Co-star / female lead in "Once" was Marketa Irglova.

Bob

Just got a couple good ones - Old Blind Dogs Live, Bohola, Danu.

Just wanted to point out that my recommendation for the soundtrack for the movie 'ONCE' won an Oscar for the song, "FALLING SLOWLY".

NOT that I'm saying, "I TOLD you so ..."

Bob

Wasn't that fantastic, Bob?! My daughter and I were so excited that they won. And I thought the young lady did a wonderful job with her speech, I'm so glad they decided to let her speak.

You guys are not really up on Irish music. See our entry for the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z28STzFIFBU

So you don't want to win this year, then?

We know that we can't win it, and this is our comment on what the competition has become.

I realize this is an old thread but enjoyed reading about what people are/were listening to.

Playing one of the iTunes radio stations while I was dozing, I woke up to the most beautiful sound. Usually I'm the last to know about anything or anyone, and this is no exception, but just in case someone else is even slower on the uptake than I am...

Her name is Lasairfhiona (website says it's pronounced lah-sah-reena) and both albums are enchanting! The song I woke to is called 'An Raibh Tu Ar An gCarraig?' (Were you there on the rock?).

The website is www.aransinger.com and under the 'discography' tab you can listen to 30second clips of all the songs. Beautiful! :)

Thanks for sharing, Rosa! I'm on my way to check it out!

Wow! I see what you mean about waking to the most beautiful sound! Again, thanks for posting this.

I'm glad you liked it! 'Inis Oirr, In Inis Oirr' is fantastic, as well. *sigh* I was thinking I didn't need to actually buy the music since there is that streaming radio station that plays her occasionally but... ;) A few songs won't put too much of a dent in my trip savings. haha

Buying all her recordings won't break the bank: she has made only 2 CDs.
You can find some stuff on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lXnxIP37Oc (nice video with it)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfPqklJJhtA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e_ZHf5nq-4 (she is a couple of minutes in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLYJAAxBy1Y (continues from previous link)

Padraig, this may well be a dumb question, but hers isn't the type of Connemara music you were telling me about it is? I could tell from the clips that she has a beautiful voice. And I got a sense of very traditional music but couldn't tell much beyond that.

I just watched the first youtube clip. Which I should have done before I posted! Now I'm thinking it is that type of music. And, if so, I understand your fascination with it. Very beautiful and very moving. Even to someone who doesn't understand the words!

Thank you for those links.

CAPH52's question reflects the conversation we had at our mini-GTG earlier this year, where I told her that one of my strong preferences in music is what is called "sean nós", or old style - a song tradition with much vocal ornamentation.

CAPH52, the answer is "somewhat". Lasairfhíona's singing has elements of sean nós, but is not entirely of the tradition. Compare with Róisín Elsafty (Connemara mother and, for a touch of exoticism, Egyptian father):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsvAU1SO0Uk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7botriqnggo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8paj2hQHIo

There is a fair introduction to sean nós (by an American) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7qieYC4VWM

Padraig: Thanks for the youtube links! I rarely think of youtube on my own for some reason- not until someone suggests it. :) What I like about Lasairfhiona is the relatively simple, sweet, and direct nature of her voice which seems miles away from Roisin Elsafty whose voice, to me, sounds much more rich and mature- but also breathtaking!

So, do you see where the problem is? A couple albums here and a couple albums there...and then my savings IS seriously depleted! ;) I am, however, still thrilled to see that Roisin Elsafty has music for sale on iTunes!

Also, there were very interesting websites posted at the end of the sean nós video, in case there are others who become obsessed with 'new' discoveries and can't let anything go after just a taste!

www.daltai.com
http://comhaltas.ie/

One other thing, and I could be way off in this, but it seems like there are several cultures that have vaguely similar singing styles in their 'traditional' songs- the first artist that came to mind was Ofra Haza. I have the Fifty Gates of Wisdom album and while they are very different types of music that voice 'ornamentation' feels similar to me. Maybe I'm just imagining it? :) But it's interesting to wonder about.

Padraig, thanks for those links! I've only had a chance to listen to the first one so far. But I do see what you mean. And what a voice!

And thank you again, Rosa. Not only because of the info on Lasairfhiona, but because posting about her led to Padraig's links!

Okay, I'm on a mission -- to make people a bit more aware of authentic Gaelic tradition. First, another couple of sean nós singers (partly to show that my range of interest is wider than winsome young women with voices that angels would envy):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUWVB3yQxBA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-QjheCm0nY (some people might recognise the melody, if not the way it is treated).

Then let's think about dance. Forget Riverdance. Leave aside the false ringlets and the embroidered costumes, and the rigor mortis from the waist up. Sean nós dancing. The real thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcCKmp4VSIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRebK06iUQg (note that it is permitted to adjust bra straps)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXYgE4EgCc8

Enjoyed those clips, as well, Padraig- thank you for looking those up for everyone. :)

My Great-Gramma used to dance around like that (not quite that spry, though) only she always had a spoon in one hand and a dishrag in the other. Sometimes she'd dance out into the living room, wait until all the grandkids were looking at her, then turn around and dance back into the kitchen. LOL! She always threw her hands up into the air, though, on the way back out. Maybe that was because of the little bit of the 'Charleston' she threw in. ;)

Wonderful memories. She was always dancing and her house always smelled like coffee, cabbage, bacon, and bread. One of the best compliments I ever got was when one of my brother's came over and said it smelled like her house! I didn't dance for him, though...

Anyway, it must make the older generations very happy to see the younger ones keeping the traditional music and dance alive.

Thanks, again.

Pulling up this old discussion to tell you of a sad event: Liam Clancy, the last surviving member of the Clancy Brothers and, to my mind, one of the finest Irish folk singers ever, died today. Few singers could stand up the hairs on my neck the way he could. And he was a really nice man as well.

Let us drink a parting glass in his honour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1se8_-fcxZs