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The repertoire of traditional Irish music is widely regarded as one of the richest and most beautiful in the world. It consists of a vast range of melodies of unusual diversity, which broadly speaking can be divided into two categories: slow airs and dance music. The slow airs are often reflective and even melancholic, while the dance tunes display a dazzling variety of rhythmic motif and style. Amongst the most popular forms are the jig, the reel, the hornpipe, the polka, and the slide. Other dances such as the strathspey, quadrille, mazurka, and waltz have also been assimilated into the Irish tradition.

Irish folk–music is very much a living tradition with a world–wide following. It is in a constant state of renewal and re–interpretation, shown here to its best advantage and adding to the development of the tradition. The arrangements fuse the traditional melodies with classical elements, echoing styles rooted in the times of the origin of the tunes. They incorporate techniques such as modulation, countermelody, development, variation, cadenza– like passages, chromatic harmony and counterpoint, but always keep the melodies in the foreground.

The arrangements are as varied and diverse as the melodies themselves and range from the straightforward to the highly developed and elaborate. Recorded at the Rathgar Methodist Church in Dublin, the recording features master flautist William Dowdall, both solo and with an ensemble of Ireland’s finest musicians. The arrangements utilise flutes, string quartet, concert harp, Irish harp, vocals and percussion.

Irish flautist William “Bill” Dowdall has lived a very varied musical career. Born in Dublin in 1951, he became Principal Flute of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at the age of 22 and then was Principal Flute of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland for 25 years. He has performed as a soloist in Europe, U.S.A., Asia, Australia and New Zealand and is a much sought–after teacher and performer. He is currently Professor of Flute at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin.

His repertoire ranges from J. S. Bach to the most complex of contemporary works. On this recording, he returns to his roots as his first professional engagement was in Dugan’s Irish Pub in the Flats in Cleveland, Ohio, a pub that still exists in North Olmsted, Ohio. Hubert “Iggy” Reynolds had heard him playing in the Cleveland Fèis (Fèiseanna are traditional Gaelic song & dance festivals) and invited him down to Dugan’s to “play a few tunes”.

The “few tunes” turned into a long-standing engagement and a collaboration with Sean Moore and put William “Kevin” (Iggy changed his name from Bill to Kevin as he thought Bill wasn’t Irish enough) Dowdall through music school at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with Maurice Sharp, the renowned Principal Flute of the Cleveland Orchestra.

This recording acknowledges the deep gratitude he feels towards Sean and Iggy and is dedicated to their memory.

tracklist

1   Two Jigs:
       The Rocky Road to Dublin /
       The Blackthorn Stick                               4'51"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley
2   Danny Boy                                                 4'03"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley
3   Eleanor Plunkett                                       4'03"
       Carolan / arr. John Buckley
4   The Plains of Boyle                                   5'09"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley
5   The Coulin                                                 2'53"
       trad. / arr. William Dowdall
6   Down by the Sally Gardens                      4'37"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley
7   Airs and Jig:
       The Hills of Templeglantine (air) /
       Táimse im Chodladh (air) /
       Tell Her I Am (jig)                                     6'59"
       Original melody composed by John Buckley
       and trad. / arr. John Buckley
8   My Lagan Love                                          6'52"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley
9   The Lark in the Clear Air                         3'15"
       trad. / arr. William Dowdall
10   She Moved Through the Fair                   5'49"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley
11   Variations on the Gneeveguilla Polka      4'07"
       Original composition by John Buckley
       on a traditional theme
12   The Streams of Bunclody                         4'52"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley
13   The Snowy Breasted Pearl                       3'20"
       trad. / arr. William Dowdall
14   The Bard of Armagh                                 3'51"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley
15   The Mason’s Apron                                   3'18"
       trad. / arr. John Buckley

        Total time:                                               67'58"