Gerry O'Beirne
The Bog Bodies And Other Stories: Music For Guitar
© 2008 Gerry O'Beirne (634479728914)
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Music made on a ragtag collection of stringed instruments, digging deep into the wood and the strings. At times lush, at times raw and emotional, the tunes are epic in scale.
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The music was written and performed on my ragtag collection of guitars
and other stringed instruments including 12 string guitar, National
Steel guitar, Spanish guitar, slide guitar, ukulele, and tiple. Two
tracks feature fiddler Rosie Shipley.
I always had a sense of the kind of guitar music I wanted to make, but
I also wanted to stress the physicality of playing music; the sense of
touch, of graininess, that you get when you dig deep into the strings
and the wood. Many of the pieces are evocations of places and people
in Ireland and around the world. Fergus River Roundelay is for a
river in my native Co. Clare; Crows of Homer is inspired by a town in
Alaska; The Desert And Two Grey Hills is about looking for something
and someone in New Mexico; Stranger in Texas features a 5-string banjo
I picked up on a porch in Crockett, Texas where Lightnin' Hopkins used
to play; Deora Dé is a lament on an old National Steel guitar; Dancing
Sweeney is the bockety dance of an outsider; and The Song Sings Itself
is so named because it came easy and when I put the National Steel
lead guitar on it it just seemed to sing.
The final tracks, Oldcroghan Man and Clonycavan Man, were composed
for two Iron Age bog bodies lately discovered in Ireland, carefully
preserved by the earth to which they were committed long ago. Time
and the bog seem to have burnished them into an essence of their
persons and personalities. Oldcroghan Man was about six foot five; a
powerful man. Clonycavan Man was five foot three and wore hair gel
that could only have come from France. What stories they could tell!
When I saw them in the National Museum in Dublin, I immediately
thought about writing this music.
I hope you enjoy it.
Gerry
reviews
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Great style...
author: John KennedyI vacationed in Ireland recently and listened "rte" radio just about the whole time. Since coming back to the States (Ohio), it has been a regular broadband listen on "rte.ie". So... if not for that sequence, I would never have heard Gerry O'Beirne being interviewed on that station nor any of his music. That would have been a loss not to enjoy this/his music and his story... Play on Gerry... play on till souls content...
the bog bodies
author: hans kosterAnother great album from a great gitarplayer! After Half Moon Bay you've managed to create another beautiful album! Thanks for that Gerry!
The Voice!
author: RobertaI love this new album, but I miss your incredibly beautiful and rare voice, Gerry! It sends me into a swoon. I hope you'll do another album very very very soon!!!
Music Lover
author: Conrad FiedererThis is an album of beautiful acoustic guitar music and original composition. Though initially disappointing due to the lack of songs (present with my other album & live performances), it holds up very well and I love it.
The Bog Bodies and other Stories ...
author: Linda McAlpinI've been a fan of Gerry's since I saw him perform a few years ago (with Rosie Shipley), and have been anticipating a new album. This is music at it's finest. I love it !!
- author: Dawn McBride
Absolutely stunning. Gerry's music inspires the soul. It's creative, emotional and jaw-dropping all at the same time. You can feel each note - wow!
Mystical But Not New Agey
author: Western Highway WomanAnyone who has seen Gerry O'Beirne perform knows that moment when he stomps his foot, closes his eyes and loses himself in the music. This album invites the listener to join him in that place where the backbeat is quietly driving, and the tunes are alternately eerie, melodic, powerful, sweet... My favorite is "Winter Sun" -- there is no other guitar sound in the world like Gerry's 12-string. This album is long-awaited and highly treasured.
The Bog Bodies and Other Stories
author: Jon Peter BumsteadI've been a fan since just after my daughter learned to walk. The guitar work was spell-binding, and I listen and relax as if I were on the beach in some secluded place. Not quite bog, but it's where I relax. The only thing I missed was the singing. Your images and the depth that flows through them as you play have always taken me to special places.
Fantastic
author: Peter MillerBeautifully played album of guitar music. Great packaging and artwork. I fisrt saw Gerry play in St James church in Dingle , Ireland I've been a fan ever since... regards Peter peter-miller[dot]com