TIARNÁN Ó DUINNCHINN - Reggish Paddy
Private Label
As fine an album of unaccompanied uilleann piping as you are likely to hear from a piper of this generation: I say unaccompanied, but solo would be a better description, as one of the most striking things about Tiarnán's playing is his copious and skilful use of the regulators. This built-in accompaniment option is never overpowering here, and in fact many of the fancier pieces of regulator work go almost unnoticed as their low notes are backgrounded by the chanter's strong treble. Ó Duinnchinn's command of the melody line is clear on his masterly performance of Scottish fiddle classics, The Iron Man and Brenda Stubbert's Reel, switching smoothly from A major to A minor. His choice of material is eclectic and conservative in equal parts: a version of Rakish Paddy, old favourites such as The Oak Tree and Miss Monaghan, and challenging pieces such as Garrett Barry's or Cherish The Ladies are interspersed with choices from Scotland, North America, Italy, and a couple of English Baroque composers. The song airs Coileach Ag Fógairt An Lae, Mál Bhán Ní Chuileannáin and Tá Dhá Gabhairín Bhuí Agam are a real delight: I'm thinking the first one would be really nice as a slip-jig now. Tiarnán's performance of two Purcell pieces reminds me strongly of Liam O'Flynn with Planxty, and his final flourish on the John Doherty jig Further In The Deeper, with a touch of accompaniment from Cooney and Hutchinson, ends an excellent debut solo CD from this outstanding piper with a few albums under his apron and much more still to offer.
www.tiarnan.ie
Alex Monaghan
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