Duopoly
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| Please click here for Anne-Marie O'Farrell profile & discography |
| Please click here for Cormac de Barra profile & discography |
Following
on from the critical acclaim of their last album, Double
Strung, this latest release from the dynamic harp duo Cormac
De Barra and Anne-Marie O’Farrell showcases the best
of the Irish harp. It features newly composed traditional
tunes by Anne-Marie O’Farrell, fresh and lively duetting
on both gut and wire strung harps, in addition to the songs
in Irish, An Fhallaingín Mhuimhneach and the ever
popular work-song, Amhrán na Cuiginne. The central
role of Turlough O’Carolan in the canon of Irish harp
repertoire is honoured here too, with an arrangement for
musical quizzers of Carolan’s Sir Festus Burke concealing
no fewer than five other Carolan tunes, alongside the pairing
of Charles O’Connor and the graceful Lord Inchiquin
for wire strung harp duet. Solos include the beautiful famine
air, Johnny Seoige played by Cormac, while Anne-Marie plays
her new pedal harp arrangement of Isaac Albeniz’ classic,
Asturias.
- An Fhallaingín Mhuimhneach arr. O’Farrell/De Barra
- Sir Festus Burke by Carolan arr. O’Farrell/De Barra
- Johnny Seoighe (solo by Cormac) arr. De Barra
- The Rollicking Goldfish/The Independent Hornpipe arr. O’Farrell/De Barra
- Asturias by Isaac Albeniz, arr. O’Farrell
- Charles O’Conor & Lord Inchiquin by Carolan arr. O’Farrell/De Barra
- Six Inches East of the Moon & The Astronaut’s Dilemma by O’Farrell arr. O’Farrell/De Barra
- Amhrán na Cuiginne (with Banish Misfortune) arr. O’Farrell/De Barra
- Port na bPúcaí arr. O’Farrell/De Barra
- Braziliera by Darius Milhaud arr. O’Farrell
- Ballaí Dún Droma/The Orphan/Tom Billy’s arr. O’Farrell/De Barra
Sleeve Notes
1. An Fhallaingín Mhuimhneach arr.
O'Farrell, De Barra
A song in praise of the Munster cloak with its fine display of colours.
2. Sir Festus Burke by Carolan arr. O'Farrell, De Barra
One of the numerous airs composed by Carolan for the Burke family Bunting
noted this air from harper
Charles Fanning and the subject is Festus Burke, the 5th Baronet of Glinsk,
Co Galway. This duet arrangement
interweaves themes of five other Carolan runes in counterpoint with the
main melody.
3. Johnny Seoighe (solo by Cormac) arr. De Barra
This is the air to one of the few famine songs that have been passed
on in the oral tradition. Johnny Seoighe
was the famine relief officer in Carna, Connemara. The author of the
song is asking him for help after he and
his family have been turned away from the workhouse.
4. The Rollicking Goldfish /
The Independent Hornpipe arr. O’Farrell,
De Barra
The first of this pair of hornpipes was written for Anne-Marie’s
son, Robbie in tribute to a very spirited goldfish.
The Independent Hornpipe was first published in volume 1 of the Feis
Ceoil Collection in 1914. Also known as
The Independence Hornpipe, it has been said that it was composed after
the USA gained independence from
the British Empire in 1776.
5. Asturias by Isaac Albeniz
(1860-1909) arr. O’Farrell
Originally written for piano in 1892 as the Prelude from Chants d'Espagne,
this piece features scales and
rhythms which are typical of Andalusian folk music. This arrangement
for harp uses enharmonic effects based in
the key of E minor to better suggest the sound of the Spanish guitar.
6. Charles O’Conor & Lord Inchiquin by Carolan arr. O’Farrell,
De Barra
Charles O'Conor was the eldest son of Denis O'Conor, head of the house
at Belanagare. Charles was taught
the harp by Carolan and he is the writer of the diaries from which we
have learned much of Camlan’s own life
story. The tune Lord Inchiquin was noted down by Bunting in 1792. O’Sullivan
states that the subject of this
melody is doubtless the 4th Earl of Inchiquin who succeeded to the title
in December 1719. The family seat was
Dromoland Castle in Co Clare. It is probable that Carolan composed this
piece on his visit to Rev. Charles
Massey in nearby Doonass.
