Album Notes

Go straight to the heart of an Irish session with jigs, reels, airs and Breton dances performed by some of the best traditional and Celtic musicians today.
including All-Ireland fiddle champion Brendan Mulvihill on fiddle, Grammy-nominated Chris Norman on wooden flute and four-time Scottish harp champion Sue Richards on Celtic harp as well as David Kornblum on bouzouki, guitar and fiddle; Dan Blum on guitar, Wendy Morrison on concertina and Myron Bretholz on bodhran.

LINER NOTES:
1 Curlew/Green Hills of Tyrol 2:54
In Ireland, "The Curlew" is sometimes called "My Granny Drowned in the Pool at Lourdes." The second reel comes from the fiddling of Terry O'Neill. Hammered dulcimer, flute (Chris Norman), bouzouki, & guitar (Dan Blum).
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer
David Kornblum - Bouzouki
Dan Blum - Guitar
Chris Norman - Irish flute

2 Crested Hens/Laride
I learned this version of "The Crested Hens" at the Victoria Pub in London. It was first composed as a bourree by a Breton hurdy gurdy player named Chabenat. The larides that follow are dances from southeast Brittany. We mimic the Breton bagpipes (biniou)and bombarde with a fiddle and concertina in our arrangement.
Hammered dulcimers, fiddle (David Kornblum) & concertina.
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer
David Kornblum - Fiddle
Wendy Morrison - Concertina

3 Willie Coleman's/Bank of Turf
A jig and slide. Flute (Karen Ashbrook), bouzouki & bodhran.
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Irish flute
David Kornblum - Bouzouki
Myron Bretholz - Bodhran

4 Princess Royal/Galway Bay
This slow air appears to be a Scottish version of the well-known Irish tune sometimes attributed to Turlough O'Carolan. I learned it from fiddler Marty Somberg. The hornpipe comes from the fiddling of Tommy Peoples. Hammered dulcimer.
Artist: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer

5 Johnny Doherty's Marches/Providence Reel
These two marches can be found in The Northern Fiddler and on Johnny Doherty's record Bundle and Go on Topic. Brendan Mulvihill is our local source for "Providence Reel." Hammered dulcimer, fiddle & viola (Brendan Mulvihill), guitar (Dan Blum), bodhran & bones.
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer
Dan Blum - Guitar
Brendan Mulvihill - Fiddle & viola
Myron Bretholz - Bodhran & bones

6 Dusty Windowsills/Tripping Upstairs
"Dusty Windowsills" is a jig composed by Chicago pennywhistler, Johnny Harling. David has added a nice rhythmic twist to "Tripping Upstairs." Hammered dulcimer & bouzoukis.
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer
David Kornblum - Bouzouki

7 An tSean Bhean Bocht (The Poor Old Woman)
The title of this hornpipe is an allegorical reference to Ireland. We play it as a round. Hammered dulcimer, concertina, Celtic harp & guitar (David Kornblum).
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer
David Kornblum - Guitar
Sue Richards - Celtic harp
Wendy Morrison - Concertina

8 Four Mile Stone/Fox in the Glen
My version of the "Four Mile Stone" comes from the fiddling of Altan's Mairead Ni Mhaonaigh. "Fox in the Glen" was written in a Breton style by harper Sara Park. Hammered dulcimer & guitar (Dan Blum)
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer

9 Lady Lorraine
Eugene O'Donnell composed this tune for our dear friend, Lorraine Kirk. Hammered dulcimer, fiddle & guitar (David Kornblum), & second guitar (Dan Blum).
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer
David Kornblum - Fiddle & guitar
Dan Blum - Guitar

10 Knock on the Door/Argyle Socks
Because the band Shegui learned this tune while tucked inside a bathroom, it won notoriety as "The Convenience Reel." Its proper name is "Knock On the Door." Katy Abrams wrote the second tune. Hammered dulcimer, pennywhistle, concertina, bouzouki, guitar (Dan Blum) & bodhran.
Artists: Karen Ashbrook - Hammered dulcimer
David Kornblum - Bouzouki
Dan Blum - Guitar
Sue Richards - Celtic harp
Wendy Morrison - Concertina & pennywhistle
Myron Bretholz - Bodhran

ABOUT KAREN ASHBROOK:
visit www.maggiesmusic.com

BIO:
KAREN ASHBROOK, hammered dulcimer, Irish flute and pennywhistle performs solo and now in a Irish/Belgium Duo with PAUL OORTS, classical & steel stringed guitars, mandolin, musette accordion and cittern.
As the popular duo, They continue the Celtic traditions based in Irish music, but also draws from Paul’s native Flemish and French music, contra dance and even classical repertoire. Karen Ashbrook has over five CDs both solo and with her Irish Band Ceoltoiri ( Irish/Celtic Ensemble)
In 1976 Karen built her first dulcimer and then spent the next 5 years traveling around the world. She learned Irish music in pubs in England and Ireland playing with the best and performed on RTE1, Irish National Television. Looking to pass the tradition on, Karen runs a children's Irish music session and the Sligo Creek Hedge School Irish Music & Arts camp and has tutored an all Ireland Fleadh Cheoil champion. Karen is well-known for her book “Playing the hammered dulcimer in the Irish Tradition” (Oak Publications) and her recordings which include: Hills of Erin and with Ceoltoiri: Women of Ireland and as the duo Karen Ashbrook & Paul Oorts: Celtic Café.