Search - Eugene O'Donnell :: Foggy Dew

UNDOCUMENTED SOUNDS WHICH ONCE FELL FROM THREE DECKERS IN SO

C. Scanlon | among us humans | 02/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"awhuisha



hush now



hearken, listen



hear the sounds from two floors below, from the front parlour where we must never enter, from that large pine box against the wall, which holds the old fern, the large bare wood box which we must never open, whose teeth black and ivory we must never bare.



hush. wuisha.



that is the piano tickled alive, moaning deep.



and that.



that is great uncle, who must now use his dead brother's name as he came over upon his dead brother's paper, the great uncle who hides ever in the small back room at the top, the great uncle for whom we must ever remain quiet.



That is the sound of his fiddle from the funny small box which he never opens now.



His friend has come from Derry. Hush! Listen.



This is the music once heard from illegal tenements in our great cities. Listen. Eugene O'Donnell once a great step dancer, became an even greater fiddler of those airs to which he once lept, of those laments which once spoke of home and of hearth.



They say it takes seven years of listening, seven years of practicing and seven years of playing to become a great fiddler. Mr. O'Donnell is a great fiddler. Hear as well his Slow Airs & Set Dances, a more formal and varied recording with Mick Moloney. Here we have two old friends, acknowledged masters of their art, meeting one another and walking over to a recording studio to swap melodies and record them on the spot, masters loosely improvising and developing in friendship and love of this great music. Mr. O'Donnell did not intend to have this recording published, yet we have it gratefully now, sounding of Grandmother's front parlour when a visitor slips in unannounced from Erin.



You will recognize the final melody at least, overdone, universal, but here done right, and well, and creatively, with all heart and soul and memory.



Music to write poetry for ever-lost loves by. Music for remembrance, and for strength. Music for human hearts. Music to lie silent and to hear once more.



Hush! Ahuisha! Hear this now.

"

A beautiful blend of piano and fiddle and slow Irish airs.

C. Scanlon | 08/19/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The obvious understanding that these two musicians have for each other's playing and for the airs they play comes across so beautifully in this CD. The fiddle and the piano weave through each other like magic threads. Their selection of airs is wonderful, some old favourites, some new versions of old favourites and some origional material. What a pity they did not produce more."

Brings you closer to the edge

Nancy Solitare | New Haven, CT USA | 04/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ethereal 'music'-I hesitate to call it by it's common name, as there is something almost sacred in it.

Two fine ancient Irish souls channel through Eugene and James (R.I.P.), who transform the album into so much more than the sum of it's parts.

Be astounded and gently hypnotized by one piano and one violin.

These classic Celtic airs will transport you somewhere where it's always summer-verdant and magical.

Stunningly beautiful.





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