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There’s More to Celtic Music Than “Danny Boy”

A new album from Smithsonian Folkways will brighten anyone’s St. Patrick’s Day

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  • By Leah Binkovitz
  • Smithsonian magazine, March 2013, Subscribe
 
<i>Classic Celtic Music</i>
Classic Celtic Music (Smithsonian Folkways)

Audio Gallery

Listen to a Free Stream of Classic Classic Music


Beyond “Danny Boy” Celtic music, says Richard Carlin, a record producer who has long specialized in the genre, “runs far, far deeper than something like Riverdance.” For the just-released Classic Celtic Music, he combed the Smithsonian Folkways vaults for 23 choice tracks, recorded between 1945 and 1986, that would brighten anybody’s St. Patrick’s Day: a jig by fiddler Michael Gorman and banjoist Margaret Barry, an air with Billy Pigg on Northumbrian smallpipes, a song by the Irish vocalist Sorcha Ní Ghuairim in the lilting, haunting style known as sean-nós. Dancing encouraged but not required.


Beyond “Danny Boy” Celtic music, says Richard Carlin, a record producer who has long specialized in the genre, “runs far, far deeper than something like Riverdance.” For the just-released Classic Celtic Music, he combed the Smithsonian Folkways vaults for 23 choice tracks, recorded between 1945 and 1986, that would brighten anybody’s St. Patrick’s Day: a jig by fiddler Michael Gorman and banjoist Margaret Barry, an air with Billy Pigg on Northumbrian smallpipes, a song by the Irish vocalist Sorcha Ní Ghuairim in the lilting, haunting style known as sean-nós. Dancing encouraged but not required.

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Related topics: Folk Ireland


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Comments (7)

i am a member of smithsonium how do i click in to listen to celtic music?

Posted by Justin Horowitz on May 8,2013 | 03:36 PM

Smithsonian magazine sent me to this site with the enticement that I could listen to a sample. NOT!!! Too bad - if I could have heard a sampling it would have made me go look for a way to buy a copy. And it is too bad this site doesn't offer a way to purchase or a guide to the store. Nothing like inaccessibility to whet the appetite, huh?

Posted by Robert Welch on April 2,2013 | 07:59 PM

I agree with Todd. Why mention something with retail opportunities and not say where it can be purchased? Plus it's a Smithsonian Folkways product, so doubly sad. I live in the DC area. Does anyone know where I can get 5 copies of this cd by Friday? I'd like to give them as presents if I can get them. Thanks to all. And Smithsonian, please think more retail when you produce or highlight such interesting projects.

Posted by Joyce Covington on March 9,2013 | 10:16 AM

Love celtic music hope to enjoy it

Posted by Barb Jette on March 6,2013 | 07:17 PM

It's available here: http://www.folkways.si.edu/classic-celtic-music-from-folkways/album/smithsonian

Posted by Jeff Inglis on March 3,2013 | 07:45 PM

I was hoping to acquire this through Smithsonian.com. Is it out in retail stores and which ones?

Posted by judith dare on March 3,2013 | 04:05 PM

What a wonderful collection...why is it not available in the Smithsonian store, and why is there no mention in the article of when it will become available?

Posted by TODD A. HUFFMAN on March 1,2013 | 09:40 AM



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