I rented Celtic Tides on VHS from my local library. I really enjoyed watching it. I know alot of people shy away from anything labled “Celtic” thinking it might be new age. Here it refers to the music of Ireland, Scotland, and Eastern Canada.
Featured are interviews/performances by: The Cheiftains, Altan, Old Blind Dogs, Natalie MacMaster, Capercaillie, Dougie MacLean, The Rankin Family (also the hosts), Ashley MacIsaac, Seamus Egan, and others.
Watching Seamus Egan perform on whistle was the highlight for me. I highly recommend it!
I to have seen the video, and have just checked to see if it is in our library. I’m a librarian in my day job, and it is always good here that people found interesting things in a library.
I rented Celtic Tides on VHS from my local library. I really enjoyed watching it. I know alot of people shy away from anything labled “Celtic” thinking it might be new age. Here it refers to the music of Ireland, Scotland, and Eastern Canada.
Featured are interviews/performances by: The Cheiftains, Altan, Old Blind Dogs, Natalie MacMaster, Capercaillie, Dougie MacLean, The Rankin Family (also the hosts), Ashley MacIsaac, Seamus Egan, and others.
Watching Seamus Egan perform on whistle was the highlight for me. I highly recommend it!
I bought this on DVD awhile back. I was not terribly impressed by it. I don’t think one tune/song on it is ever played the whole way through. Also the focus is predominately on trad-fusion performers and not the “pure drop” as it were. Not to seem a musical snob. I love certain trad-fusion groups. It just seems that the goal of this production is more marketing than education. I’m sorry but I don’t regard Loreena McKennit as a “Celtic” musician and wondered at her inclusion in this production. The Rankin lasses delivery of the docu-commentary was at best dry. And what was up with the Mary Black part? None of her musical offering was even close to traditional! Maire Brennan’s performance part was “Theme to Harry’s Game” which was about as pure as Enya (her sister) stuff. New age fluff. Again don’t get me wrong. I own several Clannad CDs. I think they’re great. But why were more trad selections not chosen?
Yup…Excellent Video! MacIsaac is a hoot, is he not?
Well no, IMHO, he is not. He is obviously quite full of himself and his perm. I didn’t hear anything of his playing to be in awe of. He is a showman though. No doubt about that.
Some of the commentary from some of the musicians on this production is interesting. But as a whole I give it a big thumbs down. If you can borrow it from your local libray than check it out but don’t make the mistake of paying money for it.
Cheers,
David de la Barre
[ This Message was edited by: Feadan on 2002-02-21 01:18 ]
I’m with Feadan on this one! Ashley is quite the performer though. Also it was nice to learn " Caledonia " on guitar by watching Dougie Maclean play it. I think the Gael force video was much better. Especially with Christy Moore’s list of things leaving the port rant. TTFN Phiz