ÓRiada sa Gaiety
Seán ÓRiada agus Ceoltoíri Chualann & Se
Na Ceoltoiri
Seán Ó Raida; Director/Arranger/Harpsichord
Seán ÓSé: Vocalist
Martin Fay, John Kelly & Seán Keane: Fiddles
Paddy Moloney: Uilleann Pipes
Seán Potts: Whistle
Michael Tubridy: Flute
Éamon de Buitléar: Accordion
Peadar Mercier: Bodrhan
Delighted to announce our re-issue of another classic recording. This really is a classic. We consider this the most important recording of Irish traditional music ever. This concert heralded our native music gaining the respect it deserved. And inspired coming generations of musicians that followed. Personally I can remember the first time I heard this on LP. This exciting re-issue has been digitally remastered and includes 3 tracks available for the very first time. I can't recommend this release highly enough, this is history. Try to imagine how revolutionary this sounded in 1969!
The concert took place in The Gaeity Theatre in Dublin on 16.06.69. The world-famous 1960's Irish music CD "O'Riada Sa Gaiety" (Sean O'Riada at the Gaiety) has been completely digitally remastered and re-issued in a high quality package. This wonderful re-release also includes three bonus tracks available for the first time ever! This is a landmark recording - commonly believed to be one which influenced the popularity and style of traditional music, from the late 1960's to the present day. The musicians supporting O'Riada later became The Cheiftains! Since it release in March in 2005 this album has remained in the Irish Charts, which must say something!
ÓRiada sa Gaiety Booklet Notes. "MUSIC OF THE NATION OF THE NATION, TO HONOUR ONE OF THE NATION’S POETS”.
Music of the nation, to honour one of the nation’s poets, this recording of the Ó Doirin bicentenary concert begins with the spirited Ulster cavalry tune Marcshlua Ui Neill, played by Ceoltoiri Chuaiann and followed by one of Ó Doirnin's own picaresque songs, Mna na hEireann, (Women of Ireland) sung by Sean Ó Se, in a new setting composed for the occasion by Sean Ó Riada.
Still in 18th century Ulster, a piece by Carolan follows, the elegant Planxty Johnston dedicated to Mr. Baptist Johnston of Tully, Countv Monaghan, sometime High Sheriff of the County and member of the Irish Parliament from 1747 to 1753.
Next, one of the great Munster songs Im Aonar Seal, by Eoghan Rua O Suilleabhain, sung to its own noble traditional air by Sean Ó Se. This is one of the finest examples of the aisling ("vision") genre, with a marvellous matching of Iyric and melody.
From Connacht. The Whinny Hills of Leitrim, two slip-jig tunes skillfully blended in counterpoint. And then back to Minister for Binn Luisin Aerach a'Bhrogha, a celebration of the magical fairy mound of Bruff. Co. Limerick. The lyrics are by Brian O F'lathartaigh to the air better known as Ar Eirinn ni neosfainn ce hi. Then follows the majestic Marbhna Luimingh (Limerick's Lamentation), first published by Neal of Dublin some thirty years after the great defeat, which inspired it. The composition of this moving Munster lament is, in fact, attributed to an Ulster harper. Myles O'Reilly of Cavan. who was born in 1635 and may well have lived to see and recognize what was no mere local disaster, but the breaking of a nation’s hopes. Curiously enough, the air seemed to be the same as that of the lament known in Scotland as Locharber No More, but it’s Irish provenance is well-attested.
The song which follows, whether we call it Do Bhi Bean Uasal or The Young Sick Lover. Whether in Irish or in English. or, as here, in a bit of both, it remains one of the best-known and best-loved of Irish ballads.
The charming air An Ghoath Aneas (South Wind), which follows, may be from County Clare. Bunting credits it to one Domhnall Meidhreach Mac Conmara and it has been identified with a similar melody called I Have a Secret to Tell Thee.
The next item is also under two titles, but it is a very different category. This fine Leinster tune, Mairseail Ri Laoise (March of the King of Laoise)is sometimes called Rory O'Moore, apparently in honour of R O’R who played a prominent part in the war of Elizabeth 1 of England.
