‘Celtic Chamber Music’ : Birth of a new musical genre

Violinist Samantha Gillogly with Pianist Tim Maurice photo by Kat Hartigan

 
"There can be no tradition without innovation." ~ Earle Hitchner, Irish music journalist ~

On April 15, 2011, at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston, Massachusetts, a new genre of music was born, in a performance billed as “An Evening of Celtic Chamber Music.’”
The flawless recording was captured live and recently released as a CD and MP3 download, and for my daughter, violinist/violist/composer, Samantha Gillogly, this was a culmination of a dream realized. 

Seeing as today is St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it timely to share this marvelous collaboration, which features the very talented pianist/composer Tim Maurice, and special guest artists  Roselie Samter (viola) and Zoya Shereshkova (cello).

The album includes 20 lyrical reinterpretations of favorite Celtic fiddle tunes from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Brittany along with Samantha’s original composition,” Mr. Lowe’s Waltz.”

Celtic Chamber Music, is being given extensive airplay on PBS as well as specialty radio stations, and numerous Internet sites across the United States, Canada, Australia and Great Britain, and has recently been picked up by Pandora for future airings.

The entire album and individual tracks are available for sound sampling and purchase through CD Baby and Amazon.com.

Below is a video from the April performance, featuring “Mr. Lowe’s Waltz”.

ENJOY and HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY! 

Another bargain: Free downloadable sheet music

Earlier today, I posted another bargain on my second website. If you have a child who is interested in classical music or is wanting to learn classical music for piano, voice, chamber groups or orchestra, here is profile and a link for free sheet music downloads from composer, Charles McCreery. His compositions are tonal, tuneful and accessible for children of all age groups and abilities. Enjoy.

Who says classical music has gone to the dogs?

Once in awhile something unusual happens during a live classical music performance that patrons will talk about for years to come.

It might be an exceptionally fine interpretation of a classical standard, which causes the audience to rise to their feet in astonished devotion.

Then again, it could be something totally different and not ever witnessed before – such is the latter in this case.

On Sunday, June 14, 2009, the Hampshire Choral Society, who’s mission is “to create beautiful music, and to have fun doing it, “certainly made good on their goal!

The society .was giving a lovely performance of Handel’s Messiah, when an unexpected visitor entered stage left, and was deftly dispatched elsewhere by Ms. Anita Anderson Cooper, and with very good humor (IMHO) by conductor Allan Taylor.

You will not believe your eyes! Enjoy – this is a first (in my memory) that will make you smile!