PATRICK MANGAN: Farewell To Ireland

Patrick Mangan

Farewell To Ireland

© 2003 White Label Records (825848195622)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

The debut album by New York based fiddler Patrick Mangan features a lively selection of traditional Irish tunes and an all-star lineup of musicians.

tracks

1 Doctor Gilbert's / The Flogging Reel / Dillon Brown's
2 The Ballykeel Jig / Dave Collins' / The Munster Jig
3 The Shetland Set
4 Amhran na Leabhar (Song of the Books)
5 Jackson's #1 / The Strawberry Blossom / Tommy Peoples'
6 Spellan's Inspiration / The Banks
7 Knock na Gow / Paddy Reynolds' Dream / The Smiling Bride
8 Loftus Jones
9 Farewell to Ireland / Trim the Velvet
10 Frieze Britches / Out On The Ocean
11 Lord Gordon's / The White Leaf
12 Reel Angst

notes

Biographical Information:

Patrick Mangan is from Brooklyn, New York. A two-time All-Ireland fiddle champion, he is a student of renowned New York fiddler and teacher Brian Conway.

At sixteen, Patrick appeared in Riverdance on Broadway, becoming the youngest fiddler in the show's history. He continues to perform with the Riverdance Flying Squad. Patrick joined the John Whelan Band in 1999, with whom he toured throughout the US and Europe. He has also appeared with the Cathie Ryan Band, and with the neo-Celtic group Whirligig.

In Spring 2002, Patrick was awarded first prize honors for instrumental composition in the Bertelsmann Foundation's World of Expression competition for his piece, "September Sky." In 1995, Irish America magazine named Patrick one of its "Top 100 Irish Americans of the Year." Noted Irish Echo and Wall Street Journal music critic, Earle Hitchner, has stated that he "embodies all that is admirable and durable about the Irish tradition in America."

In addition to his just completed solo recording, he is featured on a number of recent releases, including Brian Conway's First Through the Gate, Dan Milner and Bob Conroy's Irish In America, and both Celtic Fire and From the Heart, by John Whelan.

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Patrick on the album...

Growing up in New York City, playing Irish music, I have been fortunate enough to meet some great musicians who have always been as gracious as they are talented. Farewell to Ireland has given me the opportunity to collaborate with several of these players on my debut release. Named after one of my favorite tunes, I feel that the album gives the listener a taste of what Irish music in America means to me. My hope is that the fun had by all the musicians who worked together on this project also comes across, capturing the essence of Irish music -- pure enjoyment.

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Here is what the critics are saying about Farewell to Ireland:

"It gives ample evidence of the extraordinary talent and taste of Patrick Mangan, in offering a record that is mature, confident and full of the enthusiasm that one sees in his live playing. The title tune is a reel that not only brought him Fleadh glory but also reflects that significant role that New York has played in fostering traditional Irish Music. Patrick is the latest shining aspect of that historic dynamic."
--The Irish Voice, November 2003

"The breakout track on 'Farewell to Ireland' is "Jackson's No. 1/Strawberry Blossom/Tommy People's." Mangan transmutes these three reels into something special through a flawlessly proportioned mix of power, precision, and improvisational touches so instinctively tight and right that I had to hit "replay" to better grasp what he accomplished. I'm still shaking my head over the virtuosity Mangan exhibits on that track, which ends in a galvanizing duet with Baltimore uilleann piper Eliot Grasso."
--The Irish Echo, January 2004.

"...Making his recording debut is two-time All Ireland fiddle champion and 'Riverdance' alumnus Patrick Mangan, a Brooklyn native who represents yet another talented young musician who grew up in New York City's flourishing Irish music community. 'Farewell to Ireland' is a collection of a dozen tune sets, featuring crisply ornamented reels and jigs along with a couple of slow airs. There's a nice variety of texture in the arrangements that compliments Mangan's fine, expressive playing, ranging from solo fiddle settings to five-instrument ensembles that include button accordion master John Whelan and flute/clarinet player Matt Darriau."
--Dirty Linen, February/March 2004

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Liner Notes by Martin Hayes:

Traditional music is not just something that was once created to then be dutifully repeated. In order to be meaningful, it must strike a balance that allows for faithful representation of the past, while at the same time, accommodating the artist's need to be self-expressive and relevant. It is by the resolution of this apparent conflict that the body of music becomes richer and more diverse...

--For full text visit www.patrickmangan.com

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Featured Musicians:

Patrick Mangan - fiddle
with
Greg Anderson - bouzouki, guitar, cittern, bass, keyboards
Brian Conway - fiddle
Matt Darriau - flute, low whistle, clarinet
Brendan Dolan - piano, whistle
Eliot Grasso - uilleann pipes
Robbie Harris - bodhrán, percussion
Eamon O'Leary - guitar, mandolin
Tom Wetmore - acoustic bass
John Whelan - button accordion

reviews

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  • miss
    author: didimalo

    u are so awesome!

  • FANTASTIC!
    author: Lynnette Deady

    Farewell to Ireland is a FANTASTIC CD and worth buying at least one for yourself and several for your family and friends. There such talent throughout the album that you can listen to it over & over and it never gets old. Cheers!

  • author: CD Baby

    Take it from a "trad" fanatic- what ye got here is some right brilliant craic! Two-time All-Ireland fiddle champion, student of renowned New York fiddler and teacher Brian Conway, the youngest fiddler to appear on Broadway with Riverdance, this accomplished musician and artist doesn't hold back in this both heartrending and foot-stomping album of Irish dance tunes and poignant airs. With a variety of "back up" from simple guitar or piano to fully-fleshed jigs with bodhran, bouzouki, uilleann pipes, mandolin, button accordion and more, this disc leaves little to be desired. Patrick Mangan demonstrates the difference between just simply playing notes and playing the music *between* the notes. Hurry before I buy out the stock for myself. Liner notes by Martin Hayes.

  • author: John McCullough

    Boyos, Thank you for keeping the race alive and well. Oh the sadness I love to feel on cut 4 and the angst of 12. And oh the fierce ones that want me to go back to war again but alas, too old now. Thanks to you all even if some are not of the race. John McCullough (Irish Mick)

  • outstanding
    author: Liam Strait

    Farewell to Ireland is the best CD I've ever purchased. When I listen to it, there's not one track that I ever want to skip over and its mix of slower and more upbeat tracks is just right. Just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth and listen to the samples; I'm sure you'll fall in love with it immediately just as I did.

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