I would consider myself not to be an absolute beginner listening to ITM, I listen to (and of course like) artists like paddy keenan, willie clancy, paddy glackin, tommy peoples and also to bands such as danu, dervish, etc. but still not very familiar with them so I am looking for suggestions about good fiddle/pipes albums that I should buy, to get more exposure. One example of it would be the album "Riches of Clare" on the Ceol Alainn blog. It has good music and sufficiently clear recording as well.
Forgotten Days by Davy Spillane (pipes) and Kevin Glackin (fiddle) is, as the title suggests, a 'straight' recording of the tunes the two of them heard in the seventies while they were growing up. Clear and without any backing, and quite a few gems, including a solo each.
Thanks folks, I will get those! Bothy Band, I am a die hard fan of :D Also bought an album called "Matt Molloy, Paul Brady, Tommy Peoples" today, great stuff!
Mick O'Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh: Kitty Lie Over
Very often comes up as one of the best recordings of the past 10 years. (it was on this recommendation that I bought it and have not been disappointed)
David Power has 2 great albums out and Robbie Hannons recording is a classic.
Two classic Piping albums , but mind Robbie plays on a B set and David on a C setup! Enjoy!!!
Peadar O'Loughlin and Ronan Browne (fiddle, pipes, flute) - The Southwest Wind http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/684 and Touch Me If You Dare http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/306 . I haven't actually heard the second one of these, but I imagine it top be in a similar vein to the first: tunes played in an 'old' Clare style, without accompaniment and at an easy pace. However, it is worth noting that much of their music is not played at standard pitch, with Browne's pipes pitched in B and O'Loughlin's fiddle tuned down to match - so you won't be able to play along easily unless you either tamper with the pitch of the recording (not hard to do nowadays with the wonders of modern technology) or tune down (assuming you play a fully tunable instrument). The same is true, incidentally, of Mick O'Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh's Kitty Lie Over (except some tracks are on *B-flat* pipes).
@Creadur, I think it'd be more accurate to say some are on B-pipes! (Most are in Bb)
I can't say I think most of these are "intermediate" albums (except possibly the suggestion of Lunasa or other bands) because they have all the stuff in 'em that you'll need to learn the music. Solo recordings (especially true solo recordings) are even better.
That said, I like Dublin Made Me, Happy to Meet (PJ Crotty and James and Carol Cullinan), A Moment of Madness (Brendan Begly and Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh) and several mentioned already a lot. I can't say I've bought any really great solo albums recently, but I'd strongly suggest you get your hands on solo recordings of Tommy Reck, Paddy Carty, Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford, and well... loads more... Most of what I have is "field" recordings, not commercial, but there are lots of commercial stuff available for lots of great old pipers, fiddlers, flute players, etc etc
i too am in the dark about what you mean by "intermediate" in this context, but the recent duo recording by piper Michael "Blackie" O'Connell and concertina player Hugh Healy is also quite nifty. very different from the hyper-speed playing they often offer in the pubs of ennis (they definitely have the chops to go as fast as they like, but it is pretty darn fast for my taste), this cd is really a neat recording....
I also recommend nearly anything with Gerry Harrington. "The Smoky Chimney" is a good start. Very even pace, interesting tunes that are popular, but not TOO popular.
oh, "smoky chimney".....that is one gorgeous recording. that set with "gorman's" always puts me over the moon.....they did a previous outing together that is only on cassette. title is irish.......
Good call, Georgi! I haven't listened to "The Smoky Chimney" for quite some time... ...will definitely brush the dust off of it soon! What a gem. (I have Phantom Button to thank for recommending that.)
Good "intermediate" albums
Good "intermediate" albums
I would consider myself not to be an absolute beginner listening to ITM, I listen to (and of course like) artists like paddy keenan, willie clancy, paddy glackin, tommy peoples and also to bands such as danu, dervish, etc. but still not very familiar with them
so I am looking for suggestions about good fiddle/pipes albums that I should buy, to get more exposure. One example of it would be the album "Riches of Clare" on the Ceol Alainn blog. It has good music and sufficiently clear recording as well.
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by tradguy
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Forgotten Days by Davy Spillane (pipes) and Kevin Glackin (fiddle) is, as the title suggests, a 'straight' recording of the tunes the two of them heard in the seventies while they were growing up. Clear and without any backing, and quite a few gems, including a solo each.
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by gam
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Tell you what I'm listening to just now:
The Friday Night Sessions - Traditional Music From Glasgow
Doorways and Windowsills - Antoin MacGabhann & Mick O'Connor
At Complete Ease - John Carty & Brian Rooney
All good.
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by Rudall the time
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Talking of growing up in the 70s, you must get the four Bothy Band albums. Fiddle&pipestastic ... not to mention the flute.
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by ...
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Thanks folks, I will get those! Bothy Band, I am a die hard fan of :D Also bought an album called "Matt Molloy, Paul Brady, Tommy Peoples" today, great stuff!
