25 Years of Celtic Music

25 Years of Celtic Music

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Green Linnet put out its first release of traditional Irish music in 1976, in the days when the skirl of uilleann pipes was still an exotic sound and step dancers performed for tiny crowds in village halls instead of in stadiums in front of thousands of screaming fans. Even as Celtic music grew to become one of the most popular genres of music in the world, Green Linnet stuck to its original mission to record and release nothing but the finest traditional artists. Which means that this two-CD compilation of recordings from the label's 25-year history can also stand as an excellent introduction to some of the best Celtic music played in the last quarter of the 20th century. Nearly every type of Celtic performer is represented here, from solo instrumentalists like fiddlers Martin Hayes and Eileen Ivers, bands like the Tannahill Weavers and Silly Wizard, and singers like Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, who performs with Touchstone, and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, the singer-fiddler with Altan. Every selection here is well chosen, and the only legitimate complaint to be made is that Green Linnet chose to put out only a two-disc set to commemorate an era that could have easily filled a big box set. --Michael Simmons

Tracks:

The Rocky Reels: The Lilac Reel - Deanta
Ton Bale Mur Ha Dans - Kornog
Aires De Pontevedra - Kips Bay
Fusgail An Dorus/Nighean Blauaidh'Ruadh - Capercaillie
Congress Reel/Down The Broom/Star Of Munster - The Irish Tradition
Dulaman - Altan
Song in F - Touchstone
Archibald McDonald Of Keppoch - John Cunningham
Ceilidh Funk - Phil Cunningham
The Houghs Of Cromdale - Andy Stewart/Manus Lunny
Leaving Brittany/The Pernod Waltz - Relativity
Crabs In The Skillet - Brendan Mulvihill
Richard Brenman's/The Bush On The Hill - Mick Moloney
The Boogie Reel/The Controversial Reel - Billy McComiskey
Humours Of Lissadel/Music In The Glen/Johnson's - Joe Derrane
Roarin' Donald/Man Who Shot The Windmill/Glint Of Silver - Silly Wizard
Ships Are Sailing - Eileen Ivers

Tracks:

McDermott's Reel/The Plough & The Stars/Miss McLeod's Reel - Patrick Street
Lost In The Loop - Liz Carroll
Risipiti Mairtin O'Connor's - The House Band
Forfar Sodger - Old Blind Dogs
The Trucks Of Bohermore - Reeltime
Genevieve's Waltz - Manus Maguire
Autumn Child/Heaton Chapel - Lunasa
The Butterfly - Kevin Burke
Rolling In The Barrel/The Morning Dew - Martin Hayes/Dennis Cahill
J-Time - Wolfstone
An Paistin Fionn - Niamh Parsons
Mooney's Mazurka/Kinloch/Humours Of Toomagh - Moving Cloud
The Okarina/The Tattoo - Open House
Interceltic Set - The Tannahill Weavers
The Dark Island - Celtic Fiddle Festival

Amazon.com

Green Linnet put out its first release of traditional Irish music in 1976, in the days when the skirl of uilleann pipes was still an exotic sound and step dancers performed for tiny crowds in village halls instead of in stadiums in front of thousands of screaming fans. Even as Celtic music grew to become one of the most popular genres of music in the world, Green Linnet stuck to its original mission to record and release nothing but the finest traditional artists. Which means that this two-CD compilation of recordings from the label's 25-year history can also stand as an excellent introduction to some of the best Celtic music played in the last quarter of the 20th century. Nearly every type of Celtic performer is represented here, from solo instrumentalists like fiddlers Martin Hayes and Eileen Ivers, bands like the Tannahill Weavers and Silly Wizard, and singers like Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, who performs with Touchstone, and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, the singer-fiddler with Altan. Every selection here is well chosen, and the only legitimate complaint to be made is that Green Linnet chose to put out only a two-disc set to commemorate an era that could have easily filled a big box set. --Michael Simmons

Customer Reviews:

A Gourmet Meal of Celtic Music.......2001-07-22

Having a number of the sampler cds from Green Linnet I was thrilled to find this latest one. Rarely does one find such a complete collection of all the artists who make listening to Celtic music so enjoyable, in a two cd set. The sounds are wonderfuly presented and some artists were new to me. If you can buy only one cd this year of Celtic Music this should be the one. Whether you like instrumentals with their hauntingly beautiful laments, or maybe traditional Celtic tunes, or crave the new voices of Celtic imagery, they are all found on this two cd set. There is something for everyone here and you will be amazed with this very unique collection of artists presenting sounds from Ireland, Scotland, Nova Scota and North America; many whom are at the top of the Celtic and World music charts.

An Amazing Celtic Collection.......2001-03-08

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Green Linnet offers another generous 2-CD sampler of some of the world's greatest Celtic music. Disc one covers this Connecticut-based label's first twenty years, leaving the second disc to cover the past five years.

Personal favorites of mine on the first disc are Touchstone's "Song in F" featuring Triona Ni Dhomhnaill's wistful vocal, Andy M. Stewart (who has one of the finest tenor voices in all of Celtic music) & Manus Lunny's "The Houghs of Cromdale," and the wonderful guitar and mandolin instrumental "Richard Brenman's/The Bush on the Hill" by Mick Maloney.

Disc two highlights include Patrick Street's lively instrumental "McDermott's Reel/The Plough & the Stars/Miss McLeod's Reel," Lunasa's haunting "Autumn Child/Heaton Chapel" and "Interceltic Set" by one of my all-time favorite bands, The Tannahill Weavers.