Old Bridge Music

The Carolan Albums

1 Carolan's Draught
2 John O'Connor
3 Colonel John Irwin (Planxty Irwin)
4 Hewlett
5 Maire Dhall (Blind Mary)
6 Lord Inchiquin
7 Morgan Magan
8 Si Bheag's Si Mho r (Sheebeg & Sheemore)
9 The Princess Royal
10 John Drury
11 Fanny Power
12 Carolan's Concerto
13 Maurice O'Connor
14 Constantine Maguire
15 Mr O'Connor
16 Robert Jordan
17 Bridget Cruise
18 Frank Palmer
19 Grace Nugent
20 George Brabazon
21 Kean O'Hara
22 Madam Judge
23 Eleanor Plunkett
24 Baptist Johnson

The Carolan Albums

£8.99£12.50

The critically-acclaimed 66-minute CD featuring 24 of the best-known and most beautiful compositions of the celebrated blind Irish harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan (1670 – 1738). Carolan’s music continues to be the most popular ever composed for the harp in Ireland and affords a great deal of scope to the creativity of the individual performer, since only his melodies survive. This recording consists entirely of original arrangements, informed by Máire’s knowledge both of the native Irish harp tradition and of baroque forms, but with a discreetly contemporary tinge provided by Chris’s tasteful guitar.

The solo harp arrangements can be found in Máire’s book The Irish Harper Volume Two, first published by Old Bridge Music in 2001 and amended, updated and given a new cover for the Second Edition, published in 2022.

“A masterpiece of virtuosity” THE DAILY TELEGRAPH (UK)

Scroll down for Reviews and Tracklist.

SKU: OBMCD06 Categories: ,

Description

The critically-acclaimed 66-minute CD featuring 24 of the best-known and most beautiful compositions of the celebrated blind Irish harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan (1670 – 1738). Carolan’s music continues to be the most popular ever composed for the harp in Ireland and affords a great deal of scope to the creativity of the individual performer, since only his melodies survive. This recording consists entirely of original arrangements, thoughtfully interpreted, of these beautiful tunes, informed by Máire’s knowledge both of the native Irish harp tradition and of baroque forms, but with a discreetly contemporary tinge provided by Chris’s tasteful guitar.

The solo harp arrangements can be found in Máire’s book The Irish Harper Volume Two, first published by Old Bridge Music in 2001 and amended, updated and given a new cover for the Second Edition, published in 2022.

Musicians
Máire Ní Chathasaigh Irish harp Chris Newman guitar

Tracklist

1. Carolan’s Draught; 2. John O’Connor; 3. Colonel John Irwin (Planxy Irwin); 4. Hewlett; 5. Máire Dhall (Blind Mary); 6. Lord Inchiquin; 7 Morgan Magan; 8. Sí Bheag’s Sí Mhor; 9. The Princess Royal; 10. John Drury; 11. Fanny Power; 12. Carolan’s Concerto; 13. Maurice O’Connor; 14. Constantine Maguire; 15. Mr O’Connor; 16. Robert Jordan; 17. Bridget Cruise; 18. Frank Palmer; 19. Grace Nugent; 20. George Brabazon; 21. Kean O’Hara; 22. Madam Judge; 23. Eleanor Plunkett; 24. Baptist Johnston

Review Extracts

“A masterpiece of virtuosity from Máire Ní Chathasaigh, a scholarly Irish harpist, in truly inspired union with Chris Newman, one of Britain’s most impressive acoustic guitarists… an enticing introduction to the elegant, Italian-influenced music of Turlough O’ Carolan. This album is a must for any folk-related collection.”

Colin Randall – THE DAILY TELEGRAPH (England)

 

“If Máire Ní Chathasaigh wasn’t around, Irish harping would be so much the poorer. Her work, which goes beyond mere harp performance, could be described as an attempt to restore the harp to its true voice, or at least a voice that is true to its old self.

To do this she has had to immerse herself in those fragmentary remains which endure in manuscript and old collections and which offer the only substantive clues to the way of the old harp. In this enterprise she is joined by Chris Newman, whose sensitivity to the Irish music tradition is well-attested… Harp and guitar partner each other in arrangements which leave conventional accompaniment far behind in their precision and attention to the finest detail. Unfussy, with all the spaces left empty and resonating, the long arm of the music reaches back into a noble tradition.”

Nuala O’Connor – THE IRISH TIMES (Ireland)

 

“A cocktail to delight and intoxicate! Two dozen tunes by one of Ireland’s most celebrated melody makers…played with consummate skill by a harpist and guitarist who have rightly earned themselves a reputation as two of the most skilful perfomers around. Ní Chathasaigh and Newman have a perfect understanding of the grace and elegance of the music and the playing is faultless.

The harp is rightly to the fore but the guitar complements it beautifully, at times sounding almost harp-like. Both introduce interesting details into their arrangements, without detracting from the overall shape of the tunes… Máire’s playing is truly breathtaking. Her deep understanding of the music, combined with technical skill and passion mark her out as the foremost modern interpreter of Carolan.”

Delyth Evans – TAPLAS (Wales)

 

“This CD is the product of the now famous collaboration between harpist Máire Ní Chathasaigh and guitarist Chris Newman…

The sheer excellence of the musicianship… sets standards which should be aspired to not only in this field but throughout folk music. The sleeve notes are of a comparable standard. This CD is a delight to listen to and is very strongly recommended.”

FOLKWRITE (England)

 

“No one else could have done justice to such a project. Máire’s unparalleled musicianship and sensitivity on harp is counterpointed throughout by Chris’s deft guitar artistry.

Between them they weave a delicate latticework of shimmering sound that’s sheer perfection. As listening material it is unsensational and unassuming, a subtle sprinkling of magic dust and a soothing balm for jangled nerves.”

FOLK NORTH WEST (England)

 

“A little gem. The arrangements for harp and guitar are carefully thought out and every piece is exquisitely executed, the instruments always in complete sympathy with one another…Particularly impressive is Máire Dhall, where the silences ring out as clearly as the notes.”

TAPLAS (Wales)

 

“This magnificent collection from two superlative musicians is a welcome addition to the growing catalogue of records of this famous minstrel. In fact, in a plethora of Carolan records, this is the best.

Quite apart from the playing, which is, as you would expect from Ní Chathasaigh and Newman, flawless, deft, delicate, uplifting, there is on offer a wider range of Carolan’s music than ever before (24 tracks here) and a thoroughly readable booklet on the composer and his music. If what you want to do is to hear just what it was that made this gifted blind musician an ornament to the tradition of harpers, then you will get an inkling here. Highly recommended.”

FOLK ON TAP (England)

 

“All super tunes, performed with flawless grace by Máire and Chris. There is sublime guitar on Eleanor Plunkett, and on the evocative Bridget Cruise, a beautiful composition for his first love, again in a traditional Irish song style.

The playing of this duo exhibits a virtuosity and balance of expression combined with a simple elegance which has a reviewer running to the thesaurus in search of superlatives. Enchanting, expressive, a remarkable piece of work.”

TYKES NEWS (England)

 

“An absolute gem of a recording… perfection… an outstanding album.”

NEWPORT & CWMBRAN HERALD AND POST (Wales)