In review--Middle Irish and the Legendary Finn
Paul Hillier National Chamber Choir of Ireland Stewart French Tarik O’Regan Acallam na Senórach: An Irish Colloquy Harmonia Mundi Sung in Middle Irish and English, the medieval frame-tale of the meeting of Saint Patrick and associates of Finn mac Cumaill comes to life on Paul Hillier’s latest recording, Tarik O’Regan Acallam na Senórach: An Irish Colloquy . And what a splendid recording this is, with soprano vocals that sail through the glass ceiling and blend seamlessly with a mixed choir’s polyphony. Opening with bodhrán the choral work takes on a mysterious quality. The drumbeats prepare listeners to enter the realm of enchantment and to take a journey to Ireland’s medieval past. And the story portrayed on the recording represents the meeting of pagan and Christian cultures, and communication from spiritual realms. Besides the ethereal polyphonic vocals, we are treated to Stewart French’s classical guitar such as on Guitar ...