The Given Note

The Given Note
Studio album by Liam O'Flynn
Released 1995
Recorded Windmill Lane Studios Dublin
Genre Celtic
Label Tara Music label
Producer Shaun Davey
Professional reviews

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"It's no surprise that former Planxty member Liam O'Flynn is quite adventurous on this solo album -- after all, Planxty offered their own brand of adventure in making traditional Irish music relevant for a new generation in the '70s. A master uillean pipe and whistle player, O'Flynn's magic is apparent right from the first notes of "O'Farrell's Welcome to Limerick," which daringly also includes some growling bass and didgeridu. But it's not all instrumental -- singer Andy Irvine performs beautifully on "Come With Me Over the Mountain," (and also on the jig "A Smile in the Dark," which he composed, and where he contributes mandolin). The album covers the Celtic spectrum -- there's a Scottish piece from Phil Cunningham ("Farewell to Gavan"), which, while tasteful, veers perilously close to Clannad-style new age Celtic, and even a taste of Galicia on "Foliada De Elviña." But it's obvious that the Irish selections lie closest to O'Flynn's heart, especially "The Green Island/Spellan the Fiddler," which he learned from his parents. Equally adept on both his instruments, O'Flynn is a virtuoso who can dazzle on the whistle with "The Rambler/The Aherlow Jig" and move with some wonderfully lyrical phrasing on the slow air "The Girl of Brown Hair." Call this an object lesson in the way this music should be played in the 1990s." -- Chris Nickson - Allmusic

Liam O'Flynn chronology
Out To An Other Side The Given Note The Piper's Call

The Given Note title was suggested by Liam's good friend Seamus Heaney winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature, Seamus also wrote a fine tribute to Liam which can be found in the sleeve notes of the album.

Tracks

1) O'Farrell's Welcome to Limerick
2) O'Rourke's, The Merry Sisters, Colonel Fraser
3) Come with me over the Mountain, A Smile in the Dark
4) Farewell To Govan
5) Joyce's Tune
6) The Green Island, Spellan The Fiddler
7) Foliada de Elviña
8) Ag Taisteal Na Blárnan (Travelling Through Blarney)
9) The Rambler, The Aherlow Jig
10) The Smith's a Gallant Fireman
11) Romeo's Exile
12) The Rocks of Bawn
13) Cailín na Gruaige Doinne (The Girl of the Brown Hair)
14) a) Teño un Amor Na Montaña b.) Alborada - Unha Noite no Santo Cristo

Musicians

Liam O'Flynn : Uilleann Pipes, Whistle
Arty McGlynn : Guitar
Steve Cooney : Guitar, Bass Guitar, Digeridoo
Rod McVey : Synthesizers, Hammond Organ,, Harmonium
Noel Eccles : Percussion
Sean Keane : Fiddle
Rodrigo Romani : (Milladoiro) Harp
Xose V. Ferreirós : (Milladoiro) Gaita (Galician bagpipes), Tambourine, Oboe
Nando Casal : (Milladoiro) Gaita (Galician Bagpipes),Clarinet
Ciaran Mordaunt : Side Drums (Track 10)
Guests
Andy Irvine : Vocals, Mandolin
Paul Brady : Vocals, Mandolin, Piano

References

Record Label Catalogue 2009
Album Sleevenotes