Our CD is finally, completed. Above, is a pen drawing an artist friend of ours, named Sheila Mott did for us that we used for the cover. The actual drawing is a 1:1 ratio to the size of a CD. When you think of all those leaves drawn in that wee space . . .!
Today I pick up the Cd's from the company that mass produced them for us. Peggy, the fiddle player and I were talking last night about how long this CD has taken and the first song we recorded was just over a year ago. It doesn't seem that long but, we've been working on this project that long.
Here we are, and what a handsome lot we make! (for old people, that is) ;-)
I'm posing behind my harp, Bill Woods is holding his bodhrán, an Irish drum, and Peggy Nogle is holding her fiddle.
I thought I would throw some more pictures in this entry to add a bit more colour. I'm holding a guitar (obviously) and the two instruments on the right are a mandolin and an Irish bouzouki. Yes, that was taken at an out doors festival and I'm allergic to hay. What one will do for art's sake. ;-)
This picture was taken at an inside gig ( thank goodness ) and that is a mandolin I'm playing for all who may be "instrument challenged." ;-)
This picture was taken at the Gig Harbour "Blessing of the Fleet" event. It was out doors and a very cool day with intermittent rain. At one point the wind was blowing the rain sideways and we all had to move further under the canopy to stay dry. My Irish sweater and cap are made for this type of weather. I was glad I didn't bring my harp for this event. There were other performers on the program as well and I felt sorry for a young teenager who brought her concert sized harp to play with the small orchestra. I'm sure she was tuning it constantly throughout the performance. There's an old joke about Harper's that claims they spend fifty percent of the time tuning their instrument and the other fifty percent of the time playing out of tune!
There you have it!
Here are three tracks from the album.
Enjoy!
28 comments:
How exciting Butch. "Mooney Woods & Nogle" I love that; it sounds slightly enchanted.
Can you post a track or two?
Joe: Thanks. Showing my ignorance, I'm not sure how to post a track or two on line. . . if you have suggestions on how it is done, I would be glad to put a few on line.
Butch, congratulations!!! I love the cover illustration...any chance the cottage this was sketched after was pink...?
I'm so glad you figured out how to post a few tracks--I enjoyed them immensely!! Is that your own lovely voice we are finally getting to hear!? "Hills of Grafton" is touchingly beautiful...oh, nicely done, my friend...
Please let us know where we may purchase it online, or at least send me a note to let me know how much dough to send you--my collection needs a copy of this!
And now, for something completely different...and please, don't think I am offering this as a sort of dig at you--but homophones (or is it homonyms...you know, words that sound alike) fascinate me, and you've exposed me to a new pair I hadn't realized before.
Must be the catering director in me, but a canape is usually a tiny bread round with a bit of cheese and meat and maybe a pimento...and I was immensely tickled to think of you musicians huddling beneath one against the rain! : )
Greg:; Many thanks. Sheila penned it in black and white so unfortunately, the cottage is not pink. ( but a nice thought ) ;-)
I wrote the "Hills of Grafton" in honor of the town from which my mother was born and raised in West Virginia. My relatives built many of the older homes in that town and I understand George Washington surveyed the road that went by my grand parents homestead. Route 5 or is it Route 50? It's been too long since I was back visiting.
It if wasn't for Steve, I would still be trying to figure out how to post MP3 files. Yes, that is my voice. It took me awhile to back my voice down to a less intense sound from the days when I sang opera. Re-learning how to use a microphone again without melting the equipment was interesting since I didn't need one for classical music.
Thanks for inquiring about a purchase. For now, we will be selling them privately until we locate a CD outlet that will handle it for us, if that's what we finally do so, until then, that will be. ;-)
I'll be selling them for $15.00 + shipping. (I will need to find out how much that is in the US, and further if needed.) I'll send you an email with all the information. Thanks for your comments, I appreciate it.
Greg: Ha! I do this all the time! Glad I could bring another one to you. Homophone's or Malapropism's, I do them all. ;-)
Hey congrats! I hope you sell zillions. It was only just recently that I learned a fiddle was a violin.
Torn: Thanks. Here's a bit of useless information for you, the name, fiddle came from the Irish word. " fidil," which meant violin. ;-) It makes a lot of sense considering it was used in the Appalachian regions of the Southern states by those immigrants of Irish, Scottish,English and Welsh lineage.
BEAUTIFUL music! I've been a skimmer here for a while, but I had to post my thoughts on your music. Absolutely gorgeous. I'm from East Tennesse...and a lot of our Mountain Music is based deeply in the traditional Irish tunes. Beautiful!
I'm adding you as a link on my blog. :)
Joie
http://somuchtodealwith.blogspot.com
Joie: Many thanks for your kind words. My parents were born and raised in West Virginia and that music as well as the Celtic genre is in my blood.
Thanks for adding me to your blog. I will do as well with yours.
What fun! Congratulations.
I like this music. Very pretty.
Java: Many thanks!
So sweet. The arrangements and instrumentations are spare, which seems to brighten everything; a nice setting for your delightful voice. Nothing out of tune here. You can hear every note. Nice production.
Joe: Many thanks for your kind comments. Glad you put a bug under me to put it into a MP3 format. Of course, Steve was the brain behind this adventure, otherwise, I'd still be trying to figure it out.
I like it! Great job! And y'all are a handsome lot
Wonder Man: Many thanks!
Handsome lot, eh? I'm going to get a swelled head. ;-)
I want to tell you how much I love the songs you posted from your CD. Lovely, joyous, wonderful! Spirit-filled, soul-dancing music. You are blessed with a beautiful voice.
Jo
Jo: Many thanks for the kind words. I'm glad we were able to do this project and finally finish it. It has been a wee bit over a year since the first tune was recorded. I have a ton of other tunes I've written and intend to get them on the next CDs when we start recording for that project.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! And so reminiscent of traditional music from the maritime provinces I heard so often growing up.
Congrats!
Dantallion: Many thanks! Glad you enjoyed the tracks.
What a cool name! Better than Dewey, Cheatem & Howe!!!! :)
I think you are a talented bunch of lads. And a gal.
I hope the wind is always at your back, dear Butchy.
xoxo
(from my fave Irish thingie)
Sorry about the inadvertant name change, Butch!! I explained in my comments, where I guess I had an Incredible Hulk moment. Bruce Banner. lol. Sorry 'bout that! ;) It's fixed now.
Gillian: We thought about "Dewey, Cheatem & Howe" but it was already taken. ;-)
Thanks for the kind words.
Joie: No worries, I got a kick out of your explanation with the "Incredible Hulk moment", good stuff. ;-)
I definitely fall into the "musically challenged" realm. While I can appreciate good music, singing and anything else musical I will just leave for those more talented.
Congratulations on seeing this to completion. Many plan things like this but never get around to it or see it through. Good for you!
Al: Many thanks. There were times I thought it would never be completed. One of the times, we had recorded the complete album only to have the hard drive holding everything crash. We lost most of our work. We did have a few pieces stored to another disc but this main one was lost, so we started all over, learned our lesson and after each recording, we mixed it and then stored it in a few places off of that hard drive. It worked, thankfully.
Well done Phill!! Needless to say, the Mooney Clan of Mid-Michigan is very proud of you and your endeavors!
John: Many thanks, and how in the world did you find me in this vast cyber world of blogging? ;-)
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