Name: Raining Notes
Artist: Enda Seery
Year of Publication: 2018
Source:
https://www.deezer.com/us/album/73696152
https://endaseerymusic.bandcamp.com/album/raining-notes
Description: The third album of the highly-respected composer, whistle and flute player Enda Seery
In Detail: The first set is a lovely lively set of slides, featuring two of his own compositions. The second is another excellent set of jigs. A lovely relaxed slow air makes up the third track. The fourth track is a set of old jigs, played with guitar accompaniment and lovely vim.
The fifth track is a pair of nice hornpipes with keyboard accompaniment. The sixth is a three-reel offering with one of his own compositions starting it, with sparse guitar accompaniment. The seventh is a single-tune track - an old set-dance played sedately on D flute. The eight track is a gorgeous offering - Bb whistle used for a lovely slip jig and old jig together
The ninth track is a barn-dance into a pair of bouncing reels on the D flute. The tenth track is a nice pair of John Joe Gannon flings. The eleventh track is a Maurice Lennon waltz, delicately played on flute. The twelfth track is a jig set including compositions from himself and Peadar O'Riada - this is the only track on the album that features a D whistle. The album finishes up with a thirteenth track - a set of well-known reels with banjo player John Byrne.
What's Good: As with his other albums, Enda delivers a lovely mix of different tune in a relaxed and uncomplicated way. The accompaniment is gentle and simple without being overbearing on the music. The selection of different tune types is both varied and interesting. His compositions are very much within the spirit of the tradition. He knows exactly what he's trying to do with this album, and achieves it to aplomb.
Seery is at heart an educator. Like all good teachers, he is formulaic in terms of his approach, and this is reflective of how he plays traditional music. This is "book trad" - it aligns closely with how the music is taught in formal settings such as in Comhaltas branches - if this is what you are after, you'll love this album. His use of ornamentation is particularly notable - varied, competent and carefully positioned as so not to overbear the melody or detract from the rhythm. Intermediate and improver flute and whistle players trying to learn how to play ornamentation properly would benefit greatly from listening to this album.
What's Bad: I really enjoyed this album, so very little to say here! There is nothing inherently wrong with this album - at all.Seery isn't a virtuoso player - that isn't his style, and he doesn't really go out of the box of what this album is trying to achieve - so if you're expecting to hear the boundaries of the tradition being pushed, maybe try another album - this one couldn't get more traditional. The constant shifting of flutes and whistles in different keys for different tracks may not appeal to everyone and may make it more difficult to play along to for some.
Rating: 9.5/10
Have an album you want reviewed? Please email [email protected]
Artist: Enda Seery
Year of Publication: 2018
Source:
https://www.deezer.com/us/album/73696152
https://endaseerymusic.bandcamp.com/album/raining-notes
Description: The third album of the highly-respected composer, whistle and flute player Enda Seery
In Detail: The first set is a lovely lively set of slides, featuring two of his own compositions. The second is another excellent set of jigs. A lovely relaxed slow air makes up the third track. The fourth track is a set of old jigs, played with guitar accompaniment and lovely vim.
The fifth track is a pair of nice hornpipes with keyboard accompaniment. The sixth is a three-reel offering with one of his own compositions starting it, with sparse guitar accompaniment. The seventh is a single-tune track - an old set-dance played sedately on D flute. The eight track is a gorgeous offering - Bb whistle used for a lovely slip jig and old jig together
The ninth track is a barn-dance into a pair of bouncing reels on the D flute. The tenth track is a nice pair of John Joe Gannon flings. The eleventh track is a Maurice Lennon waltz, delicately played on flute. The twelfth track is a jig set including compositions from himself and Peadar O'Riada - this is the only track on the album that features a D whistle. The album finishes up with a thirteenth track - a set of well-known reels with banjo player John Byrne.
What's Good: As with his other albums, Enda delivers a lovely mix of different tune in a relaxed and uncomplicated way. The accompaniment is gentle and simple without being overbearing on the music. The selection of different tune types is both varied and interesting. His compositions are very much within the spirit of the tradition. He knows exactly what he's trying to do with this album, and achieves it to aplomb.
Seery is at heart an educator. Like all good teachers, he is formulaic in terms of his approach, and this is reflective of how he plays traditional music. This is "book trad" - it aligns closely with how the music is taught in formal settings such as in Comhaltas branches - if this is what you are after, you'll love this album. His use of ornamentation is particularly notable - varied, competent and carefully positioned as so not to overbear the melody or detract from the rhythm. Intermediate and improver flute and whistle players trying to learn how to play ornamentation properly would benefit greatly from listening to this album.
What's Bad: I really enjoyed this album, so very little to say here! There is nothing inherently wrong with this album - at all.Seery isn't a virtuoso player - that isn't his style, and he doesn't really go out of the box of what this album is trying to achieve - so if you're expecting to hear the boundaries of the tradition being pushed, maybe try another album - this one couldn't get more traditional. The constant shifting of flutes and whistles in different keys for different tracks may not appeal to everyone and may make it more difficult to play along to for some.
Rating: 9.5/10
Have an album you want reviewed? Please email [email protected]