JOE ROSS: The Harper's Reverie: Irish Music of Turlough O'Carolan

Joe Ross

The Harper's Reverie: Irish Music of Turlough O'Carolan

© 1998 Zephyr Records (791022084221)

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Highly arranged ensemble renderings of the Celtic music of Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan, featuring harp, hammered dulcimer, violin, flute, and a variety of other instruments.

tracks

1 O'Carolan's Draught
2 Hugh O'Donnell
3 George Brabazon
4 Hewlett/O'Carolan's Fancy
5 O'Carolan's Ramble to Cashel/Quarrel with the Landlady
6 O'Carolan's Welcome
7 Morgan Magan/Fanny Power
8 Lady Gethin/Captain Sudley
9 Planxty Irwin/Sheebeg Sheemore
10 O'Carolan's Concerto
11 Lord Inchiquin

notes

A Celtic music project which features twelve different instruments in highly arranged and layered ensemble renditions of Turlough O'Carolan's ageless tunes.

Joe Ross, Janet Naylor and friends offer this tribute to the last of the great Irish bards who lived from 1670-1738.

Their musical interpretations feature Celtic harp, hammered dulcimer, mandolin, concertina, violins, recorders, flute, bassoon, upright bass and synthesizer.

"There have not been many albums that just feature O'Carolan's music, and those that do usually offer minimal instrumentation.

This project is unique by giving O'Carolan's music a fullness with a highly arranged and layered variety of instrumental sound that is pleasing to the aural palate." Harper Janet Naylor, from New Zealand, performs and teaches in Eugene, Oregon.

Janet has won numerous performance competitions, playing a harp built by Oregon luthier David Thormahlen.

Besides Celtic music, Joe Ross also performs bluegrass, folk and children's music with his solo "Roots of Bluegrass" show.

A member of the Northwest on Tour artist roster, Joe also performs with his wife, a harpist and fiddler, as the Zephyr Celtic Duo.

Michael Bardossi, a trained classical violinist and superlative fiddler comfortable with a wide variety of styles, has worked for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Baroque Ensemble and currently plays with the fine and highly-acclaimed Oregon band, Skye.

Julia Heydon holds a doctorate in music history, with training in music of the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras.

Julia performed with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and is also a member of Skye.

Kevin McCornack plays in the popular instrumental Celtic and contra-dance group, Crabs in the Skillet.

Peter Pollaczek, a founding member of the Roseburg Folklore Society, produces and performs folk music in Roseburg, Oregon.

"My response to this CD is very positive. From the tracks I have previewed and played on air I think the production values are very high. I have discussed for my listeners the personal significance of "Lord Inchiquin" in my repertoire of fiddle tunes.

Joe Cavanagh, WHUS 91.7 FM, Storrs, Connecticut "I love the album...a splendid CD.

A very pretty new CD.

There has been a recent spate of disks featuring the music of the great 17th-century Irish bard Turlough O'Carolan (who's finally getting his due as one of the great composers), and this disk is right at the top of the list.

Naylor's Celtic harp and Ross' hammered dulcimer, mandolin and other instruments mesh beautifully with violin, flute, concertina, recorders and synthesizer on buoyant dance tunes and ballads that capture the spirit of O'Carolan's muse.

This is one of the best Celtic music albums I've heard this year." Brett Campbell (editor@eugeneweekly.com) from Eugene, Oregon "I absolutely ADORE Harper's Reverie (so does my roommate)! Being one of the worst critics on the face of the earth, I couldn't find one note in the entire thing that I didn't enjoy.

This CD will definitely be the background music when any entertaining goes on around here! I really, really like this piece of music." Kathy Boyd, No String Attached, Portland, Oregon "I am sitting here listening to the CD you sent...

I am very pleased! The quality of the music is astounding, not to mention the variety of instruments.

This truly is a delightful collection of O'Carolan's music.

It will definitely be getting airtime on my show." Melissa Hollopeter, WMTU 91.9 FM Houghton, Michigan "It's delightful! I happened to be wrapping Christmas stuff while it was playing and it was so festive! Got me in the mood." Julie Koehler, Associate Editor, Bluegrass Now Magazine "Harper's Reverie" is really a fine effort, with great playing and superb as well as fresh arrangements.

