Search - Live Concert of the Greatest Irish Artists on DVD

Songs for Ireland

R. Bloxom | Texas USA | 02/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gael Force

I saw this for the first time on PBS during a fund raiser, and it was constantly interrupted by pledge pleas. I've wondered for years if I could ever find a copy, and here it is! This is a marvelous condensation of a week-long celebration of Irish music in Dublin featuring some of the best contemporary (as of 1997) performers. Along with some of my favorites, the program includes bands and individuals with whom I was not familiar - and who joined my list of favorites as a result of their appearances here.



I can't put the disk in the player without watching three tracks in particular. The Canadian family band Leahy plays with the Chieftains with such unbridled energy that one feels exhausted when they're finished. The nine brothers and sisters play a charging medley in B minor that finishes with one of the girls leading off with a hard shoe volley and the rest of the siblings joining her three and four at a time. By the end it sounds like they're about to make the roof collapse, and the applause as they take a bow is even more deafening. Like another reviewer, I bought this disk largely on the strength of my memory of Christy Moore's "City of Chicago". For years I've been wandering around singing the chorus - the only part of the song I could remember - and hoping I could hear him sing it again. Apart from the sheer power of his words about the Great Famine in 1847, the amount of music he creates with his single guitar and his affecting voice is amazing. Near the end fiddler Ashley MacIsaac plays "Tullochgorum" with the Chieftains. He looks stark, raving, barking mad and from his facial expression the music seems to be ripping from his very soul, but his ability is phenomenal and flawless. The crowd goes as mad as Ashley looks when he starts step-dancing without breaking stride in his incredibly energetic playing.



The most frustrating thing about Gael Force for me is that it is a condensation. I would dearly love to see the full performances from Sharon Shannon, Altan, De Dannan, and some of the others. I had never seen Eleanor Shanley, but I loved her a cappella performance of "Still I Love Him", the Irish lament of the devotion of a wife to her neglectful and emotionally abusive husband. She clutches her silent guitar all through the song, and her voice is so powerful that I found myself wishing that I could see the rest of her set. Afro Celt Sound Machine delivers a wonderful blend of the two styles of music and left me wanting more as well.



Some of the tracks seem somewhat out of place. Brian Kennedy is an Irish singer who is simply doing American rhythm and blues - fine for what it is, but a little anomalous for a program of mostly traditional and folk-based music. Sinead O'Connor has a strong voice and one of her songs, "He Moved Through the Fair", is traditional. Her version is a little louder and shriller than I like - I'm used to hearing the song sung in a low, quiet delivery - but it's evocative nonetheless.



This is simply my assessment based on my personal tastes. Others will enjoy these passages as much as I did those mentioned above. I recommend this DVD for anyone who enjoys Celtic music.

"

Worth it for Christy Moore's "City of Chicago" Alone!

Sinead NiC | Germany | 02/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My sisters and I grew up listening to the Clancy Brothers at my Irish grandparents' place and I've loved Irish music ever since. I remember my (Irish speaking) grandmother lining us girls up and trying to teach us to jig (she despaired at our posture but we were enthusiastic!) This DVD is terrific! I immediately recognized a few of the old songs ("Still I love him" and "Song for Ireland," both beautifully sung by Eleanor Shanley and the great Mary Black respectively) and some of the artists, as well (The Chieftains and Christy Moore.) I've always had mixed feelings about Irish fiddling (I cracked up when I learned the Russian word for violin - talk about an onomatopoeia: "skreep-ka!") but the fiddling on this DVD is superb - full of energy and life! So many great artists! Definitely get this one!"

Five Star Performances - just not enough of them!

Mark Michener | LaCrosse, WI | 11/25/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There are some things I'll never understand. Gael Force was a week long extravaganza of some of the most talented Celtic artists on the planet. From over 21 hours of content, the producers chose to capture 100 minutes of it on DVD?!



Still, THERE ARE TEN PERFORMANCES (of 24 total) THAT WILL POSITIVELY ASTOUND YOU, and that's not an overstatement. They alone are worth this DVD's purchase price. The remainder are all solid - nothing you'll "fast forward" through. And you'll probably watch this DVD a few times each year, for a very long time to come.



I can heartily recommend it to ANYONE, regardless of musical tastes. I have shared Gael Force with MANY friends, who have immediately ordered their own copy. You will NOT be disappointed!"