Farewell To The Highlands (EP)

by Cathal Caulfield

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1.	The Broken Pledge 01:57	info
2.	My Sorrow Is Greater Than I Can Tell 03:16
3.	Brian Boru's March 03:10
4.	Ceó Druídheachta 02:05	info
5.	Farewell To The Highlands 02:01
6.	O'Carolan's Farewell To Music 03:14

about

Farewell to the Highlands is an EP of fiddle music from the making of Kú's recent audiobook The Tale of Déin. The pieces date back to the 19th / early 20th centuries and are thought to be older still (see SOURCES below).

The tunes were sourced from 6 different collectors and adapted to the themes of Kú's audiobook, a reimagining of the story of Déin MacCécht, the healer of the Tuatha Dé Dannan. The themes include loss of place, otherworldly magic, abuse of power, betrayal, fierce anger, sorrow, grief and reconciliation.

The melancholic title track was with us from the beginning of our manuscript meanderings and has found a home at last. "The Broken Pledge" contains some Tommy Potts influences and describes a great betrayal and abuse of power, while "O'Carolan's Farewell To Music" portrays a most almighty roar unnatural to this world. The old Irish spelling of "Ceó Druídheachta" draws on the link between the words “Druid” and “Draíocht” (magic) earning its rightful place as the opening piece to The Tale of Déin.

Listen to the audiobook here: podrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-tale-of-d-in

SOURCES:
1. Music of Ireland, 1850 Melodies, Francis O'Neill, 1903.
2. Old Irish Folk Music and Songs, Patrick Weston Joyce, 1909.
3. Grier Manuscripts, Book 3, Stephen Grier, 1883; thought to be much older.
4. The Complete Petrie Collection of Ancient Irish Music, George Petrie, 1902.
5. Goodman Manuscripts, Tunes Of The Munster Pipers vol. 2, James Goodman, collected by Goodman in the 1860s.
6. O'Farrell's Collection of National Irish Music for the Union Pipes, Patrick O'Farrell, 1804.

credits

released February 8, 2024

All tracks are traditional, sourced by Cathal Caulfield and Kilian O'Flanagan.
Fiddle music by Cathal Caulfield.
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Kilian O'Flanagan at POD Studios.
Photography by Catriona Kennedy.
Produced by Kú.

Tracks 1-5 & 7 appear in the audiobook The Tale of Déin (follow the link for full audiobook: podrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-tale-of-d-in ).

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about

Cathal Caulfield Dublin, Ireland

Cathal Caulfield is a traditional fiddle player / folk singer from Dublin. Caulfield's sound has been strongly influenced by the Irish fiddling tradition. He continues to search for inspiration in the wells of birdsong, 18th-20th century manuscripts and the places in time where history and folklore collide. ... more

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