AA. VV. “Armagh Pipers · 40th Anniversary album”
Armagh Pipers Club. 2cd, 2007
di alessandro nobis
Nel 2007 si celebravano i quaranta anni di attività dell’indomito Armagh Pipers Club, importante istituzione irlandese la cui missione è la salvaguardia della tradizione irlandese attraverso studi di documenti e registrazioni, corsi di musica e di strumenti per bambini ed adulti, pubblicazione di CD, saggi e libri didattici e organizzazione di eventi tra i quali il William Kennedy Piping Festival che si celebra alla metà del mese di novembre (quest’anno era la 28a Edizione): negli anni il WKPF si è guadagnato una solida reputazione, basta frequentarlo una volta per comprendere il senso del festival che non comprende solo session e concerti ma anche ad altre importanti attività che coinvolgono la città di Armagh con presenze di musicisti ed appassionati da tutta Europa e non solo.
Quarantuno brani in due compact disc aperti e chiusi, come si conviene, dalle uilleann pipes, inizia Jarlath Henderson con una suite di tre reels (The Boys of the Lough · The Green Fields of America · The Wind That Shakes the Barley) e chiude Mark Donnelly, piper di Armagh scomparso giovanissimo nel ’99 a soli trentatrè anni, con due gighe (Slieve Russell · The Eavesdropper) e questo l’unico brano registrato in un periodo antecedente, nel 1997. In tutto il resto c’è lo spettro completo della tradizione musicale irlandese rappresentata da musicisti di varie generazioni sotto l’attenta regia · e partecipazione · della famiglia Vallely, autentica promotrice del Club e del WKPF che con questa pubblicazione fotografa in modo efficace la situazione al 2007, a cominciare dalla purezza del canto “a cappella” come quelli interpretati dall’allora sedicenne Alana Henderson (“Is Fada Ó Bhaile“) e dalla tredicenne Niall Hanna (la celeberrima “A Stor mó Chroi“) e da Aine Mallon di nove anni (“Jeannie Jenkins“), o del repertorio per arpa (“The Wild Geese”) di Patricia Daly o per violino come gli Slip Jigs “The Humours of Derrykrosane / Hardiman The Fiddler” proposti da Brian Vallely (uilleann pipes) e dai violini di Caohmhin ed Eithne Vallely. Ma forse i brani che danno più senso al lavoro didattico del Pipers Club di Armagh è però (traccia 12, CD 2) il set formato da una canzone (“The Fiedmouse’s Ball“) e dalla polka “The Newmarket“; la prima eseguita da un coro di giovanissimi (“Beginners Singin Group” dai 4 ai 12 anni) guidati dalla tastiera di Eithne Vallely e la seconda da un’orchestra di musicisti (“Beginners Instrumental Group” da 7 ai 12 anni) con arpe, accordeon, violini e flauti. Magari nessuno di questi ragazzi sarà diventato una celebrità ma il piacere di conoscere la propria cultura tradizionale, di suonare uno strumento e di poter suonare in famiglia o nelle session informali è assicurato ed il Club ha raggiunto il suo scopo istituzionale.
Nella confezione inoltre si trova un libretto con l’interessante saggio di Fintan Vallely, flautista, giornalista e saggista.
In 2007 we celebrated forty years of activity of the indomitable Armagh Pipers Club, an important Irish institution whose mission is to safeguard Irish tradition through the study of documents and recordings, music and instrument courses for children and adults, publication of CDs, essays and educational books and organization of events including the William Kennedy Piping Festival which is celebrated in the middle of November (this year was the 28th Edition): over the years the WKPF has earned a solid reputation, it is enough to attend it once to understand the meaning of the festival which does not only include sessions and concerts but also other important activities involving the city of Armagh with the presence of musicians and enthusiasts from all over Europe and beyond.Forty-one tracks in two open and closed compact discs, as is fitting, from the uilleann pipes, Jarlath Henderson begins with a suite of three reels (The Boys of the Lough · The Green Fields of America · The Wind That Shakes the Barley) and closes Mark Donnelly, Armagh piper who died very young in '99 at only thirty-three years old, with two jigs (Slieve Russell · The Eavesdropper) and this is the only piece recorded in an earlier period, in 1997. In all the rest there is the complete spectrum of the Irish musical tradition represented by musicians of various generations under the careful direction · and participation · of the Vallely family, authentic promoters of the Club and of the WKPF who, with this publication, effectively photograph the situation to 2007, starting with the purity of "a cappella" singing such as those interpreted by the then sixteen year old Alana Henderson ("Is Fada Ó Bhaile") and the thirteen year old Niall Hanna (the very famous "A Stor mó Chroi") and by Aine Mallon of nine years ("Jeannie Jenkins"), or Patricia Daly's harp ("The Wild Geese") or violin repertoire such as the Slip Jigs "The Humors of Derrykrosane / Hardiman The Fiddler" proposed by Brian Vallely (uilleann pipes) and from the violins of Caohmhin and Eithne Vallely. But perhaps the pieces that give the most sense to the didactic work of the Armagh Pipers Club is however (track 12, CD 2) the set formed by a song ("The Fiedmouse's Ball") and the polka "The Newmarket"; the first performed by a choir of very young people ("Beginners Singin Group" from 4 to 12 years old) led by the keyboard of Eithne Vallely and the second by an orchestra of musicians ("Beginners Instrumental Group" from 7 to 12 years old) with harps, accordion, violins and flutes. Perhaps none of these guys will have become a celebrity but the pleasure of learning about one's traditional culture, playing an instrument and being able to play with the family or in informal sessions is guaranteed and the Club has achieved its institutional purpose.In the package there is also a booklet with an interesting essay by Fintan Vallely, flautist, journalist and essayist.
www.armaghpipers.com
I brani e gli esecutori:
DISCO UNO:
1) Jarlath Henderson (Uilleann Pipes) – Reels: The Boys of the Lough – The Green Fields of America – The Wind That Shakes the Barley.
