Toss The Fiddles
A compilation CD recorded live September 8, 2001 at the
Philadelphia Ceili Group's27th Annual music and dance festival.
All the artists freely gave their talents to make this CD to benefit the
Philadelphia Ceili Group, America's first traditional Irish music, dance and
cultural organization and the organizers of America's longest-running
traditional Irish music festival.
Performers include:
Liz Carroll (Fiddle) with John Doyle (Guitar)
Tommy Peoples (Fiddle) with Sean Tyrell (Tenor Guitar)
Dezi Donnelly (Fiddle) with Eamon McElhom (Guitar)
Cathal Hayden (Fiddle and banjo) with Kevin Doherty
Brendan Mulvihill (Fiddle)with Billy McComiskey (box)
and Zan McLeod Guitar
Brendan Callahan (Fiddle) with John Brennan (Guitar)
and Aran Olwell (flute)
Myron Bretholtz : MC
It was officially released at this year's festival.
For more information, or to buy this CD, email the Philadelphia Ceili Group at : philaceiligroup@aol.com
Visit their website at: PCG website
September 8th, 2001
This day was one of those beautiful end-of-Summer, beginning-of-Fall days that had clear blues skies
and low humidity. Not the usual sticky-hot Philladelphia days we get all Summer. It was in many ways
a perfect day. It was three days before everything changed on 9/11.
"There's something a little different in everyone's playing."
This simple statement came from Tommy Peoples to me, in his kind and encouraging way, and, in a sense, sums up what this festival, and playing music, is all about. These world class players, Liz Carroll, Cathal Hayden, Dezi Donnelly, Tommy Peoples, Brendan Mulvihill, Brendan Callahan, and more played one after another and it seemed each player thoroughly enjoyed the others. There was no one-upsmanship, no competitive vibes at all. It seemed like everyone knew it was a special night. The fact that they were allowing anything that they played that night be recorded to go on a CD (for free!), shows the kind of generosity they have.
I have dozens of moments from this day still in my memory, and one of my favorites actually comes from a box player. With all the activities and dancers and food and general activity going on, I heard an accordian coming from a stairwell. There at the bottom was Billy McComiskey, teaching a tune to a young man of maybe 10 or 12 years. Just passing it on.