O'Carolan is a Spanish group playing traditional Irish music, which already released three CDs. The line-up consists of Jesus Acero (bouzouki, gaita), Chema Acarazo (acoustic guitar), Julian Ansuategui (percussion), Susana Arregui (fiddle), Miguel Angel Fraile (tin and low whistle) and Pilar Gonzalvo (Celtic harp). The band named themselves after the Irish harper and composer Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), also see review above). Their music is mostly based on Carolan tunes; behind the Spanish titles you can discover tunes Carolan had written for his patrons, including "Fanny Power", "Squire Parsons", "Morgan Magan", "Eleanor Plunkett", "Bridget Cruise", "Lord Inchiquin". "Una pinta y un trebol" is based on his "Ode to Whiskey", and "Adios a la Musica" is "Carolan's Farewell to Music", of course. There are also traditional Irish reels and polkas, the slow air "Limerick's Lamentation", Rory Dall O'Cathain's "Tabhair Dom Do Lamh" (which translates as "Give Me Your Hand", here called "Dame tu mano"), as well as Asturian and Breton dances and a klezmir melody, and original compositions inspired by Irish music, in one case by an Auvergne tune. Most tracks are of gentle pace. The sound is quite cinematic. However, they are no slaves to the tunes and a supposedly authentic sound, but confident enough to make it their own, still sounding Irish.
www.ocarolanfolk.com
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