A REVIEWFor around 10 years, Pittsburgh Irish-music super group Hooley has carried the torch of traditional music in this area. The band's debut CD, Cuts From The Turf, is a quietly masterful labor of love, self-produced and self-released by Hooley with a careful eye on everything from the beautiful packaging to the folk-geek-satisfying liner notes. Most importantly, the music on Cuts From The Turf is wonderful almost without exception. The tunes and songs chosen here (only one song was written by the musicians) fall within a fairly strict traditional music framework of instrumental dance tunes, sean-nos songs (a style of unaccompanied singing) and ballads -- no "Whiskey In the Jar" here -- and are played with a healthy dose of respect for that tradition, both in the musicianship and the recording's production. While no recording can capture the sublime communication of a pub seisun, Hooley attempts it here with all the rough-edged fiddle barbs, pipe pops and other reality checks that remind the listener that this is living, breathing music, not a polished studio style. On the instrumental tunes, which make up the bulk of Cuts From The Turf, Hooley offers a diversity of tune styles. Of particular effect: three slides played by flautist Richard Withers, including one ("Put The English On It") written for his Pittsburgh-based Irish immigrant mentor; Oliver Browne's fiery fiddle reels ("Charlie Lennon's") that start the disc off; the beautiful and haunting "The Butterfly" on which Bruce Foley's low tin whistle and Les Getchell's bodhran mesh into a primitive, tribal imitation of nature.The songs on Cuts From The Turf benefit greatly from inventive arrangements and Foley's and Ray Werner's pure tenor voices, but are more naturally prone to the teary-eyed nostalgia that is part and parcel of Irish song. "The Boys Of Barr Na Sraide" for example, is arranged into a Chieftains-esque full-band number, and Foley sings with the same off-the-cuff immediacy that characterizes the album's performances. But the song hits so many Irish lyric catchphrases (English oppression, emigration, how great things used to be and will be again) that it doesn't seem right on this subtle disc. More proper is the sean no romp "I Thank You Ma'am, Says Dan" in which Werner's deadpan unaccompanied singing offsets the silly, double-entendre lyrics.Justin Hopper, Music Editor, Pittsburgh City Paper, March 13, 2002LINER NOTES1. Charlie Lennon's ReelsTwo compositions of the great Galway tunesmith and fiddler Charlie Lennon. 2. Put the English On It/Patrick O'Keeffe's/Connie Walsh'sThree slides. The first is an original tune by Richard Withers honoring the wonderful Sligo flutist Mike Gallagher, who immigrated to Pittsburgh in the '40s. 3. The Boys of Barr na Sraideby Sigerson Clifford of Cahersiveen, County KerryBoys of Barr na Sraida translates to "high end of the street." One of Bruce Foley's favorite songs, it is a powerful combination of haunting melody and poem that recollects the important events and people in a man's lifetime. Hunting for the wren is a traditional event carried out on St. Stephen's Day (Dec. 26) by young friends and siblings. Bruce sang this song years ago for the late Michael O'Shea. He was rewarded with a 1935 penny Michael brought with him when he emigrated to Pittsburgh from County Kerry.Oh the town it climbs the mountain and looks upon the seaAt sleeping time or walking time it's there I'd like to beTo walk again those kindly streets the place where life beganWith those boys of Barr Na Sraide who hunted for the wrenWith cudgels stout we roamed about to hunt for the dreolinWe searched for birds in every furze form Leitir to DooneenWe danced for joy beneath the sky life held no print nor planWhen the boys of Barr Na Sraide went hunting for the wrenWhen the fields were bleeding and the rifles were aflameTo the rebel homes of Kerry the Saxon strangers cameBut the boys who beat the Auxies and fought the Black and TansWere the boys of Barr Na Sraide who hunted for the wrenBut now they toil on foreign soil where they have made their wayDeep in the heart of London town or over in BroadwayAnd I am left to sing their deeds and praise them while I canThose boys of Barr Na Sraide who hunted for the wrenAnd here's a health to them tonight wherever they may beBy the groves of Carham river or the slopes of Bi Na TiJohn Dalaigh and Batt Andy and the Sheehans, Con and DanThose boys of Barr Na Sraide who hunted for the wrenWhen the wheel of life runs out and peace comes over meJust take me back to that old town between the hills and seaI'll take my rest in those green fields, the place my life beganWith those boys of Barr Na Sraide who hunted for the wren4. Tuar Mor PolkasWe've been playing these tunes for as long as we can remember. Originally learned by Bruce Molyneaux from the recordings of Sliabh Luachra fiddle master Patrick