MUSICIANS
Josephine Marsh - accordion/concertina.
Patrick Marsh - Irish bouzouki/guitar.
Jim Higgins - piano/percussion.
Harrie Bartelink - Jews Harp/harmonica.
Catherine Custy - concertina.
Eithne Ni Dhonaile - harp.
John Weir - fiddle.
Paul O Driscoll - double bass.
Album recorded at Harmony Row Studios,
Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland
Engineered by : Matt Purcell
Produced by : Josephine Marsh
Photographs by Mike Mulcaire, Christy McNamara & Carmel
Doherty
Sketch Artists: Noel Marsh and Susan Byrt
Design by Carmel Doherty
Track Notes
1. The Boogie/The Cocktail -
Reels : (John Nolan/Trad)
Jo - accordion, Jim - piano
The first reel was composed by John Nolan and the second
is a county Fermanagh version of the Dublin Reel. I learned
these tunes from flute player Tim Goddard.
2. Cape Breton/Dancing Master - Jigs : (Trad/Trad)
Jo - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Jim - bodhran
The first jig is from Cape Breton and the second, also called
the "Swallow Tail", I heard Harrie Bartelink, playing at a session
one night.
3. Tony Dalton's/Tay In A Bucket - Hornpipes : (Trad/J.
Marsh.)
JO - accordion, Jim - piano
I learned the first hornpipe from Tony Dalton, the banjo
player from Athay, Co. Limerick. Tay in a bucket was written
during the Willie Clancy week. It was a surprise for Tina Barry
on her return from delivering breakfast to some friends. Breakfast
included a pot of tea carried in a plastic bucket.
4. Paddy's Polkas : (Trad)
JO - accordion, Cathy - concertina, Harrie - Jews Harp, Jim
- piano, Pat - bouzouki/guitar
I call these, Paddy's polkas, as I learned them from my
late father, Paddy, many moons ago. My father would play a big
old German concertina and I would play the accordion or the
other way around sometimes.
5. Matthew's Waltz : (J. Marsh).
JO - accordion, Jim - piano
This waltz was in need of a title, then my little nephew
Matthew Dillon arrived. One cuddle later I had it!
6. John Naughton's/Return to Camden Town - Reels : (Trad/Trad).
JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki/guitar, Jim - bodhran/triangle
John Naughtotn's I learned from the French fiddle player,
Oliver Rosen and Return to Camden Town is one I've been playing
for a while
7. Bold Doherty's/Northern - Jigs : (Trad/Trad).
JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Harrie - Jews Harp, Jim -
piano/tambourine
I heard this well-known folk song played as a jig at the
Willie Clancy festival and liked the eerie feeling it created.
The second, I again learned from Tim Goddard.
8. Bainis/Michael Joe Kennedy's - Hornpipes : (J.Marsh/Trad)
JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Harrie - Jews Harp, Jim -
piano/bodhran/clay drums, Paul - double bass
Bainis is dedicated to Kevin and Helen Griffin. It was written
on the eve of their wedding and played for them the following
evening. The second I learned from melodeon player Michael Joe
Kennedy.
9. The Shepard - Slow Air : (Trad)
JO - accordion, Harrie - harmonica
This is a little tune, which I first heard Harrie playing
on the harmonica in Kilfenora. It is an old Dutch folk song.
10. Tommy Mulhare's/East of Glendart - Jigs : (Tommy
Mulhare/Trad)
JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Jim - bodhran
Tommy Mulhare is he composer of the first jig. These are
jigs which have been around for a while and I think the take
on a new meaning when played in a lower key.
11. Lad O Beirne's/Phyllis' Birthday - Reels : (James
Lad O Beirne /J. Marsh)
JO - accordion, Eithne - harp, John - fiddle
The first reel, a composition of fiddle player James "Lad"
O Beirne, I learned from the fiddle player Kevin Burke, and
Phyllis' Birthday I wrote for my mother on her birthday.
12. O Carolan's Receipt - Planxty : (O Carolon).
JO - accordion, Pat - guitar, Eithne - harp
Eithne Ni Dhonaile played this tune at a Siamsa we were
doing in Scarriff Secondary School years ago and I have liked
it ever since.
13. Wallop the cat from under the table/Onions and Bunions/The
Split-Second Jig - Jigs : (Trad/J. Marsh/J. Marsh).
JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Jim - bodhran
This is another of Tony Dalton's followed by two jigs, which
as the name of the last implies, were composed on the spur of
the moment.
14. Raitlin Island/Michael Joe Kennedy's - Reels : (Peter
Browne/Trad)
JO - accordion, Pat - bouzouki, Jim - piano/bodhran/clay
drums
The first tune, a composition of the piper, Peter Browne,
I learned from Bedford whistle player Kathleen Conneely and
the second is again from Michael Joe Kennedy
"I was wondering when this great event
might take place; this album is long overdue. From my first
hearing Josephine's music I have been a fan, a devoted one at
that. I will try and describe why I became so ardent.
Josephine's music sounds as if it's devil-may-care, free-fall
of spaces and delicate little pauses, whimsical, as Shane Holden
said 'like a mountain stream bubbling down'. It seems so effortless,
less of the head and more of the spirit. It can be forceful
but only when the tune demands it. She lets every tune speak
for itself, with it's own particular voice and style. She is
never the same but yet a distinct style of her own, not an imitator,
though she will have many.
Considering that I'm writing these notes with only an 'unfinished
version', to use Josephine's words, I'm over the moon already,
what will the real thing be like? The recording is full of strange
and quirky tunes from slow airs to waltzes, marches, reels,
jigs, hornpipes and polkas. It's real happy dance music at least
it makes me want to dance.
She has chosen very carefully and wisely her fellow musicians
expect the best and you'll get it. I have favourite tracks but
I've decided to keep them to myself, you pick your own!
Enjoy it, this will stay with you for a long time, when many
records of today will be forgotten, this will more than stand
the test of time."
Sean Tyrrell
Thank You to the following:
My Parents; Phyllis and Paddy, also Noel, Patrick, Maureen,
Mike, Matthew, Emma, Claire, Tina for their inspiration and
encouragement, Sean and Nuala Moloney and Family, Geraldine
McNamara, Susan Byrt, Eileen Byrt, Frances and Cathy Custy,
Drew Hillmann, Harrie and Annelies Bartelink and family, Eithne
Ni Dhonaile, John Weir, Paula McMahon, Deirdre O Brien Vaughan,
Christy McNamara, Kevin Crawford, Tim Goddard, Aine Henessy,
Austin Durack, Eoin O Neill, Derek Goulding, Tina Barry, Johnny
McCarthy, Conor Tully, Jim Higgins, Tess and Jim Higgins snr.,
Matt Purcell and Teres, Paul O Driscoll, PJ King, Siobhan Peoples,
Claire Goff, Sean Tyrrell and Connie, Domhnall O Loinsigh, PJ
Curtis, John Dillon, John Cook, Eilleen Hassett jnr., Mike Hanrahan,
James Duddy, John O Rourke, Tommy Keane, Jacqueline McCarthy,
Pat Pidgeon and Brid, Maurice and Veronica McHugh, Carmel Doherty,
Mike Mulcaire, Tony McInerney, Annie & Brendan Minish and
Don Meade.
Everyone who had an input into the making of this album the
musicians, artists, tune composers and special friends, have
personalised the whole experience and given me the encouragement
and inspiration I needed to complete it. Fair play to
you all!