McConnell Brings Fermanagh Music Alive Once Again

By Paul Carr
Special to The Irish American Post

Hidden Fermanagh - Traditional Music and Song from County Fermanagh (Two CDs and a book of tunes and songs) http://www.fermanaghmusic.com/

A few years ago, Cathal McConnell had the spark of an idea for a CD of music from his native county of Fermanagh. McConnell may be known to some Americans from his many appearances with Boys of the Lough on Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion radio show.

A talented and charming singer, flute player, and whistle player, McConnell’s simple idea for a CD brought people together to capture two brilliant discs of tunes and songs from Fermanagh, a county at the southwestern edge of the Irish province of Ulster.

It was also decided to produce a book that featured the tunes and songs on the CDs, as well as other music from Fermanagh. Some of these tunes come from the noted John Gunn book, a manuscript dating to the mid-19th century. Gunn was a fiddle teacher in the mi-19th century who lived in the townland of Corratistune, three miles from Derrylin village. He collected about 150 tunes, many of which had never been recorded until the release of these CDs. All in all, the Hidden Fermanagh book has transcripts of more 100 tunes and 33 songs.

The book also uses stories, interviews and photographs of people and places in Fermanagh music to capture some of the history of the people that kept alive the area’s music during the decades of massive emigration and the loss of Irish culture.

Among the many fascinating parts of the book is an interview with John McManus, descendant of John Gunn. The younger Gunn talks at length about the house dances, the céilí band era, and the changing musical environment 50 years ago in Ireland. Not be missed is a long interview with Cathal McConnell himself. The book also includes an index for the tunes and another for the songs.

Some of the tunes on these CDs are played as they would have been played 100 years ago — or even just 30 years ago: without guitar or other accompaniment. This naturally Irish, melodic way of playing the tunes preserves and brings out the natural vibrancy of the music, something sometimes lost when chords from a guitar or like instrument are played on top of an Irish melody.

Among the many sparkling tunes, one could mention the lively opening tune set on the first CD, the reels "Dickie Gossip," "The Primrose Lass" and "Uncle Hugh's Reels." 

Two barn dances bursting with life follow the opening set, "Bobby Treacy’s" and "Sunnyside Banks." The vibrant, rugged style of these tunes is one rarely heard on modern recordings, which are often turned into a sonic mush with unneeded accompaniment.

Among the other outstanding tunes are the reels "The Wrecking Reel," "Handsome Sally" and "Sally Kelly’s." Played by Pat McManus on fiddle, these tunes slowly unwind the melody in a series of serpentine undulations that seem to play in that magical playground of the mind between the dark and the light. They have delicate, tasteful accompaniment that does add beauty to the arrangement. Fiddler Pat McManus is a descendant of John Gunn, so it’s a mighty moment when you find that these haunting tunes all come from the pages of his ancestor’s own work, The Gunn Book.

One of the most stunning songs is Edward on "Lough Erne’s Shore." Sung by Catherine McLaughlin, whose voice can reach the many low notes with great resonance, the song is a wee epic of lost love and liberty. In the song, the singer dreams of her banished lover, Edward. As if the lovely tune behind the song weren’t enough, the song’s lyrics could hardly be more finely crafted:

Delight had fled me, and woe hath wed me,
Why did you leave me, my love a stór…

There are many other songs — some tragic, some funny — all rich in their reflections of the darkly bright Irish mind and its shadow, Irish history.

The CD even features a lilting duet, a rare bird indeed in the Irish song tradition. The lilting tune is picked up on whistle, making for an absolutely lovely moment in music.

These CDs and this book can take their place alongside other equally historic, recently released collections of tunes and songs from Ireland.

Available at http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CG_Book_Hidden_Fermanagh.html