Haste to the Wedding
- Ceilidh Band -
Our CD
This was recorded in Komodo Studios , Co.Down in December 2004. We would highly recommend the Komodo team and I hope the results speak for themselves. We have tried to achieve a live sound with most tracks recorded in session mode all sitting together in one room, having a good time.
Have a listen to some samples below.
Available now for £10 inc P&P
1.
Lake Shore - Jimmy Wards (J. Ward) - Hartes
Gerry learned the Lake Shore from Inishboffin box player Vincent O'Halloran who moved to London in the mid 1970's. Leslie found us the 2nd tune, composed by Jim Ward, one of the founders of the Kilfenora Ceili Band from Clare. Jim picked up the third jig at a session many moons ago and forgot to put it down again. We play Jimmy Ward's twice because we think it's a wee stoater!
2.
Flying Scotsman
: High Rd to Linton - Fairy Dance (N, Gow) - Roxborough Castle
A modern Scottish dance and three strong Scottish reels to help it along. It's a simple but fairly fast dance, although we don't tell you that until you're on the dance floor and it's too late to escape.
3.
Music Ian Maclachlan. Words David Silver
While the tune is well enough known, it's not common to hear a set of words built around it. We understand that there is a Gaelic version to an older air. The images of a rough, stormy seas and wild shores, together with the underlying theme of a longing to return home, form a perfect partnership with the melody.
4.
Foula Reel
: Wee Todd - Pete's Peerie Boat (Tom Anderson) - The Market Town
The dance is actually a jig from the island of Foula in the Shetlands, the patterns of the figures are meant to represent the weaving industry. These fine tunes complement this excellent dance, one from the Scottish tradition, one by the Shetland fiddler and composer Tom Anderson, and to finish, a rarely played Irish jig from O'Neill's.
5.
Jim wrote the first reel for his youngest son, the second is a popular in sessions around East Antrim.
6.
Strip the Willow
: Hunting the hare, Foxhunter's Jig, Back o' the Haggard, Redican's
Four Slip Jigs to accompany the ever popular Strip the Willow. Forget what the Scots might tell you - it's a really easy dance. All you need is a degree in higher mathematics and a global positioning system and you're away!
7.
: (Arr. Urwin)
Colin sings and accompanies himself on a collated version, which is close to the one collected by Cecil Sharp in Somerset, at the turn of the century. The song is widespread throughout the British Isles and has traveled to America and Canada. The imagery in the song is unusual and A.L.Lloyd sees a connection to the English song `The two magicians' and the Scottish ballad `Tam Lin' with their themes of shape changing and a magical duel between a man and a woman. We just think it's a nice song!
8.
: Loch Lomand - The Rowan Tree - Bonny Gallowa'
Three Scottish waltzes played by Leslie and accompanied by Pete & Colin. Leslie has without doubt forgotten more tunes than the rest of us have ever learned.
9.
Gay Gordons
: Scotland the brave - Lord Lovat's Lament - McCoskey Park (R Brock) - Linda McFarland.
It's a rare Ceilidh when we don't see a full dance floor for this. It gives our caller a rest too. This set mixes popular and lesser known marches all from Leslie Craig's seemingly inexhaustible repertoire.
10.
Dashing White Sergeant
: Dashing White Sergeant - Far from Home - Mason's Apron
Probably our most requested dance, our caller even has a long ways version suitable for narrow venues. This set of reels would be a typical selection of tunes that we play on stage.
11.
Gerry introduces this song on the Cittern. This song first appeared in Johnson's second volume of the Musical Museum. Attributed to Burns this song is undoubtedly of Irish origin and probably dates from the 18th century. It is obviously very similar to the Curragh of Kildare and it is likely that Burns collected and edited it somewhat, either way it's a lovely song.
12.
Bridge of Athlone
: Mucking o' Geordie's Byre - Maids of Drumore - Charlie Hunter - Buttermilk Mary
The dance appears in the EFDDS Community Dance Book as an American set dance, but its obviously Irish in origin. It seems that it immigrated to Boston where a third part was added. The first jig is a popular Scottish tune and the last three, less well known Irish jigs we learned from Leslie.
13.
Three reels composed by our accordion player Leslie Craig from Cullybackey, Co. Antrim. The second was written for George McCrea, fiddler and gentleman from Ahoghill, near Ballymena. These fine reels often pop up in sessions (and recordings) across Ireland and the UK, and Leslie rarely gets credited for them, although it's easy to see why musicians think that they're traditional tunes.
14.
New York Girls
A sea song but not a sea shanty. This is a `forebitter', sung for relaxation when off-duty. References to the Black ball Line and the Yankee Blood boat refer to Wright & Co's infamous Black Ball Line, a shipping run between New York and Liverpool that started in 1816. The eastward trip took 23 days and discipline on board was merciless as hard case skippers drove ships and men with no regard for weather or weariness, to meet schedules. Pete suggested putting `The Sliabh Luachra Polka' between the verses and at the end of the song.
All titles Traditional unless stated.
All titles arranged by Haste to the Wedding. Except 7 arr. Urwin & 13 arr Craig
For the Paddy McKeown CD click below:
Details of our 1st CD are below.
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This is our first recording, made at Einstein Studios - Antrim. Our engineer was the very capable Frankie McClay, who called us the tightest band he had ever recorded (I don't know if he meant musically or financially!!) Normally a band can record about four tracks in a day - we did twelve! So this really is a live recording - what you hear is what you'll get! The tracks below were picked to show the wide range of music we can provide, from wild Jigs and Reels to more gentler Ballads.
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TRACKS
1.
Dashing White Sergeant
Original, My loves she's but a lassie yet, Rose Tree
2.
Virginia Reel Set
- Turkey in the Straw, Waiting for the Federals, Over the waterfall, Boil your cabbage down
3.
Steal Away
(Phil Coulter)
4.
Gay Gordons Set
-Scotland the Brave, Dancing like a turnip, Barren rocks of Aden
5.
Jig of Slurs
7.
Butterfly Set
Fairy Reel, Humors of Tulla,
Musical Priest
, Sally Gardens
8.
Marries Wedding
/ Atholl Highlanders
9. Strip the Willow - Original, Blackthorn Stick,
Haste to the Wedding
11.
I will Love You
- (Tom Paxton)
12.
Masons Apron
"Dance for yourself, if someone understands good. If not then no matter, go right on doing what you love."
~Lois Hurst~