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by tradguy
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Mick O'Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh: Kitty Lie Over
Very often comes up as one of the best recordings of the past 10 years. (it was on this recommendation that I bought it and have not been disappointed)
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by Tirno
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Even my wife, who mocks my incessant diddley listening, loves Kitty Lie Over.
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by Bob himself
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Plenty here.
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/26385
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by gravelwalks
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Lunasa!!
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by pipersgrip
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
David Power has 2 great albums out and Robbie Hannons recording is a classic.
Two classic Piping albums , but mind Robbie plays on a B set and David on a C setup! Enjoy!!!
fiddle...
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/27247/comments#comment577724
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by piobagusfidil
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Kitty Lie Over. I don't even care for a lot of the tunes - as compositions - but the playing is so good that it doesn't matter.
Seanchairde - Dermy Diamond, Tara Diamond, Daithi Sproule
Comb Your Hair and Curl It - Catherine McEvoy, Caoimhin O'Rag. . . somethinggaelic, Michael O'Rag. . . something gaelic.
# Posted on April 8th 2011 by wormdiet
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Do you have Long Grazing Acre by Paddy Keenan and Tommy O'Sullivan? One of my favorite albums featuring a piper.
# Posted on April 9th 2011 by AlBrown
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Peadar O'Loughlin and Ronan Browne (fiddle, pipes, flute) - The Southwest Wind http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/684 and Touch Me If You Dare http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display/306 . I haven't actually heard the second one of these, but I imagine it top be in a similar vein to the first: tunes played in an 'old' Clare style, without accompaniment and at an easy pace. However, it is worth noting that much of their music is not played at standard pitch, with Browne's pipes pitched in B and O'Loughlin's fiddle tuned down to match - so you won't be able to play along easily unless you either tamper with the pitch of the recording (not hard to do nowadays with the wonders of modern technology) or tune down (assuming you play a fully tunable instrument). The same is true, incidentally, of Mick O'Brien & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh's Kitty Lie Over (except some tracks are on *B-flat* pipes).
# Posted on April 9th 2011 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
@Creadur, I think it'd be more accurate to say some are on B-pipes! (Most are in Bb)
I can't say I think most of these are "intermediate" albums (except possibly the suggestion of Lunasa or other bands) because they have all the stuff in 'em that you'll need to learn the music. Solo recordings (especially true solo recordings) are even better.
That said, I like Dublin Made Me, Happy to Meet (PJ Crotty and James and Carol Cullinan), A Moment of Madness (Brendan Begly and Caoimhin O'Raghallaigh) and several mentioned already a lot. I can't say I've bought any really great solo albums recently, but I'd strongly suggest you get your hands on solo recordings of Tommy Reck, Paddy Carty, Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford, and well... loads more... Most of what I have is "field" recordings, not commercial, but there are lots of commercial stuff available for lots of great old pipers, fiddlers, flute players, etc etc
# Posted on April 9th 2011 by Nico
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Yeah, Touch Me if You Dare is a great pipes & fiddle duet recording and one of my all-time favourite albums: http://claddaghrecords.com/WWW/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=64
So is Kitty Lie Over. You can listen to several tracks from the recording here: http://www.myspace.com/kittylieover
# Posted on April 9th 2011 by slainte
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
And Keenan and Glackin's Doublin' is a real classic: http://claddaghrecords.com/WWW/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1406
# Posted on April 9th 2011 by slainte
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Thanks for all the suggestions!
@ Al Brown, I will surely look up for it, as I don't have it currently...
# Posted on April 9th 2011 by tradguy
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
I bought Kitty Lie Over yesterday...great...thanks for the suggestion
also not necessarily "intermediate" ( not sure what that means) is Kitty Hayes and Peter Laban "They'll be Good Yet"
# Posted on April 9th 2011 by Sunnybear
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
i too am in the dark about what you mean by "intermediate" in this context, but the recent duo recording by piper Michael "Blackie" O'Connell and concertina player Hugh Healy is also quite nifty. very different from the hyper-speed playing they often offer in the pubs of ennis (they definitely have the chops to go as fast as they like, but it is pretty darn fast for my taste), this cd is really a neat recording....
# Posted on April 10th 2011 by ceemonster
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
I also recommend nearly anything with Gerry Harrington. "The Smoky Chimney" is a good start. Very even pace, interesting tunes that are popular, but not TOO popular.
# Posted on April 11th 2011 by Georgi
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
oh, "smoky chimney".....that is one gorgeous recording. that set with "gorman's" always puts me over the moon.....they did a previous outing together that is only on cassette. title is irish.......
# Posted on April 12th 2011 by ceemonster
Re: Good "intermediate" albums
Good call, Georgi! I haven't listened to "The Smoky Chimney" for quite some time... ...will definitely brush the dust off of it soon! What a gem. (I have Phantom Button to thank for recommending that.)
# Posted on April 20th 2011 by browndog