Possibly one of the best tributes to the music of O'Carolan.

Massimo Ferro Radio Voce Spacio 1 "Un Monda di Musica" ("A World of Music") San Michele, Italy "I like it! Nice variety of tracks, very good musicianship.

Our station is a non-commercial station run by the Univ. of Notre Dame." Harriet Engle, Celtic Traditions, WSND-FM88.9 (Engle.3@nd.edu) from Notre Dame, Indiana "The playing is very good.

I detect some classical leanings among the band.

Delighted to see some unusual O'Carolan as well as the common elections.

It is currently in light rotation on our program, "Celtic Winds".

Richard Beard, NPR member station WNCW, Spindale, North Carolina.

"This Celtic CD is wonderful. Especially lovely in the morning with breakfast. It is just enchantingly beautiful music. I was also impressed with all the background information collected on Turlough O'Carolan." Cathy Levin, Novato, Ca.

"The ever-wonderful music of 17th Century harpist and composer, Turlough O'Carolan, is celebrated with gusto in this fine album featuring Janet Naylor and Joe Ross.

Friends join in on vibrant arrangements, playing a multitude of instruments.

This recording feels alive, capturing the essence of O'Carolan's delicate, yet passionate music.

Favorite tunes...sparkle off the hammered dulcimer and waft from the harp strings into a fanciful spray of sound and feeling.

I was prepared to hate the synthesizer, but it's used so tastefully that I really didn't notice it.

This is a well-crafted, well-produced album that I'm sure would please the old blind harpist.

His heart would be full to know his work still touches people three centuries after he ambled through Ireland, as one of her last great bards." Marilyn O'Malley, Victory Music Review from Tacoma, Washington Beautifully crafted.

The players work well together.

More than "just another" O'Carolan recording.

Nice stuff.

I'm giving it airplay on "Treasures of the Isles." Mike Fleischer, WDCB 90.9FM (wdcbmktg@cdnet.cod.edu) from Glen Ellen, IL "Wonderful album, full of spirit and energy -- and nicely arranged pieces.

I particularly enjoyed the combination of the hammered dulcimer and harp.

It added real spark to the ensemble as it performed the O'Carolan canon.

The CD will get plenty of airplay on "Profiles in Folk," on WSHU 91.1FM in Fairfield, Ct." Stephen J. Winters, Fairfield, Connecticut

reviews

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  • lovely, flowing gracefulness
    author: Julie Samudio

    I'm listening to O'Carolan's Welcome as I type, and I'm really impressed. These guys did a great job arranging and recording this tune. They have the tempo exactly right, and there's a lovely, flowing gracefulness to it (as well as a melody that is focused towards an actual destination, not just noodling along.)

  • Just Great
    author: John Chalmers

    Just great, great easy listening. Makes ya just want to kick back, close your eyes and enjoy, which is just what I do to relax. Keep up the good work.

  • Our classroom staple ....We listen to it as the children are coming in or workin
    author: Binki W.

    When I am cooking, which is as often as I can, I like Opera and seasonal Celtic music. When at school, we listen to Hap Palmer and Joe Ross' "Harper's Reverie" (our classroom staple). We listen to it as the children are coming in to get centered for circle. It is often playing for quiet music while the children are working.

  • Captures the essence of O’Carolan’s beautiful and sensitive melodies
    author: Bob Mitchell

    Review by Bob Mitchell (Reviewer for "Bluegrass Now" and "Louisville Music News.") This recording captures the essence of O’Carolan’s beautiful and sensitive melodies. Ross, Naylor, and friends give each track a gentle and respectful treatment that is sure to satisfy anyone who loves Irish music. There is no need to wait for Saint Patrick’s day to become Irish, latch onto a copy of "Harper’s Reverie" and enjoy it now. Although the project is a showcase for the delicate work of harpist Naylor, Ross provides marvelous support with his hammered dulcimer while Kevin McCornack supplies his exemplary flute. At the end of a hectic day, listening to this release is an excellent way to wind down.

  • Very pleasant CD
    author: Jim Norton

    The arrangements are very nice. There is plenty of variety, which sometimes is lacking with a whole CD of O'Carolan on the harp only. Since some of these are songs, I wish that there might have been some singing to break things up a little, but that's nit-picking. This is a great CD.

