Kevin Rowsome: The Musical Pulse of the Pipes

Kevin Rowsome took his first lessons on the uilleann pipes from his grandfather Leo when he was six years of age. After Leo's untimely death in 1970 he was tutored by his father Leon. During his early teens Kevin played clarinet and saxophone with the Artane Boys band, a diversion from traditional music which Kevin found hugely beneficial later in the sense that he learned to read and understand music in a different discipline thus broadening his musical horizons. During these years his music veered away from piping. It wasnt until the mid 1980's when Kevin was in his early 20's that he started taking the pipes seriously again.

In 1986 Kevin took a career break from his regular day job to hone his musical skills and to study his family tradition of uilleann pipemaking. He spent two years studying woodwind musical instrument making at the London College of furniture.

Kevin sites the main influences on his uilleann pipe style as pipers Leon Rowsome, Leo Rowsome, Johnny Doran and Seamus Ennis. The music of many fiddle players including Liam Rowsome and Tommy Potts have also played a strong role in his musical development. Kevin first gained public recognition when he won prizes at the Oireachtas festival, and is widely regarded as one of today's finest uilleann pipers.

Kevin has vast experience as a performer and instructor of the uilleann pipes. He has performed extensively throughout Europe and the USA and has been staff instructor at a number of Irish music festivals, including the Willie Clancy summer school, Milltown Malbay, Co Clare Ireland, Gaelic roots festival - Boston Mass. U.S.A. and the Augusta Festival in Elkins, West Virginia, U.S.A.

In September 1999 Kevin launched his debut recording, The Rowsome Tradition, 5 generations of uilleann piping, which has received excellent reviews.

At present Kevin performs frequently in Ireland, Europe and USA, mainly as an uilleann pipes and fiddle duet with his wife, Lorraine Hickey who comes from the renowned Preston musical family from Sligo.

Audio

Track 1: The Faithful Friend

Track 2: An Buachaill Caol Dubh

Track 3: The Ace & Duce of Piping

Track 4: The Fair Maids of Ireland

Track Listing

1. Corney Drew’s, The Faithful Friend - Hornpipe's 04:54
2. Tom Rowsome’s, Crabs in the Skillet, Paddy’s Green Island - Jigs 04:21
3. Cuisle Ceoil an Bhlascaoid (The Musical Pulse of the Blasket Islands) - Air 04:30
4. The Wet Weather, The Fair Maids of Ireland, Welcome to the Country - Reels 03:19
5. The Last of the Twins, Rogers ONeill - Hornpipes 4.50
6. A Fig for a Kiss, The Night Before Larry was Stretched, The Rakes of Westmeath - Slip Jigs 04:29
7. An Buachaill Caol Dubh (The Dark Slender Boy) - Air 03:48
8. un-named (MacLean collection), Colclough’s - Hornpipes 03:28
9. The Ace & Deuce of Piping - Long Dance 03:35
10. The Dougarry Boys, Swaggering Jig, Yellow Stockings - Slip Jigs 04:15
11. Lovely Charlie, Cookes, un-named (Goodman collection) - Hornpipes 04:13
12. The Very Man, The Bee in the Bonnet - Reels (Kevin Rowsome) 04:07
13. Cois Abhainn Na Sead (By The River Of Gems) - Air 03:03
14. Rock of the Quilt, Cailleach an Dilisg, Paddy O’Neill - Jigs 03:37
15. The Pulasaki Guards, The Mummers Reel, The Wedding Ring - Reels 03:25

Also available from Copperplate:
Kevin Rowsome: The Rowsome Tradition

Press Reviews

Press Release - Cuisle Cheol na bPíob (The musical pulse of the Pipes)

Traditional Irish music from the deepest well in the tradition – Paul Edward Keating

This important recording of solo unaccompanied traditional Irish music on the uilleann pipes is the essence of what our tradition is about.

Often referred to as the sound of Ireland, the music of the uilleann pipes has a unique sound that conjures up images of all things Celtic and Irish in particular.

Kevin Rowsome is the fifth generation of the family who have made the greatest contribution to the uilleann piping tradition. The contribution of Leo, Kevin's grandfather, in particular is well documented. There are two events held annually dedicated to Leo and the Rowsome family tradition.

Cuisle Cheol na bPíob is the culmination of over five years of research into ancient traditional Irish music. Kevin analysed the archives of the Traditional Music Archive, Na Piobairi Uilleann and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann deciding on material for this recording. In doing so he sourced archival music from an array of music collections from as far back as the early 19th century and in many cases adapted it for the uilleann pipes. Practically all of these pieces haven't been recorded before. The sleeve notes are well researched, highly detailed and conscientiously written.

Track number seven, An Buachaill Caol Dubh (The Dark Slender Boy) is one that Kevin learned from his father, Leon. Both his father and grandfather Leo recorded that same air on solo uilleann piping recordings, Leon on the Glenside label in 1971 and Leo on his seminal recording Ri na Piobairi (King of the Piper's) on the Claddagh label in 1959.

The recording also features three of Kevin's own compositions. One of these, an air named Cuisle Ceoil an Bhlascaoid (the musical pulse of the Blasket islands) was awarded first place in a competition that was set up to find the most suitable musical piece to commemorate the Blasket Islands, off the coast of County Kerry.

At the 2016 Fleadh Ceoil in Ennis, Co. Clare, Kevin, was presented with a Bardic Award from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in recognition for the significant contribution to the promotion of a variety of aspects of traditional Irish culture.