The Flute
Players of Roscommon
Volume 2
CD 002
The Flute
Players of Roscommon
Volume 2
CD 002
|
Tracks
|
We are delighted
to announce our release of this fine recording.
The Flute Players
of Roscommon Volume 2
Various Artists.
CD002
It has been widely recognised that this tranquil corner of Connaught is a stronghold for flute playing which is highly stylistic and vibrant. In 2004 the Roscommon Flute Players Society was formed to celebrate the role of the flute in the county, and to further encourage its development as well as promote its uniqueness worldwide. To do this we set about releasing recordings of all Roscommon flute players in three volumes.
Participating artists
contributed to this project on the basis that all future royalties will be used
for the education and development of young musicians. With the support of the
Arts Council and Roscommon County Council, all profits for this project will
go to the purchase of flutes and the provision of bursaries and masterclasses
for emerging musicians.
The Roscommon flute tradition has arguably one of the richest regional styles in Irish music. Following on, from what was a remarkable collection of players and performances on “The Flute Players of Roscommon Volume 1”, volume 2 features many of the current crop of wonderful young players alongside some of the past and present legends of Roscommon flute music. We have here, in a recording of immense value and importance, further proof that the flute playing tradition of Roscommon is strong and unbroken, healthy and very much alive.
It
is hard to think of a county in Ireland that has given more to flute playing
than Roscommon. Having produced an astonishing number of fine flute players
in the past, this second volume of Roscommon flute music is living proof of
the continuation of this proud tradition.
The inclusion of archive tracks gives a sense of the strong foundations of the
tradition, built upon by each succeeding generation. It is also encouraging
to hear the younger players, for it is they who will carry the tradition into
an age which aspires to Global uniformity, and it is in this context that local
and individual expression will be all the more precious. Making this music available
is a further affirmation of Roscommon’s reputation as a leading county
in the art of traditional flute playing – long may it continue! GREGORY
DALY, APRIL 2008.
When people talk of Roscommon, images of rolling hills,
fertile farmland and shimmering lakes are conjured up. But when people hear
the music of Roscommon the imagery is much more vivid and powerful.
The
Roscommon flute tradition has arguably one of the richest regional styles in
Irish music. Following on, from what was a remarkable collection of players
and performances on “The
Flute Players of Roscommon Volume 1”, volume 2 features many of the current
crop of wonderful young players alongside some of the past and present legends
of Roscommon flute music. We have here, in a recording of immense value and
importance, further proof that the flute playing tradition of Roscommon is strong
and unbroken, healthy and very much alive.
KEVIN CRAWFORD, APRIL 2008.
Since
this project moved from a dream to being a reality, and following the release
of “The Flute Players of Roscommon Volume 1” we’ve had huge satisfaction
and good fun, playing at launches and concerts, promoting “our thing”,
the flute music of our county. We have found putting Volume 2 together, to be
an interesting experience, gathering archival material as well as continuing
to record more present day players. Our aim remains to present a comprehensive
picture of the playing of all the present day players, and to release archival
material of deceased Roscommon players. We sincerely hope that you, the listener,
gain the same joy and pleasure, as we have had, in listening to the old and
not so old music on this album.
ROSCOMMON FLUTE PLAYERS’ SOCIETY, MAY 2008.
More info here:
http://www.roscommonarts.com/trad/flute%20biogs2.htm
Press
Reviews
FolkWorld
38
Roscommon has a fabulous legacy of flute music, and this second volume of recordings
includes six archive tracks from the twenties to the seventies, as well as seventeen
new takes. It's quite instructive to hear the likes of Packie Duignan and Josie
McDermott alogside present-day players such as James Carty and Bronagh Needham.
The grand old players may have had better days, but today's Roscommon fluters
would certainly give them a run for their money. Aidan and Breda Shannon lead
off with a set of lyrical jigs, James Carty follows with a pair of rhythmic
reels, and then we have two older tracks from Duignan and Glynn which lack a
little in recording quaity but are otherwise clearly from the same stable.
You get the idea: contemporary players, some who have not recorded before, garnished
with the occasional old master. There's some great music here from youngsters:
The Boys of Ballymote is delivered by Finbarr McGreevy with total control, a
mini masterpiece, and Bonnie Prince Charlie is a Scots or Donegal march powerfully
played by Bronagh Needham. Other highlights include Alexander's Hornpipe, The
Red-Haired Lass and the air Lament for Tom Hale. Tom is one of three whistle-players
featured on this CD: his sparkling version of The Mason's Apron was recorded
only a couple of years before his untimely death, and like several players here
his music has not been heard as widely as it deserves. Full marks to Jon Wynne
and his team for remedying that, and for putting together a fine hour of flute
music. Alex Monaghan
The
Wall Street Journal
"THE FLUTE PLAYERS OF ROSCOMMON, VOL. 2": Volume 1 in 2004 contained
15 tracks and featured such flutists as Catherine McEvoy, Patsy Hanly, and John
Wynne, who produced the CD and co-produced volume 2. It contains 23 tracks performed
by such flutists as Packie Duignan, Tom McHale, Jim Donoghue, Michael Anthony
Glynn, and Peg McGrath with Josie McDermott, all superb, all passed away. This
CD helps keep their music and memory alive. Earle
Hitchner