SíFiddlers

 It is only in the last twenty years or so that women violinists have been properly recognised and celebrated. A new band has been formed, SíFiddlers, a group of thirteen fiddlers, all of whom are women musicians from Donegal, from Glencolmcille in the south of the county to the Inishowen peninsula in the north.

The first time these thirteen fiddlers came together on stage was in 2018 for the Earagail Arts Festival. Their concert was a huge success with over thirty other fiddlers joining them on stage for an fantastic finale, proof, if proof were needed, of the good health of fiddle playing in Donegal. These musicians have just followed up their 2018 concert with the recording of the eponymous SíFiddlers album.

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Liz Doherty, Bríd Harper, Theresa Kavanagh, Claire Friel, Róisín McGrory, Tara Connaghan, Melanie Houton, Aisling Drost-Byrne, Denise Boyle, Claire Gallagher, Clódagh Warnock and Eimear McColgan speak from the heart as they perform Donegal standards and inspirational tunes. There are therefore many, many pieces to be recognised, for anyone who is a regular visitor to this repertoire. Paddy's Trip to Scotland, The Glory Reel, The Silver Slipper or Francie Mooney's and Vincent Campbell's two bewitching mazurkas.

Twelve tracks, some reels, jigs, strathspeys, barndances, mazurkas, all of which are representative of Donegal music. Apart from the traditional ones, the composers include Francie Byrne for five titles and another renowned musician, Tommy Peoples, as well as Bríd Harper for Port Dún Ulún and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh for Tune for Frankie and The Red Crow.

Throughout this excellent album, the listener is lulled by dynamic, sensitive, ornate music, which gives the listener a sense of the uniqueness of the music of this remote corner of Ireland. Of all the styles of music in Ireland, Donegal music is undoubtedly the richest. One of the best albums of the year.   

Autoproduit - SIF001 - www.sifiddlers.com