordion
8 - 14, 37 & 38 ~ John Doherty - fiddle & voice
20 - 23 ~ Neilidh Boyle - fiddle & voice
29 - 33 ~ Simie Doherty - fiddle