LiveIreland Blog

Live Ireland–May 2007 Margeson On The Music

We always loved the Celtic Harp. Who doesn’t? We used to find it a bit redundant. Listening to very little of it, we studied none of it. It was nice. Pleasant. But, how far could you really take it? How did you tell one harpist from another? It all sounded nice, but really…..

Then, we were at Irish Fest years ago in Milwaukee. Our daughter, Mary, came tearing up to us. Had we heard, “that harp player”? What harp player? THAT harp player! (We were thrilled she was listening to any of the music instead of “hanging”.) What was even more unbelievable was that she was raving about “that harp player and this guitar guy”. What was the name? She didn’t remember, if she ever knew—but she DID remember it was a real long Irish name, and we HAD to go see her and the “guitar guy”. Noted. Done. No one else we knew had any inkling about harpists, either. So we went to the different stages to check the lineups and WHAM! Found her! Had to be! Maire ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman. Never heard of them. Ignorance was NOT bliss, but…well… We made a note not to miss the next concert and went on our merry, ignorant way.

We arrived that evening in time to get a great seat. This really had to be something for the kid to have gone nuts. Out walked this demure and lovely lady, with this “guitar guy”. Very unassuming. Pleasant. We figured we were in for another pleasant, unassuming harp concert. We were wrong.

It wasn’t so much that they started playing. They began.It was something up-tempo. Somewhere around the 16th bar, we were transfixed. The music at the best can do this. It is rare. Flook. Brock-McGuire. Munnelly. Altan. Cathie Ryan. Tommie Fleming. You are bolted. As in “lightning bolted”. This was something beyond special. This was magic. This was a musically transformative moment. You know. You have had them, too—if you are lucky. Yeah, you know. You look up at the sky and say, “take me now”. You know. And, so it was. By the end of the concert, we and rest of the audience were on our feet, and knew, we all knew we had just heard the great Irish harper of the age. More than a wonder. A miracle. And, oh! That guitar guy!!

Finding out all the details on the duo came later. Many conversations. Dinner at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago and some lovely place in Columbus, Ohio. The musical credentials on both are so extensive as to not be needed here. Solo, they are staggering. But, put Chris Newman and Maire ni Cathasaigh together and this alchemy of genius takes over. This cannot be done better. Never HAS been done better. Never will.

We await certain artists’ albums like ravenous beasts of prey. Impatiently tapping our foot until we hear the newest “take”. The newest reading on the music. The above-listed artists all fill that bill. We know we are going to love whatever they do. The question is only how much. So, a few months ago, our appetites were whetted by an e-mail chat we had with Maire where she told us they would have a new one out soon. We demanded, begged, pleaded and implored we get it first, and indeed, in America we have. See, dear reader, just stick right here—you’ll get the tasty scoops first! If you are in the British Isles or anywhere else in the world, this has been out a short while, and the only reason for you not to have it is that, somehow, you missed the word it was out. It is “FireWire”. Isn’t that a great name? It is the eighth album from the duo. Well, Chris has two solo guitar albums in the previous mix—works of brilliance, really. But, these two are now inseparable in our minds. Anyway. “FireWire”. Old Bridge Music online is where to find it, in addition to here in the site store. If for some weirdness it is NOT here in the store, just let Bernard or David know, and they will get it for you instantly.

FireWire is 13 tunes and songs, altogether. There are a couple lovely vocals from Maire thrown in. But, what we are talking about is the harp and guitar here. Oh, they are joined by great guest artists, like Maire’s sister, Nollaig Casey on fiddle. How to describe this playing? Well, of course, you cannot. But, imagine fingers flying—literally FLYING, over guitar and harp strings in a perfect unison—so perfect, it is as if there is only one musician playing. You only get this diamond-like perfection from a couple that has been together for years. Think The Everly Brothers on instruments. This is years and years of creativity and genius all in one package. All you gotta do is buy it. Then, it is yours, also. Years ago, in a moment of hubris, we thought we had figured out the secret to Maire’s blinding speed. We thought then that she was doing a modulated Travis guitar picking style on the harp from the way she arches her right hand as she played. Truth is, we don’t have a clue. You can’t explain this. You can only revel in it. Waltzes, reels, airs, songs, jigs, hornpipes, they are all here. We have never heard the iconic air, “An Buachaillin Ban (The Fair Haired Boy)” played more movingly. “Ginny’s Waltz” is inexplicable. We have listened to it about 25 times now. Soon, it will be 26.

We’ve been at this for decades now. We know the Instrumental Album of the Year when we hear it. We’ve heard FireWire. The rest is easy. Where does it rank in this magical library Chris and Maire have compiled?

It is their best. We would say it will not be done better. But, we know it will. In their next album. This is not only lovely, classy magic. FireWire is genius we can actually hear. Get it. Your ears need it—and so does your soul.

Notes:

*There is only one note. You already know it. The radio show. Blarney on the Air—we know. We know. But, we NEEDED a title, and Shay Clarke, my partner, DOES own Blarney Fine Irish Jewelry—so what are you going to do? Anyway, it is on every Monday night. 7-9, Chicago time. WDCB—90.9fm. www.wdcb.org You would have heard LiveWire debuted in America had you been listening. You would also hear us continue our personal and never-ending efforts to educate the most musically clueless person we have ever met—-uh, that would be native Dubliner, Shay Clarke. We love him. His taste in Irish and Celtic jewelry is flawless. His taste in music is all flaws—but we love him as you would love a bewildered child found along the road. Anyway, give a listen!

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