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The Star Above the Garter

Denis Murphy, Julia Clifford

Shanachie

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1. Rathawaun
   The Hare in the Corn
2. O'Mahoney's
   The Stack of Barley
3. Morning Star
   Rolling on the Ryegrass
4. Farewell to Whiskey
   The Dark Girl
5. Tom Billy's
6. Dan O'Keeffe's
7. O'Rahilly's Grave
8. Seanbhean Na Gcartai
   Tom Billy's
9. Ballydesmond Polkas
10. Blackbird
11. Lady on the Island
    Callaghan's
12. Monster Jig
    Munster Buttermilk
13. Knocknabower Polkas
14. Johnny When You Die
    Anything for John-Joe
15. Raibh Tu Ag an Gcarraig
16. Padraic O'Keeffe's
    The Scartaglen Jig
17. Fishermans
18. Galtee Rangers
    The Glentaun Reel
19. Caoine Ui Dhonaill
20. Star Above the Garter
    The Lisheen Slide

Average customer rating:

Absolutely wonderful. Good music well played.

This album is an inspiration. I'm an amateur fiddler, been playing for less than a year, and this album (and music from Sliabh Luachra more generally) keeps me motivated. Wonderfully dancable fiddle duets and a few moving solo airs. Today's traditional Irish music scene can sometimes get on my nerves as over produced and out-of-touch with tradition. This on the other hand is just an album of straight-ahead, very well played fiddle music. No guitars or basses or dumbeks(which I usually find very distracting if not distasteful in ITM). Just good music, well played.

Absolutely Essential

If you want to learn Sliabh Luachra this will get you there. If you can't get to Sliabh Luachra this will take you there. Just absorbing the Knocknabower(Knocknaboul) polkas in their purest form is enough to believe. You MUST have this recording if you love the polka - slide - hornpipe connection. Only Padraig O'Keefe could provide a better lesson...

The Heart of Sliabh Luachra

Denis Murphy (b 1910) and his sister Julia Clifford (b 1914)were born to a Co. Kerry family of "music morning, noon and night." Their teacher was the legendary Padraig O'Keefe. Julia emigrated to Britain and played fiddle all her life, winning the All Ireland title and playing in numerous combinations and venues to an advanced age. Denis emigrated to America and played with a long list of musical heroes, James Morrison, Andy McGann, etc. This seminal 1960s recording includes just their two fiddles, no accompaniment (nor needs any!) This is brilliant and pure Irish fiddling - fine reels, emotive slow airs, and polkas, including the now ubiquitous Ballysdesmonds 1,2,3. There is delicate ornamentation and technically fine playing, but this is not about showing off, this is about how tunes sound when they are played with love, respect, memory and sense of place. This recording is a cornerstone of any Irish music collection.

Wonderful

My favorite Irish fiddling CD. Dennis Murphy and Julia Clifford perform traditional fiddle music from County Kerry (Don't panic - that other "Kerry" wasn't really from there). This was recorded in the 60s and retains the purity of that past era. You will not be disappointed!