O'Keeffe.5. Dr. O'Neill'sA jig and a big tune, in five parts. It's the first tune in O'Neill's collection.6. Down by the Tanyard SideA traditional ballad from the classic Irish Street Ballads collected and annotated by Colm O Lochlainn. Come all you loyal herosAnd by love I am betrayed.Near to the town of BaltinglasI wooed a fair young maid.She is fairer than hapatia brightShe is free from worldly charm.She is a darlin' maid and her dwelling placeIs down by the Tanyard Side.Her golden hair in ringlets rareLie on her snow white neck.And the tender glances of her sighsWould save a ship from wreck.Her two red lips so smilingAnd her teeth so pearly white,Oh, they would make a slave of any manDown by the Tanyard side.I courteously saluted herAs I viewed her o'er and o'er,And I said are you Aurora brightDescended here below?Oh, no, kind sir, I'm a maiden fair,She modestly replied,And I daily labor for my breadDown by the Tanyard sideSo for twelve long years I courted herTill at last we did agreeFor to approach her parents That it's married we would be.But alas, her cruel fatherTo me proved most unkind,And that is why I sail across the seaAnd leave my love behind.So farewell my aged parentsTo you I bid adieu.I'm crossing the main oceanAll for the love of you.But whenever I return againI'll make her my bride,And I'll roll her in my arms once moreDown by the Tanyard Side.7. Lad O'Beirne's/The Boy On The Hilltop/Martin Wynne'sThree reels. The first comes from James "Lad" O'Beirne, a great fiddler originally from Killavil, County Sligo. The second Richard learned from various sources. The third is by the great fiddler and composer, Martin Wynne.8. The Butterfly One of the few traditional tunes that actually sounds like its name. Bruce's low whistle here captures its flight. Les Getchell's bodhran helps it soar.9. The Boy in the Boat/Crowley's/The Glass of BeerThree reels, and favorites around Pittsburgh ceilis.10. Fiddler's GreenBy John Conolly. Bruce Foley says he always thought this was a traditional ballad and was genuinely surprised to discover it was composed in 1966. It was a favorite ballad in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he sang at the festivals and in the pubs and everyone knew the chorus.As I walked by the dockside one evening so fair To view the still waters and taste the salt air I heard an old fisherman singing this songOh take me away boys my time is not longChorus (after each verse):Wrap me up in my oilskins and jumperNo more on the docks I'll be seen Just tell my old shipmates I'm taking a trip matesAnd I'll see you some day in Fiddler's GreenNow Fiddler's Green is a place I've heard tellWhere old fishermen go if they don't go to hellWhere the weather is fair and the dolphins do play And the cold coast of Greenland is far, far awayWhere the sky's always clear and there's never a gale And the fish jump on board with a swish of their tail You lie in your hammocks, there's no work to doAnd the skipper's below making tea for the crewAnd when you're docked and your long journey's through There's pubs and there's clubs and there's lassies there tooThe girls are all pretty and the beer is all free And there's bottles o' rum growing under each treeI don't want a harp nor a halo, not meJust give me a breeze and a good rolling seaAnd I'll play my old squeeze-box as we sail alongWith the wind in the rigging to sing me this song11. The Little Stack of WheatA favorite hornpipe, and one the Folan sisters love to dance to in the old style.12. I'll Buy Boots for Maggie/Martin O'Connor's/Jim Keeffe's/Mickey Chewing BubblegumFour polkas. The first two were learned from Boys of the Lough, the third from the playing of West Cork accordion master Jackie Daly and and fourth from its composer, accordion player Terry "Cuz" Teahan, a Castleisland, County Kerryman who found his way to Chicago.13. "I Thank You Ma'am," Says DanFrom the collection of Colm O Lochlainn. One of the many traditional songs that can best be sung sean-nos, and one of Ray's favorites."What brought you into my roomTo my room, to my room?What brought you into my room?"Says the mistress unto Dan."I came here to court your daughter, ma'am.I thought it no great harm, ma'am.""Oh, Dan my dear, you're welcome here.""I thank you ma'am," says Dan."How come you to know my daughter,My daughter, my daughter?How come you to know my daughter?"Says the mistress unto Dan."Goin' to the well for water, ma'am,To raise the can for water, ma'am.""Oh, Dan, my dear, you're welcome here.""I thank you ma'am," says Dan."Well, you can have my daughter,My daughter, my daughter."Oh, you can have my daughter,"Says the mistress unto Dan."But if you take my daughter, Dan,You'll have to take me also, Dan.Oh, Dan, my dear, you're welcome here.""I thank you ma'am," says Dan.This couple they got married,Got married, got married.This couple they got married,Miss Elizabeth and Dan.And