Ceoltoiri ~ Celtic ensemble with Sue Richards, Karen Ashbrook, Connie McKenna & guests
All-instrumental album by Ceoltoiri featuring the Celtic harp, hammered dulcimer, fiddle, guitar and concertina. Music from the Celtic lands including: Ireland and Scotland. Ceoltoiri weaves a rich and varied tapestry of textures and sounds. Hear Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes and slow airs, a Scottish reel and strathspey, Swedish polskas, Coilsfield House/Jig of Slurs, and Knit the Pocky, a reel from the Bremner Collection (1757). (50:02 minutes)
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"Beautiful duo arrangements, with accompanists here and there. Harpist Sue Richards's greatest strength is her command of Scottish traditional music. Karen Ashbrook's sprightly hammered dulcimer playing is an excellent complement to Richards's harp. Even the cover art is cool."
- Steve Winick
"The Celtic harp and hammered dulcimer ring and mingle with the delicacy of hand-sewn lace!" - The Washington Post
"Bright, delicate, meditative in their precision...Ceoltoiri transcends traditional boundaries." - Dulcimer Player News
Tune List:
Listen to samples at
Marguis of Huntley (3:06)
Maivalsurin / Polskas (6:48)
Scotch Cap / Glenlivit (2:00)
Nita's Rambles / McHogh's / The Legacy (3:20)
Mairi Bhan Og (1:40)
Tullochgorum/MurdoMacKenzie or Torriedon (3:47)
The Irish Reel Set (3:05)
Coilsfield House / Jig of Slurs (4:07)
Chanter / La Rotta (3:46)
Pease Bridge / Knit the Pocky (2:34)
An tSean Bhean Bhocht (5:11)
The New Land (3:30)
The Orange and Blue (2:25)
Etude / Mary O'Neill (3:20)
Additional musicians: David Kornblum (guitar); Dan Blum (guitar, bouzouki); Wendy Morrison (concertina); Myron Bretholz (bodhran).
Recorded at Takoma Recording, Takoma Park, Maryland and Inner Ear Studios, Arlington, Virginia.
Marguis of Huntley A Scottish reel. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer, Sue Richards - Celtic harp Connie McKenna - guitar.
Maivalsurin / Polskas A May waltz composed by by Ivar Boerentsen of the Foeroese group Spoelimenninir, followed by two Swedish dance tunes, "Varvindar Friska" and "Tanta Och Ta." Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer Sue Richards - Celtic harp.
Scotch Cap / Glenlivit Two drinks guaranteed to warm you on a cold winter night, mysteriously embodied in a jig and a reel. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer,Sue Richards - Celtic harp.
Nita's Rambles / McHogh's / The Legacy Terry Winch composed this slow air; the last two are traditional Irish jigs. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer, Sue Richards - Celtic harp Myron Bretholz - Bodhran .
Mairi Bhan Og "Mary Young and Fair," a Scottish air. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer,Sue Richards - Celtic harp.
Tullochgorum / Murdo MacKenzie of Torriedon An old Scottish round reel and a Bobby MacLeod tune. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer,Sue Richards - Celtic harp.
The Irish Reel Set The Guns of the Magnificent Seven, Over the Water to Bessie and The Fisherman's Island (Ed Reavy). Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer, Sue Richards - Celtic harp Dan Blum - Bouzouki, guitar (7).
Coilsfield House / Jig of Slurs A favorite by Nathaniel Gow, and a Scottish tune by piping master George S. McLennan. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer, Sue Richards - Celtic harp.
Chanter / La Rotta An old Irish pipe march entwined with the second half of Tristan's Lament, an Italian composition from the 14th century (anon). Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer, Sue Richards - Celtic harp.
Pease Bridge / Knit the Pocky The first tune is a strathspey by Abraham Mackintosh; Knit the Pocky (pocket) is a reel from the Bremner Collection, 1757. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer, Sue Richards - Celtic harp.
An tSean Bhean Bhocht "The Poor Old Woman" is often an allegorical name for Ireland. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer, Sue Richards - Celtic harp David Kornblum - guitar (11)Wendy Morrison - Concertina (11).
The New LandA favorite of ours, by Otis Tomas of Nova Scotia. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer, Sue Richards - Celtic harp Connie McKenna - guitar.
The Orange and Blue A Scottish strathspey. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer ,Sue Richards - Celtic harp.
Etude / Mary O'Neill A classical guitar exercise and a tune by the famous Irish harper, Turlough O'Carolan. Artists: Karen Ashbrook - hammered dulcimer,Sue Richards - Celtic harp, Dan Blum - guitar.
