Wandering with O'Carolan 1670-1738 Digipack

Description

25 new themes by the Irish bard Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738) harmonized, arranged, and performed by guitarist Pascal Bournet. The instrumental formula is expanded to include the entire family of guitars (classical, piccolo, and bass). Two compositions are added to those of O'Carolan: "Marilor's dream" by Pascal Bournet and "Lough Meelagh" by Patrick Bournet.
An expert and sensitive guitar transcription by the specialist of O'Carolan, the author and national Irish composer and musician.
During a dark time in Ireland's history, Turlough O'Carolan brought a renewal to the music of his country. Faithful to the tradition of poets from previous centuries, he composed equally for the old Irish aristocracy, descended like him from the Gaels, as well as for the English-origin nobles. A highly esteemed composer, he was welcomed by all the great families, famous throughout Ireland, and he retained the friendship of great men, including the writer Jonathan Swift. In his pieces, three influences can be found: popular music, the tradition of harpists, and that of Italian composers of his time. Turlough O'Carolan left no sheet music of his music. Some of his pieces were published during his lifetime in Dublin, and his son, also a harpist, participated in another edition in 1748 which, unfortunately, has only reached us in a very incomplete form. It is therefore mainly through tradition that his 214 pieces have come down to us in the form of simple melodic lines. The music of O'Carolan is light compared to that of the great composers of his time; however, it possesses a strong personality that is immediately identifiable and remains an astonishing and original achievement. Bridging the gap between learned music and Gaelic popular music, Turlough O'Carolan is thus considered the national Irish composer.