7. Six Inches East of the Moon & The Astronaut’s Dilemma by O’Farrell arr. O’Farrell, De Barra These two slow reels are composed by Anne-Marie and make their recording debut here. The first combines modes typical of Irish folk music, while the second uses pentatonic or five-note shapes in the tune to reflect the Irish character.
8. Amhrán na Cuiginne (with
Banish Misfortune) arr. O'Farrell, De Barra
A work song for churning butter in which a mother encourages her child
to climb upon the stool and join in
the work. The interlude between verses is the well known piping jig,
Banish Misfortune.
9. Port na bPúcaí arr.
O’Farrell,
De Barra
In the folklore of Corca Dhuibhne, West Kerry, it is said that two
Blasket Island musicians heard this air carried
on the wind from neighbouring Inis Mhic Uileain and that it was the ‘Púcaí’ or
ghosts who were playing it.
10. Braziliera by Darius Milhaud
(1892-1974) arr. O’Farrell
This is the third movement of Scaramouche op. 165b, a work originally
written for two pianos in 1937. It was
first recorded in the 1940s, and is published by Salabert, Paris. Milbaud
later made versions for saxophone and
clarinet with piano.
11. Ballai Dun Droma / The
Orphan / Tom Billy’s arr. O’Farrell,
De Barra
The first of these three jigs is composed by Anne-Marie in tribute to
her home area, Dundrum, while the
second, The Orphan (An Dilleachta) is a variant of a jig by Muiris Cuinn
from Dun Son in Corca Dhuibhne.
The final tune, Tom Billy’s, is a Sliabh Luachra jig named after
its composer, Tom Billy Murphy, from Ballydesmond in County Cork. He
was a well-known, blind fiddler who travelled the country on a donkey’s
back over a
century ago.
Credits
Mastered and engineered by: Fionán
de Barra
Assistant engineer: Aisling Jarvis
Photography and sleeve design: Tim Jarvis
Anne-Marie plays a 38-string Salvi Livia harp, a Salvi Diana pedal harp
and a wire strung harp made by the late Colm Ó Meachair.
Cormac plays a Salvi Egan harp, a Salvi Aurora pedal harp and a wire
strung harp made by Phillip Murray.
Our warmest thanks to: Moya Brennan, Tim Jarvis, Ray Comiskey, Maureen Simpson, Aibhlín McCrann & Cairde na Cruite, An Grianán in Termonfeckin, Melissa at thinkbig.ie, and all who have been so instrumental in helping us thus far...
Gratefully dedicated to the memory of Mercedes Garvey and Colm Ó Meachair
| Instruments: | Harp |
| Genre: | Classical |
| Format: | CD |
| Our Ref: | A0644 |
| MCPS: | CD1907 |
| Label: | Anne-Marie O'Farrell / Cormac de Barra |
| Year: | 2014 |
| Origin: | Ireland |
Anne-Marie O’Farrell
As a soloist, Anne-Marie’s unique levering techniques on Irish
Harp and her commitment to the development
of its repertoire have led to performances throughout Europe, the USA,
Scandinavia, Russia and Japan. As harpist, composer and pedagogue she
is regularly invited to present at international festivals and her works
have been
performed and broadcast on many continents.
Click
here for Anne-Marie O'Farrell's profile & discography
Cormac De Barra
Cormac is the third generation of harpers in his family. As well as a
solo career that has taken him around the
globe, Cormac has also recorded and toured with a number of Irish artists
including Clannad, Brian Kennedy,
Julie Feeney, Maire Breatnach and Hazel O’Connor. He performs in
a family trio, Barco, with his brothers
Fionan and Eamonn and has released two CDs in collaboration with Moya
Brennan.