Michael McGoldrick is a folk musician who plays Irish flute, uilleann pipes, low whistle and bodhran. He also plays other instruments such as acoustic guitar, cittern, and mandolin.
A shruti box is an instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, that traditionally works on a system of bellows. It is similar to a harmonium and is used to provide a drone in a practice session or concert of Indian classical music. It is used as an accompaniment to other instruments and notably the flute. The shruti box is also used in classical singing. In classical singing, the shruti box is used to help tune the voice. The use of the shruti box has widened with the cross-cultural influences of world music and new-age music to provide a drone for many other instruments as well as vocalists and mantra singing.
"Be Thou My Vision" is a traditional Christian hymn of Irish origin. The words are based on a Middle Irish poem that has traditionally been attributed to Dallán Forgaill.
Sadenia "Eddi" Reader MBE is a Scottish singer-songwriter, known for her work as frontwoman of Fairground Attraction and for an enduring solo career. She is the recipient of three BRIT Awards. In 2003, she showcased the works of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns.
John McCusker is a Scottish folk musician, record producer, and composer. An accomplished fiddle player, he had a long association as a member of the Battlefield Band beginning in the 1990s and was later a band member and producer for folk singer Kate Rusby. He has served as producer and arranger for artists in a range of genres and also has several solo albums to his credit.
"The Twa Sisters" is a traditional murder ballad, dating at least as far back as the mid 17th century. The song recounts the tale of a girl drowned by her jealous sister. At least 21 English variants exist under several names, including "Minnorie" or "Binnorie", "The Cruel Sister", "The Wind and Rain", "Dreadful Wind and Rain", "Two Sisters", "The Bonny Swans" and the "Bonnie Bows of London". The ballad was collected by renowned folklorist Francis J. Child as Child Ballad 10 and is also listed in the Roud Folk Song Index ., Whilst the song is thought to originate somewhere around England or Scotland, extremely similar songs have been found throughout Europe, particularly in Scandinavia.
Julie Fowlis is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.
Sings the Songs of Robert Burns is the seventh studio album by Eddi Reader. It was released in the UK on 12 May 2003.
Kris Drever is a Scottish contemporary folk musician and songwriter who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his debut solo album, Black Water. Drever is the vocalist and guitarist of the folk trio Lau with Martin Green and Aidan O'Rourke. He has worked with other British folk contemporaries, including Kate Rusby, John McCusker, Ian Carr, Eddi Reader and Julie Fowlis.
"Comin' Thro' the Rye" is a poem written in 1782 by Robert Burns (1759–1796). The words are put to the melody of the Scottish Minstrel "Common' Frae The Town". This is a variant of the tune to which "Auld Lang Syne" is usually sung—the melodic shape is almost identical, the difference lying in the tempo and rhythm.
Cuilidh is the second music album by Scottish musician Julie Fowlis, which in 2008 won her the Album of the Year Award at the Scots Trad Music Awards and Best Folk Singer Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Music Awards.
The First of a Million Kisses is the debut album by Fairground Attraction, released in 1988. The album features the number-one single "Perfect".
Brave is the soundtrack to the 2012 Disney-Pixar film of the same name composed by Patrick Doyle and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra. The soundtrack features Doyle's musical score and features two original songs performed by Scottish singer Julie Fowlis, and one original song performed by Birdy and Mumford & Sons. Walt Disney Records released the soundtrack on both CD album and digital download on June 19, 2012.
Transatlantic Sessions is the collective title for a series of musical productions by Glasgow-based Pelicula Films Ltd, funded by- and produced for BBC Scotland, BBC Four and RTÉ of Ireland. The productions comprise collaborative live performances by various leading folk, bluegrass and country musicians from both sides of the North Atlantic, playing music from Scotland, Ireland, England and North America, who congregate under the musical direction of Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas to record and film a set of half-hour TV episodes. The Television director is Mike Alexander and the producer is Douglas Eadie.
Tom Urie is an actor and musician. He is best known for his role as Big Bob in the BBC Scotland soap opera River City. In November 2019, Urie played Gordie in the BBC Scotland drama Guilt.
"The Campbells Are Coming" is a Scottish song associated with Clan Campbell.
Ulva in literature and the arts refers to the literary and artistic connections to the island of Ulva in the Hebrides of Scotland.
"Dear John" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader, which was released in 1994 as the third and final single from her second studio album Eddi Reader. It was written by Kirsty MacColl and Mark E. Nevin, and produced by Greg Penny. "Dear John" reached No. 48 in the UK and remained in the charts for two weeks. In 1995, the song was nominated for "Best song musically and lyrically" at the Ivor Novello Awards.
“Aliliú na Gamhna” is an Irish folk song, simply translated as “Ah, the calves” or “Oh, the cows”. The word “aililiú” is pronounced similarly to “hallelu” or “hallelujah”, with a similar connotation of joy. The lyrics are from the perspective of a young girl as she reminisces on her childhood spent with her cows. She mentions in the first verse “I am a farmer’s daughter, no doubt.” She recalls caring for the calves, milking them, calling them in at night, and watching them graze and play. Parts of the song briefly mention going to a fair to potentially purchase more calves, and how they will be given the finest pastures to graze, before coming home at the end of summer. A modern traditional take on this song was recorded in 1997 by the band Solas on their album Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers, with vocals by Karan Casey.
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Lyrics:
Is iníon d’aoire mé féinig gan amhras, a bhíodh ina chónaí cois taobh na Leamhna. Bhí bothán agam féin ann is fuinneog i gceann de. Fad a bhíodh an bainne ag téamh agam, se ghlaofainn ar na gamhna.
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