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(01) Slow air: Hector the Hero
This air was composed by James Scott Skinner in
tribute to Major General Hector MacDonald, a
friend of Skinner’s. I first heard this played
by Tommy Peoples on a Bothy Band album called
1975.
Gavin – uilleann pipes; Deirdre – fiddle; Peter
– keyboards
(02) Reels: Kevin Griffith's, The Green-Gowned
Lass, Terry Bingham's
I got the first reel from banjo player Kevin
Griffith from Doolin, Co. Clare. The second tune
appears in Breandán Breathnach’s Ceol Rince na
hÉireann published by An Gm in 1985. This tune
is called after Terry Bingham, a great
concertina player based in Doolin.
Gavin – whistle; Paul - guitar
(03) Air: Ian Ghlinn Cuaich
I first heard this air sung by Karen Matheson of
Capercaillie and I fell in love with it on first
hearing. It is the melody of a beautiful Scots
Gaelic love song.
Gavin – low whistle, uilleann pipes; Peter -
keyboards
(04) Jigs: The Humours of Lisheen, Jim Neary's,
The Girl in the Big Blue House
The first jig was recorded by John and Julia
Clifford on their wonderful Topic album also
called the Humours of Lisheen. I can’t remember
when or where I first heard the next two tunes
but I have been playing them for years.
Gavin – whistle; Paul – guitar; Peter -
keyboards
(05) Slow air: Emigrant's Farewell
This air was sung and recorded by the late
Pádraigin Ni Uallacháin. It is a sad and
nostalgic song about emigration, a far too
familiar feature of life in this day and age.
Gavin – whistle; Gavin Ralston - guitar
(06) Reels: Follow me down, The Collier’s
The first tune can be found in many collections
including Ceol Rince na hÉireann 11 and as well
as The Northern Fiddler. The Colliers’ is a
perennial favourite at sessions and is a popular
piping tune.
Gavin – uilleann pipes; Deirdre – fiddle; Paul -
guitar
(07) Slow air: Geaftai Bhaile Bhuí
I learned this slow air from the playing of Seán
Potts. It is also a song and was sung by Neilí
Ní Dhomhnaill from Rann na Feirste. Neilí was
the aunt of Mícheál, Maighread and Tríona of
Skara Brae and Bothy Band fame.
Gavin – whistle; Paul - guitar
(08) Reels: Mick Hand's, Murphy's Hound, Miss
Ramsey's
The first reel is named after the great flute
player Mick Hand who was a founder member of
Bakerswell. I got the second reel from Dubliner
Paul McGrattan. Miss Ramsey’s is a reel
associated with Donegal.
Gavin – whistle; Paul - guitar
(09) Slow air: Lord Mayo (Tiarna Mhaigh Eo)
This beautiful air was collected by Edward
Bunting from the harper Arthur O’Neill. The air
is said to have been composed by a harper called
Thady Keenan who was a contemporary of Turlough
Carolan.
Gavin – uilleann pipes
(10) Jigs: Elizabeth Kelly’s, Give Us a Drink of
Water, Fraher's Jig
The first tune appears in Breandán Breathnach’s
Ceol Rince na hÉireann 1. The second jig is a
tune I always enjoy playing and Fraher’s is a
popular piping tune.
Gavin – uilleann pipes; Deirdre – fiddle; Paul -
guitar
(11) Slow air: Ae Fond Kiss
This is the air to a song written by the famous
poet Robert Burns who is acknowledged as
Scotland’s national poet. Burns wrote original
poems as well as collecting and adapting songs
from the Scottish tradition. He died in 1796.
Gavin – low whistle; Daire – fiddle; Peter -
keyboards
(12) Set dance: The downfall of Paris
According to Terry Moylan of Na Piobairi
Uilleann this tunes from a song called Ça Ira
which was popular among the revolutionaries in
Paris during the French Revolution. It was first
published in the early 1790s.
Gavin – uilleann pipes; Deirdre - fiddle
(13) Slow air: Róisín Dubh
This air was composed by Seán Ó Riada for the
soundtrack for the film Mise Éire which
commorated the fiftieth anniversary of the 1916
Rising in Dublin. The film was made by
documentary maker George Morrison and was the
first feature length Irish language film to be
made.
Gavin – uilleann pipes
(14) Jigs: Young Tom Ennis, At it Again, Statia
Donnelly's
The first tune is one I learned from the playing
of piper Robbie Hannan and fiddle player Paddy
Glackin. At It Again is a jig that really suits
the pipes and I love playing it. Statia
Donnelly’s is a jig I got from Dublin piper Mick
O’Brien.
Gavin – uilleann pipes; Paul - guitar
(15) Slow Air: Easter Snow
Paddy Tunney learned this song from his mother
Brigid Tunney. It also appears in the Petrie
collection and under the titles Díseart Muadháin
and Sneachta Cásga. It has been recorded by
musicians and singers alike including Paddy
Tunney, Tim Lyons and Seamus Ennis.
Gavin – uilleann pipes; Peter - keyboards
All titles traditional arranged by Gavin Whelan
Musicians:
Gavin Whelan: uilleann pipes, whistles, low
whistle
Deirdre Smith: fiddle
Paul Doyle: guitar, bouzouk
Daire Bracken: fiddle
Peter Eades: keyboards
Gavin Ralston: guitar
Credits:
Producer: Gavin Whelan
Recorded at: The Mill Studios, Swords, Co.
Dublin
Engineer: Peter Eades
Mastering: Billy Farrell
Sleeves notes: Gavin Whelan & Joan McDermott
Photography: Colm Keating
Design: Loman Cusack
For concert bookings, online sales and
distribution contact: Tallaght Records,
308 Belgard Heights, Tallaght, Dublin 24,
Ireland
Email: whelangavin@hotmail.com
Website: www.gavinwhelan.ie
I would like to everyone who had a hand in
making this recording possible.
Special thanks to my parents, Marie and Dermot
for their continued support and encouragement.
Thanks to family and friends and to the staff at
the Irish Traditional Music Archive.
Eb/ Bb whistles made by John Sindt sindtwhistle@aol.com
Low F whistle made by Michael Grinter,
Uillean pipes made by Donnacha Keegan,
Also available from Tallaght Records are Gavin
Whelan, Another Time, In Full Flight and 120
Traditional Tunes.
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Homelands - Liner Notes
