Being a fan of O'Carolan's music for many years (altough only as an amateur musician) I ordered this CD set the moment I saw it at CD Baby. My impressions are in short: A monumental work by itself, a historical tribute to O'Carolan and a great pleasure to listen. O'Carolan pieces have survived only as line melodies and thus inevitably require arrangements. J. J. Sheridan has succeded to let the melodic beauty of O'Carolan's music shine, sticking to melodies as they are preserved and providing a delicate, »minimalistic« but strong arrangements invoking a »metaphisycal« atmosphere throughout the whole work. J. J. Sheridan's  Complete Works of Turlough O'Carolan  will serve as »natural companion« to Donald O'Sullivan's book »Carolan, The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper« which is generaly considered the »Bible« for Carolan. May I stress again that the music is very enjoyable to listen so don't be afraid of 8 CD's of 214 Irish harp tunes in arrangements for concert piano :-) Interestingly, the order of the tunes (the same as in O'Sullivan's book), while »artificial« - alphabetical and in 5 sections - somehow works well and natural to listen,  due to diversity of Carolan's music.
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