of course he took the mother,And the father, and the charger, Oh.And he's known through out this countryBy the name of "Thank Ye, Ma'am."14. The Connaughtman's Rambles/The Mug of Brown Ale/Willie Coleman'sThree jigs you may recognize, for they're well-loved.15. The Donegal FiddlerA song by Ray Werner inspired by Northern fiddlers such as Teelin's Con Cassidy, Ardara's John Gallagher and others who kept alive the cherished Donegal fiddling style and flow of original tunes. Oliver Browne teases us with the A and B parts of Jackson's Reel between verses and puts them together at the end.They came up the Glen Road to CarrickThrough the mist, the moonlight, the dew.They sat by the roadside in TeelinAnd they fiddled the foggy night through.To the tunes the wind gently whisperedAnd the fairies would hum in their earThen they pick up the fiddle and played themAnd scattered them year after year.You can hear the sea sing.You can hear the bird fly.From the wild rocky shoreTo the steep mountain side.All the sounds of the soulDrifting down to the bayWhenever the Donegal FiddlerPicks up the fiddle and plays.(Fiddle: "A" part)From Ardara, the Glenties and Dunlow,From the banks of Bunbeg to Gweedore,At all of the wakes and the weddings,They played like you never heard before.Through the bogs, the fields and the valleys.Came the welcome rap at the door.Then they filled the kitchen with fiddlin'.There was flyin' feet on the floor.(Chorus, and fiddle: "B" part)Now some tunes they travel like lightening.And others they drift through the night.And across the roaring Atlantic,The tunes they fiddled took flight.From Frisco to Pittsburgh and Philly,To New York and Boston's delight,At so many concerts and sessions,The tunes take on a new life.(Chorus, followed by fiddle, which completes the tune.)16. Spike Island Lasses/The Silver SpireTwo of our favorite reels.BIOOliver Browne (fiddle)Dublin born and bred in a rich musical tradition (his brother Peter is a respected uilleann piper, along with his cousin Ronan), Ollie has earned the reputation as one of the finest fiddlers playing today and has played with the best. His session playing in Clare, Donegal and especially Belfast decades ago is still revered.Bruce Foley (uilleann pipes, tinwhistle, guitar, vocals)A gifted singer, musician and regarded by many to be one of the most accomplished in the US. Bruce has performed with Tommy Sands, The Irish Tradition, Paddy Reilly, James Kelly and regularly Guaranteed Irish. The resident expert on uilleann pipes, Bruce has twice hosted the East Coast Tionol (annual gathering of pipers).Les Getchell (bodhran, bones, other percussion)One of the most highly-regarded traditional Irish percussion players around, Les has studied and played with the best. Les has taught bodhran at music camps Ashokan Northern Week in Saugerties, New York and Augusta Irish Week in Elkins, West Virginia. When not playing Irish, Les plays Brazilian, West African and a bit of blues.Bruce Molyneaux (mandolin, banjo, bouzouki)An authority on traditional Irish music, Bruce is a sought-after banjo and mandolin player. His grandmother was a concertina player from County Kerry, and introduced him to Irish music. So, it's Bruce who usually slips in a fine polka or slide.Ray Werner (concertina, vocals)Ray has been hooked on this music ever since he stumbled upon The Willie Clancy Festival some years ago. With a particular affection for the sean-nos style, Ray is occasionally Hooley's songwriter, when they have a bent for the original.Richard Withers (flute, tinwhistle)Richard's remarkable flute playing has earned for him a stellar reputation, both for his playing and his repertoire. He plays a wonderful flute given to him by the late Mike Gallagher of Tubbercurry, Sligo, his mentor. Richard is also a gifted composer. His "Put The English On It" is a lively salute to Mike.Maggie and Sally Folan (step dancers)As you guessed, they're sisters, and dance as only sisters can. Dancing since the age of four, they have been spreading the gospel since by teaching a hundred plus children in a group called The Irish Reelers, regulars at regional folk festivals and Irish events. In addition to step dancing, Maggie and Sally also teach set and ceili dancing. Their spirited dancing in the old (sean-nos) style is a highlight of every Hooley performance.The sean-nos style of step dancing is the framework on which the modern style of step dancing is based. Unlike today's competitive version, as popularized in such productions as Riverdance and Lord of the Dance, sean-nos step dancing is highlighted by legs together, feet close to the ground, little traveling and a more relaxed upper body. It is always danced in harmony with the tune, the feet picking out a rhythm, moving with the notes. For more information, including lyrics, visit www.hooley.info.
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