Emerald Baroque's new album, Ireland's Enchantment, is available to buy from 21st April, 2010.
£12.00 plus pp.
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Performed on period instruments, all musicians are leading exponents of early music and Irish music. The Director and harpsichordist, Bridget Cunningham, was awarded a scholarship from the Finzi Trust to research early Irish music and Handel's visit to Dublin in 1741, which became the inspiration for the album.
Track listing
- Turlough O'Carolan Bridget Cruise & Carolan's Draught 2:44
- Anon Separation of Soul and Body & Port Chuil Aodha 4:41
- Anon Aileen Aroon 4:14
- Turlough O'Carolan Sir Arthur Sheen & O'Reilly of Athcarne 4:00
- Anon Ode to St. Bridget 3:34
- Bridget Cunningham Day of Deities 3:31
- Anon An Buachaillin Ban 4:44
- Kathleen Cunningham & Anon Mavourneen & Drowsy Maggie
- Anon Black is the Colour 4:14
- Anon Humours of Dublin & Ships are Sailing 2:54
- Anon She Moved Through the Fair 5:25
- Cornelius Lyons Mrs Hamilton 3:19
- Turlough O'Carolan Fairy Queen 7:20
- Anon Si Beog Si Mor 2:45
- Bridget Cunningham & Carolan Tide of Time & Carlan's Frolic 3:19
- Anon Brink of the White Rock 3:50
- Anon Eileen Aroon 2:37
- Turlough O'Carolan Carolan's Favourite Jig 1:09
Total play time: 68:20
Emerald Baroque is a dynamic new ensemble focusing on enchanting music from and inspired by Ireland. Bridget Cunningham and her sister Kathleen have found many early tunes and written new music for the group which they are recording as well as researching original early music. The group performs Celtic Baroque music led by Bridget Cunningham on the harpsichord with Laura Justice (recorders), Farran Scott (baroque violin), Jennifer Bullock (viol, baroque cello), Eleanor Harrison (baroque violin), Breda McKinney (soprano) and Anna Devin (soprano). The group varies in size from solo harpsichord recitals to six players and are available for recording, film work, festivals and concerts, and lecture recitals.
They currently have two programmes. One is entitled 'Ireland's Enchantment', featuring early Irish tunes and new compositions and arrangements, in a modern approach performed on baroque instruments. Music includes folk songs, new pieces, harpsichord music, instrumental music as well as baroque music by composers such as O'Carolan and his contemporaries. The second programme, 'Handel in Dublin', focuses on Handel's musical life in Ireland and features concert music by Handel, Dubourg, Roseingrave and other contemporary baroque Irish composers.
Emerald also commissions new works and use early and folk instruments to perform a range of musical styles. They have performed at Camden New Town Festival 2007, the Winchester Early Music Festival 2006 and the Handel House Museum 2008.