An Speirbhean Mbilis is a poem of O Doirnm's set to music by Sean O Riada. A solo piece for harpsichord follows again a cunning fusion of two airs, one from Ulster, the other composed by Sean O Riada, and brings us to one of the great songs of Munster, An Buachaill Caol Dubh.
On the two final bands on the disc, we have two performances which brought the Gaiety concert to a lively, not to say hilarious end.
First Sean O Se sings an old favourite, Inioin An Phailitinigh (The Palatine's Daughter), the story of a very early ecumenical encounter!- backed if not indeed surrounded, by The Ceoltoiri. And finally, one of the 'big' Kerry reels, Ril Mhor Bhaile An Chalaidh. Mo cheol iad na Ceoltoiri. Sean Mac Reamoinn
Audio
Track 1: O'Neill's Cavalry March
Track 2: Mná Na hÉireann - Women of Ireland
Track 3: Máirseáil Rí Laois - March of the King of Laois
Track 4: Do Bhí Bean Uasal - Carrigfergus
Track Listing
1. Marcshlua Uí Néill - O'Neill's Cavalry March
2. Mná Na hÉireann - Women of Ireland
3. Planxty Johnston
4. Im Aonar Seal - Alone Awhile
5. Cnocáain Aitnn Liatroma - The Whinny Hills of Leitrim
6. Binn Luisin Aerach a'Bhrogha - The Melodious Fairy Mound of Bruff
7. Marbhna Luimnigh - Limerick's Lamentation
8. Do Bhí Bean Uasal - Carrigfergus
9. An Ghaoth Aneas The South Wind
10. Máirseáil Rí Laois - March of the King of Laois
11. An Spéirbhean Mhilis - The Sweet Fair Lady
12. An Chead Mháirt den Fhómhar Na Gamhna Geala - The First Tuesday of Autumn/White Calves
13. An Buachaill Caol Dubh - The Tall Slender Boy
14. Iníon An Phailitínigh - The Palatine's Daughter
15. Ril Mhór Bhaile An Chalaidh - Great Reel of Baile an Chalaidh
Watch on You Tube. Two memorial concerts in memory of Sean Ó Riada, the first staged on 16 January 1972, a live broadcast from the Gaiety theatre Dublin. The Second memorial concert staged on 21st October 1981, in Cork. Seán Ó Riada (1 August 1931 - 3 October 1971), was a composer and bandleader, and perhaps the single most influential figure in the renaissance of Irish traditional music from the 1960s, through his participation in Ceoltóirí Chualann, his compositions, his writings and his broadcasts on the topic.
Press Reviews
Mná Na hÉireann sung by Ceoltóirí Chualann and Seán Ó
"I listen to this and I hear my ancestors calling me. An achingly beautiful song, sung with honesty and a depth of feeling that I've seldom come across". Kate Bush
The Orpheus
This re-issue of the 1960's famous recording is believed to have influenced the popularity and style of traditional music.
The concert took place at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre in 1969, the musicians supporting O'Riada later became The Chieftains. Since its release in March of this year this album has remained in the Irish charts and might even stay there for quite a bit longer. No doubt, it is an Irish classic.
Live Ireland
If there is one album without which no one has a true collection of Irish traditional music, it is O'Riada sa Gaiety. The musicans and singer, Sean O' Se, hit all the buttons, while creating half of them! It is real magic, and it is still as brilliant as ever. It is a purely Irish moment of genius, and it matters. For the love of music, get this album. For the love of history, enjoy it. Epochal. Bill Margeson
www.netrhythms.com
Congratulations to Gael Linn, then, on reacting promptly and imaginatively to criticism and taking on board the relevant suggestions in order to produce a revised CD package that now accords a far more appropriate measure of stature befitting these important archive recordings. David Kidman
The Living Tradition
This is required listening to any fans of early Chieftains albums, or anyone who wants to know what sparked so much of the modern revival. Whilst Ó Riada's orchestral music for Mise Eire is fragmentary, recorded with boxy sound, anaemic strings and problematic tuning in the brass, and his "Farewell" album of tunes played on solo harpsichord is clunky and slapdash, this album stands as a wonderful memorial to an exceptional and cruelly short-lived talent. Paul Burgess