2) Sinead Lennon ( Uilleann Pipes) & Carmel Toner (Fiddle) – Jigs: Behind the Haystack – An d’Tiocfaidh Tu Abhaile Liom?
3) Alana Henderson (Song): Is Fada o’ Bhaile.
4) Fiddle Air: Lios na Banriona.
5) Cillian Vallely (Uilleann Pipes) – Jigs: The Stolen Purse – Calico – Banks of the Lough.
6) Martin Meechan (Flute) & Paul Meechan (Guitar) – Reels: Charlie Harris’ – The Raven’s Wing – The First Month of Summer.
7) Vivienne Murphy (Song): The Maid of Ballydoo.
8) Thomas & Rosie Smyth (Fiddles) & DonnchaMoynihan (Guitar) – Reels: John Loughran’s – The Secret Player.
9) Aoibheann Devlin (Fiddle), Deaglan Devlin (Guitar) & Seamus O’Kane (Bodhran) – Mazurkas: Seamus O’Kane’s – Jackie Donnan’s.
10) Gerry’s Group – Barndance & Reels: Kilnamona Barndance – Dublin Reel – Tommy Peoples’.
11) Niall Hanna (Song): A Stor mo Chroi.
12) Peter Grew (Fiddle) & Feargal French (Uilleann Pipes) – Reels: The Fox on the Town – A Parcel of Land.
13) Christopher McMullan (Uilleann Pipes) – Air & Jig: An Leanbh Si – An Seanduine.
14) Thomas Smyth’s Group – Hornpipe & Reel: The Cuckoo’s Nest – MacLeod’s Farewell.
15) Aine Mallon (Song): Jeannie Jenkins.
16) Austin Donnelly (Whistle) – Air & Reels: Beatha Ur on a Blas – Splendid Isolation – The Singing Stream.
17) March – Mairseail Ri Laoise.
18) Leo McCann (Accordion), Dermot McCann (Banjo) & Paul Meehan (Guitar) – Reels: Maud Millar – Palmer’s Gate – Famous Ballymote.
19) Patricia Vallely (Song): The Month of January.
20) Caoimhin Vallely (Piano) – Air: Amhran na Leabhar.
21) Brian Finnegan (Flute), Ed Boyd (Guitar), Leon Hunt (Dobro) & David Lord (Strings) – Waltz & Reel: 40 Year Waltz – Night Ride to Armagh.
DISCO DUE:
1) Tiarnan O’ Duinnchinn (Uilleann Pipes) – Highland & Reels: The Teelin Highland – The Emyvale Reel – The Wild Irishman.
2) Niall Murphy (Fiddle) – Jigs: The Boys of the Lough Gowna – Pat McKenna’s
3) Stephanie Makem (Song): A Oganaigh Og.
4) Niall Vallely (Concertina) – Reels: Rakish Paddy – Break Yer Bass Drone.
5) Struth na Maoile (Song): Clann Ulaidh.
6) Harp Group: The Eagle’s Whistle – An Falaingin Muimhneach.
7) Robbie McGleenan, Patricia Vallely & Harry Donnelly (Fiddles), Aidan Prunty (Flute) & Caoimhin Vallely (Piano) – Reels: Devenney’s Goat – The Shoemaker’s Daughter – John Henry’s.
8) Barry Kerr (Vocal & Bouzouki): The Lurgan Hare.
9) Gerry Lappin (Accordion) – Air & Reel: Goldsmith’s Lament – The Sailor On the Rock.
10) Fintan Vallely (Flute) – March, Jig & Reel: The Shanghai March – The Rollicking Boys From Tandragee – The Swallow’s Tail.
11) Roise Connolly (Concertina) – Jigs: The Fly In the Porter – Apples In Winter.
12) School Group – Song & Polka: The Fieldmouse’s Ball – The Newmarket Polka.
13) Junior Singers (Songs): Na Ceannabhain Bhana – Nead na Lachan sa Mhuta.
14) Martin’s Group – Jig & Reel: Windmill Hill – The Whistling postman.
15) Junior Instrumental Group – Slip Jig: Baby Rory’s – The Fisherman’s – Na Ceannabhain Bhana.
16) Catherine Donnelly (Song): The Mountain Streams Where the Moodcocks Crow.
17) Patricia Daly (Harp) – Air: The Wild Geese.
18) Dara’s Group – Jigs: An Buachaill Dreoite – An Seancluine Doite – Johnny Leary’s.
19) Brian Vallely (Uilleann Pipes), Eithne & Caoimhin Vallely (Fiddles) – Slip JIgs: The Humours of Derrykrosane – Hardiman the Fiddler.
20) Mark Donnelly (Uilleann Pipes) – Jigs: Slieve Russell – The Eavesdropper.
Meno male che nel 2007 la benemerita associazione “Na Píobaíri Uilleann” nella sua collana “The Ace and Deuce of Piping” ha pubblicato questo ottimo “The Mountain Groves” dove racconta le sue influenze, i suoi studi in una parola la sua passione per la cornamusa irlandese.
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