  • Un ottimo compendio... rivisitati con gusto e rispetto
    author: Alfredo De Pietra, Keltika Magazine

    A great collection of the most popular tunes by the 17th Century harpist, revisited with taste, but mostly with a sense of respect. Ross prefers not to shake these melodies, whose main beauty is mostly in their simplicity, a feature common in Irish music. Un ottimo compendio dei brani più celebri dell'arpista del diciassettesimo secolo, rivisitati con gusto e - soprattutto - rispetto, senza farsi prendere la mano dalla smania di stravolgere melodie la cui bellezza sta principalmente nella loro semplicità, caratteristica peraltro comune un po' a tutta la musica irlandese. (Alfredo De Pietra aldepi1@tin.it)

  • Wow! What a treat!
    author: Kim L

    To find a cd strictly devoted to the music of O'Carolan was delightful, but to find one crafted by such skilled musicians was simply wonderful! This is music that will warm the hearts of any proud Irish-American, and keep the toes tapping. It's a great ode to the great man who composed these stunning pieces! I can't express how accomplished these musicians are, and how beautiful this music is. Run, don't walk, and get your credit card and purchase this cd! You'll be glad you did! Thanks to Joe Et Al for creating this lovely gem of a recording! Slant! Kim

  • Wow! What a treat!
    author: Kim L

    To find a cd strictly devoted to the music of O'Carolan was delightful, but to find one crafted by such skilled musicians was simply wonderful! This is music that will warm the hearts of any proud Irish-American, and keep the toes tapping. It's a great ode to the great man who composed these stunning pieces! I can't express how accomplished these musicians are, and how beautiful this music is. Run, don't walk, and get your credit card and purchase this cd! You'll be glad you did! Thanks to Joe Et Al for creating this lovely gem of a recording! Slant! Kim

  • The music is enchanting!
    author: Kim Angelis

    It was a pleasure listening to the "Oregon Celtnics" (great term!) play the music of O'Carolan! The music is enchanting! The liner notes were well done, too. I can't say how impressed I am with Joe's versatility. He seems to slide so effortlessly from one instrument to the next, from one style to the next...I just don't know how he does it! ... The instrumentation was unique and well-thought out, also. (Kim Angelis, Skysong Music )

  • Love this Celtic CD
    author: Kevin McClung

    My wife and I love this Celtic CD. It sounds like it could be easily used in a period piece movie sound track. Maybe a banquet scene in "Braveheart".

  • Thoroughly enjoy it
    author: Nanci Fisher

    I thoroughly enjoyed The Harper's Reverie! I knew nothing about Turlough O'Carolan's music before listening to this collection...the quality and richness of sound and the use of so many instruments makes this album absolutely beautiful! Janet Naylor, Joe Ross and friends are extremely talented musicians....

  • Great playing and superb fresh arrangements
    author: Massimo Ferro

    "Harper's Reverie" is a real fine effort, with great playing and superb as well as fresh arrangements. Possibly one of the best tributes to the music of O'Carolan. Radio Voce Spacio 1 - "Un Mondo di Musica" (" A World of Music")

  • Very nice recording
    author: Michael Cunningham

    Just a note to confirm that 'The Harper's Reverie' arrived here safe and sound. Its a very nice recording and I think consistent with the spirit of O'Carolans music. He was no man for hidebound orthodoxy and the big arrangements on the recording would have had his support. I look forward to incorporating it in the program. Thanks very much for sending it on. Slán go fóill, (Bye for now), Michael Cunningham, Raidió na nGael, CCCR 94.7 Mhz, Bundaberg, Australia. Studio (Phone) 41510947 irishradio@altavista.net

  • Astounding music...great variety...truly delightful
    author: Melissa Hollopeter, Wmtu

    I am sitting here listening to The Harper's Reverie to play on my radio show. I am very pleased! The quality of the music is astounding, not to mention the variety of instruments. This truly is a delightful collection of O'Carolan's music. It will definitely be getting airtime on my show. Thanks again, Melissa Hollopeter, mehollop@mtu.edu, WMTU 91.9 FM Houghton, Michigan

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