Cormac Breatnach- Music Journey (1998)

Musical Journey is Cormac Breatnach’s debut solo CD, released in July 1998, on Cormac’s own label, Dioscaí Mandala. It is a personal journey exploring the musical and cultural colors which influence his performance style, repertory and characteristic swing, which he brings to the music. A varied selection of pieces ranging from his favored polka form to songs carrying forth his Irish and Spanish identity, the pieces unite to portray an artist who is deeply rooted in his musical tradition but emotionally honest and willing to explore his own identity and to unselfconsciously allow it to emerge in its own inimitable form. 

Musical Journey is a collection of tunes recorded with contributions from Máire Breathnach, Steve Cooney, Niall Ó Callanáin, Paul Mc Sherry, Garvan Gallagher, and Theo Dorgan amongst others. The arrangements are warm with careful and considered accompaniments, the tune versions adventurous taking one on an unexpected journey with sudden and spontaneous variation and improvisation. 

Nollaig Ó Fionghaile [http://cormacbreatnach.com/wp/discography/musical-journey/]

1. Sporting Paddy / Adele
2. Tommy Whelan’s / Oíche Nollaig
3. Na Ceannabhain Bhana / A Perpignan / Fasten The Legging In Her / The Legacy
4. Port na bPucaí
5. The Humours Of Tullycreen / The Princess Royal
6. Mujeres (Women)
7. The Britches Full Of Stitches / The Toda Klop / The Step Ahead Polka
8. La Molinera
9. The Tailor Small’s Jig / The Battering Ram
10. Maidin Luan Chincise / Sabhbh / Song For Sabhbh
11. The Belles Of Tipperary / Connie Connell’s / Cooley’s / Jennie Tie The Bonnet

Cormac Breatnach- Musical Journey
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Deiseal- The Long Long Note (1993)

Irish Traditional music came under the spotlight in the seventies, thanks to the ground breaking work of such bands as Sweeney’s Men, Planxty and The Bothy Band. These groups exposed a whole crop of younger musicians to the creative possibilities in a mountain of music as old as the hills.

Here on this recording Cormac Breatnach, Niall Ó Callanáin and Paul O’Driscoll, three of that younger crop, display their creative musicality. Both founding members of the highly innovative, but short lived, Meristem, Cormac and Niall have been playing together since their school days.

In this trio format, which is the ideal compromise between solo and group playing, they perform a mixture of traditional and original music in a style that reflects not just their traditional roots and modern influences but their own musical souls as well.

I love and enjoy their music, I hope you, the listener, will too.

Brian Dunning

1. Shores Of Loch Ghamhna

2. Sí Beag, Sí Mór

3. Raindrops/The First Of May

4. My Love I Miss Her So

5. Long (Long) Note

6. Soporific / The Rights Of Man

7. Mná na hÉireann

8. Stranger At The Gate / Boston Blues

9. Lord Inchiquin

10. Lakeside

Cormac Breatnach: Whistles.

Niall ÓCallanáin: Bouzouki, Acoustic Guitar.

Paul O’Driscoll: Double & Fretless Bass.

Deiseal- The Long Long Note

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