When it comes to Celtic music, my favorite musician is Davy Spillane on uilleann pipes and low whistle. His music is hauntingly beautiful! It goes straight to the heart. Here are some of my favorites, and related covers.
Most of us in Fairfield know about this unique Irish instrument from Tim Britton who performs at various concerts in town. But hearing Midnight Walker really captured my attention! It’s how I discovered Davy Spillane.
I also found this amazing Tribute to Davy Spillane by Christelle Berthon playing Midnight Walker on both harmonica and recorder.
A beautiful lament played by Davy Spillane is Bill Whelan’s Caoineadh Cu Chulainn (The Cry Of Cú Chulainn), part of the Riverdance performance.
I heard Davy play May Morning Dew on a wind instrument. Intrigued, I wanted to know more about it and discovered the low whistle. You can see him play this nostalgic tune at the start of this video clip from a live concert by Moving Hearts, a band Davy had been a part of decades ago. The lucky crowd waited 20 years for this 2007 reunion concert! Astounding performance! It sounds a register higher than the recording, making it more haunting. A video was made of that historic concert called Moving Hearts Live In Dublin. It’s also on Spotify. The audio of May Morning Dew (6:05) from the record is posted on YouTube.
A shorter version (4:24) with video taped by someone in the audience is posted as Moving Hearts feat. Davy Spillane. The quiet intro was not recorded and the long audience applause at the end was cut short. The sound quality is obviously not as good as the professional recording, but it gives you an idea of what it looked and sounded like live from a lucky fan who recorded and shared it along with a few other tunes from that memorable concert. Be prepared to turn down the volume as it’s loud.
Other artists’ versions
May Morning Dew is an old traditional song, which reminisces about the past. You can hear it sung by the great Irish singer Dolores Keane.
Here’s a newer version beautifully sung by Siobhan Miller with her amazing band taken from the forthcoming album All Is Not Forgotten.
She later posted this live version performed in Glasgow August 2020. The 9-song CD, All Is Not Forgotten, is now available on YouTube.
Added over 6½ years later: Karen Matheson sings ‘Crucán na bPáiste’ with a Gaelic band. Brendan Graham tells how the song chose him as a conduit. Truly beautiful and sad.
Added 7 years later: Jeff Beck Live 2022 played Midnight Walker, third tune in his Full Show at The Woodlands, TX. Jeff Beck played Mna Na Hereann with Celtic violinist Sharon Corr and an uilleann piper Live in London Aug 24, 2011. Jeff also played Women of Ireland (Mná na hÉireann) Live at Madison Square Garden 2013.
See this post created for him after he died: The virtuosity and versatility of Jeff Beck was unique among rock guitarists. One of the best!
Other amazing artists I’ve been inspired by and written about are also available in the Archive of the ‘Music’ Category on The Uncarved Blog.
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