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1
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Walk
With Me
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mp3 |
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2
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The
Curragh of Kildare
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mp3 |
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3
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The Moon and the Tide
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mp3 |
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4
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Peggy Gordon
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mp3 |
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5
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Cúnla
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mp3 |
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6
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Spancil Hill
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mp3 |
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7
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I Could Hear Your Voice
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mp3 |
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8
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Black is the Colour
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mp3 |
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9
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The Water Is Wide - Dans Fanch Mitt
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mp3 |
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10
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Hold
Me Now
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mp3 |
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11
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Down By The Salley Gardens
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mp3 |
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12
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Walk With Me (reprise)
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mp3 |
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buy
cd
only £9 - free postage
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downloads
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Bridget McMahon -
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vocals,
acoustic guitar, violin, percussion |
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Chris
Conway -
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tin
& low whistles, keyboards, acoustic & electric 9 string
guitar, nylon string guitar, mandolin, kalimba, vocals, percussion
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Adele McMahon -
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violin
- 5 |
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Dan Britton -
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bodhran,
acoustic guitar, percussion - 5, 6, 8, 9 |
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Neil
Rabjohn -
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cajon
drum - 5 |
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background
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Recording
Celtic Woman started when 2 tracks were recorded 2 years ago
but was interrupted when Bridget moved to Ireland with her young
family. Recording in earnest was resumed in December last year
and finished early in the new year.
She also found time while in CCs studio to record sessions for
Govannen on their Celtic Fire CD, Dave Kirk's Mayfly CD and
on Chris Conway's Songs for Dreamers album.
Although many of the songs are traditional the sound is very
modern and full of the influences CC can bring to a recording.
One track has a hint of Latin while another has an ethnic tribal
feel. Pop and electronica, 60s retro and more are all; there
but it all feels like a whole and running through the album
is a rich Celtic tradition with whiistle tunes and bodhran.
Bridget at the CCs Oblong Studio recording Celtic Woman.
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biography
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Bridget
McMahon has been singing and playing music since she was a child
- he father is a singer of traditional songs from County Clare.
She fist appeared in acoustic clubs and Irish music sessions
with her sister in Leicester UK. She attracted attention which
led to her joining various groups such as The Sisters of Murphy.
She recorded with bands Endorphin and Saoirse and joined the
band Govannen, recording atmospheric vocals alongside Vikki
Clayton on their acclaimed Healing Waters album. She left the
band to move with her young family to Ireland but returned to
record on Govannen's Celtic Fire album and play some concerts
with them.
Bridget lives in the remote west coast of Ireland in County
Mayo. Her two children, Saoirse and Daniel, take up much of
her time but she continues play concerts, solo and in a duo
with Eamon Wilson which in 2007 took her to Dublin, England
and Croatia and singing live on Irish Radio.
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influences
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Alan
Stivell, Loreena McKennitt, Moya Brennan, Mary Black, Capercaille,
Donal Lunny, Hothouse Flowers, The Corrs
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technical
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recorded digitally at Oblong Studios, Leicester, UK
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CC's
fave track
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Down
By The Salley Gardens
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trivia
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Walk
With Me was especially written for Bridget by Chris Conway.
He recorded his own version of the song as Life Road on his
Songs For Dreamers album.
Instrumental versions of Cunla and Spancil Hill
were released on Govannen's Celtic Fire
album.
I Could Hear Your Voice grew out of an instrumental piece
Dreamcatcher on Chris's Songs For
Dreamers album where Bridget recorded some whispering and
vocals. Chris took some of these elemtns out and made this track.
Chris indulged in some of his favourite influences in arranging
some of the tracks on Celtic Woman....tho it's quite possible
that you may not realise this as they all suit the songs so
well.
The arrangement on Down By The Salley Gardens is influenced
by the Brain Wilson production sound from The Beach Boys.
The arrangement on The Water Is Wide was influenced by
Lisa Stansfield.
The arrangement on The Curragh opf Kildare was influenced
by Brazilian bossa music and especially Marcos Valle.
Dans Fanch Mitt is a Breton tune Chris heard Alan Stivell
play.
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| track
by track |
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1.
Walk With Me (Conway)
Chris Conway wrote this song especially for Bridget highlighting her
love of music and family.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - tin & low whistles, keyboards, kalimba, vocals,
percussion
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2.
The Curragh of Kildare (trad Ireland arr Conway)
This beautiful traditional ballad gets a touch of latin as Spanish
guitar and rhythms grow through the song.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - low whistle, keyboards, nylon string guitar, acoustic
9 string guitar, vocals, percussion
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3.
The Moon and the Tide (McMahon)
Bridget composed this song mnay years ago and still plays it at solo
concerts. The song itself has an Americana feel but the Irish whistle
tunes keeps the Celtic vibe.
Bridget McMahon - vocals, acoustic guitar
Chris Conway - tin whistles, keyboards, electric 9 string guitar,
percussion
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4.
Peggy Gordon (trad Ireland arr Conway)
This beautiful well known ballad is sung with great passion by Bridget.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - low whistle, keyboards, electric 9 string guitar, percussion
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5.
Cúnla
(trad Ireland arr Conway)
Govannen join Bridget on this lilting song with her sister Adele's
fiddle featured especially.
Bridget McMahon - vocals, handclaps
Chris Conway - keyboards, percussion, handclaps
Adele McMahon - violin
Dan Britton - bodhran, percussion, handclaps
Neil Rabjohn - cajon drum
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6.
Spancil Hill (trad Ireland arr Conway)
This is one of the most well known of Irish songs. In this unusual
arrangement there is an almost folk-jazz feel to it with the addition
of layers of Bridgets voice.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway -tin & low whistles, acoustic 9 string guitar, keyboards,
percussion
Dan Britton - bodhran
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7.
I Could Hear Your Voice (McMahon & Conway)
This delicate sound poem came out of a spontaneous session in the
studio.
Bridget McMahon - vocals, violin
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8.
Black is the Colour (trad Ireland arr Conway)
Bridget has been singing this song in her live solo set and with Govannen
for many years and her voiuce sounds stunning on it.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - mandolin, piano, keyboards, acoustic 9 string guitar
Dan Britton - acoustic guitar, bodhran
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9.
The Water Is Wide - Dans Fanch Mitt
(trad Ireland - trad Brittany - arr Conway)
A positively funky version of this Irish ballad. In the outro a fave
Breton tune of Chris's strikes up.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway -tin & low whistles, electric 9 string guitar, keyboards,
percussion
Dan Britton - bodhran
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10.
Hold Me Now (McMahon)
Another great Bridget original song with again an Americana feel.
Bridget McMahon - vocals, acoustic guitar
Chris Conway - low whistle, piano, keyboards, vocals, percussion
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11.
Down By The Salley Gardens
(trad Ireland arr Conway)
Once again a unique arrangement of this wel known song - the melody
is traditional (The Maids of Mourn Shore) and the words are said to
be set by poet WB Yeats. Bridget recorded an instrumental version
of this melody on Govannen's Healing Waters album. This version has
a kind of retro 60s feel but it works.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - low whistle, piano, keyboards, electric 9 string guitar,
percussion
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12.
Walk With Me (reprise) (Conway)
A little reprise as Bridget walks and sings into the distance.
Bridget McMahon - vocals
Chris Conway - keyboards
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Produced
by Chris Conway
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