Draioicht na hOiche

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Draioicht na hOiche (sic, correct Irish spelling is Draíocht na hOíche, "Magic of the Night"; shortly: DNO) is a British musical group founded in 2002, known for performing and popularizing Irish traditional music. The band has recorded nine albums of instrumental and vocal Irish folk music, as well as multiple collaborations with musicians of many genres, including Country music, Welsh traditional music, Scottish traditional music, Cape Breton music, and New Age music.

1 History
2 Band members
3 Albums
4 Songs
5 Influences
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] History

Tara album cover

Beyond album cover

Hibernia album cover

Magic of the Night album cover

Ghostwood: Tohmare Ethaine album cover

Lúthien Tinúviel album cover

The DNO logo

Draioicht na hOiche started in May 2002 as a Folk music troupe associated to the organization which is now known internationally as the UCL Folk Group. It has been supported by the University College London and performs on a number of folk shows in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland since its creation.

In June 2002, DNO completed their first album, "Luthien Tinuviel". Most of the songs included are with a J. R. R. Tolkien thematic and refer especially to his earlier works and the most renowned legend in The Silmarillion, Beren And Lúthien. By the end of 2002, DNO earned their first awards, their song "Magic of the Trees" taking the Best Harp Song award on the International Eisteddfod at St David's.

The second album of DNO, “Celtic Tunes” was completed on Christmas 2002. The 60-minute CD was edited by Desmond FitzMaurice and Mark Beasley in the Ebony Studio in London. It includes five new songs written by DNO and ten Celtic tunes taken from the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and Manx traditional folklore, and performed on various occasions throughout the first year of the troupe's existence.

In May 2003, DNO made a major step forward in the band's development, starting a collaboration with the Celtic Folk Society at the British Council, associated with a new music and dance project entitled “Ghostwood”. The band participated in the show with a double album entitled “Ghostwood: Tohmare Ethaine” and “Ghostwood: King of the Fairies”, featuring traditional songs from the British Isles. Performances lasted throughout the summer and autumn season of 2003 and 2004, taking place at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

Draioicht na hOiche means "Magic of the Night" and this was how the band named their fifth compilation of Celtic songs. The new creation of the troupe brought the new features of DNO's music, a sound of New Age music and a very emotional charge.

Following a series of participations at folk festivals in the United Kingdom, DNO played at the International Eisteddfod in August 2004 in Newport. DNO's participation at the closing gala spectacle of the Royal Eisteddfod in London has become a yearly tradition. In May 2004, DNO released their album "Hibernia" featuring several author's compositions and a number of well-known Irish and Scottish folk songs. The album's release was followed by a large tour including venues in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The troupe's seventh full album of DNO, "Beyond" was completed in March 2005 and was promoted on the Carling London Astoria stage in London at the St Patrick's Day festival. The troupe went on a month-long tour across the British Isles in November, 2005.

In the beginning of February 2006, DNO returned to their studio at Cavendish Square in London, following the coming of their promoter Mark Beasley back from a long stay in China. In March 2006, the band completed work over their eighth album called "Tara" which represented DNO's new modern spirit, including electronic sound performed by Sean Power, Desmond FitzMaurice and mixed by Mark Beasley. The album was released on Saint Patrick's Day, and included guest performances by several internationally known artists, who joined DNO on their promotion tour in Scotland.

Since then, DNO have continued evolving, further developing into New Age music, and adding significant elements of World fusion into their newest double album “Tree of Life”, released in December, 2006. The 2-hour long collection includes 30 tracks in various styles, from traditional Celtic music and Irish folk, to influences by cultures from all around the world. The band presented the album on a promotion tour across Western Europe during the Christmas holidays, enjoying the assistance of some of the most prolific performers and artists of the London folk scene such as Lóriana MacLochlainn and the Ocean Gypsy dance troupe.