Searc mo Chlibh, Love of My Heart

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		An Goirtn Eornan	5:07	Play
2		Raghadsa is mo Cheait	5:24	Play
3		Cit Bhn agus Marbh	6:19	Play
4		Nach Clote an Galar an Gr	3:34	Play
5		An Clr Bog Dil	4:22	Play
6		T Smit ar mo Chro	4:50	Play
7		Amhrn an tSagairt	4:28	Play
8		Beir Beannacht R na hAoine	7:18	Play
9		Ridhchnoc Mn Duibhe	6:02	Play
10		Mirn de Barra	7:23	Play

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Description

Searc mo Chleibh - Love of my Heart

These are all love songs of one kind or another which might be heard in the West Kerry gaeltacht of Corca Dhuibhne. Some, such as "An Clr Bog Dil", are not from the region but nevertheless form part of the local repertoire. Others, such as "Amhrn an tSagairt" and "T Smit ar mo Chro", while not very often heard nowadays, are most likely to have been composed by local singers. Still others, such as "Nach Clote an Galar an Gr" and "Ridhchnoc Mn Duibhe", are likely to be local adaptations of songs sung in other parts of the country.

Most of the songs are songs of yearning, loss and unfulfilled passion. The one notable exception is the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek "Amhrn an tSagairt", in which the young priest jauntily abandons family, friends and church for a life with his beloved.

I have tried to convey the flavour of the songs for non-Irish speakers with rough translations of key phrases. While I gratefully acknowledge the singers from whom I have learnt these songs, they are not in any way responsible for the words printed here, which are often a mixture of versions and may be liable to the some distortion due to memory loss over time!

It is with great trepidation that I have added some music to five of these songs. It is not traditional to so so, nor do the songs need it. But neither would it have happened traditionally that one singer would sing ten songs in a row, without an interval of music, dancing or other voices to break the intensity and provide variety! With the exception of the two rythmic songs, which are like dance tunes, the music was added afterwards and in a minimal way.


What the critics have been saying since its release:

The singer is indeed blessed with a voice that lingers long after the listener to savour the beauty of the melody and every thought and mood expressed in words
Aidan OHara, Irish Music Magazine, Nov.99

Life, love and death are her themes expressed with a light, measured, melodic accompaniment, and also in an a cappella splendour of scooped and bent notes, dramatically on An Goirtin Eornan.
Fintan Vallely, Sunday Tribune, Nov.99.

She seems to find evocative depths in her repertoire which few other singers of her generation can mine so elegantly or make so easy of the ear.
Jackie Hayden, Hot Press, Jan. 2000

There is extraordinary fluting polish to the voice, the upper register keen as a scalpel of feeling so pure and dark...
Mic Moroney, Irish Times July 99

Finola O Siochru presents songs such as An Goirtin Eornan, An Clr Bog Deil and Mirin de Barra in a voice which transcends the language barrier and is arguably one of the most haunting ones on the Irish music scene.
Deirdre Ni Grianna, The Avenue, Oct. 99.

Finola possesses a voice of remarkable clarity and purity...Although she has immersed herself in sean-nos, her vocal technique remains as individual as a fingerprint while maintaining the conventions of the form.
Pat Ahern, Examiner, July 99.

ist le glor milis, mealltach Fhinola Ni Shiochru, agus is baolach duit searc do chleibhe a thabhairt do. Glor Muimhneach is ea glor Finola, agus is saibhrede traidisiun na Mumhan an ceirnin seo.
Cuisle, Mean Fomhair 99.

This is an album of considerable strength which restores sean-nos singing to us in all its dignity and style. O Siochrus is a distinct voice and should be heard. This is a very fine tribute indeed to traditional singing.
Fred Johnson, Galway Advertiser, Feb. 2000

I can well remember the first time I heard Finola singing and I was stopped dead in my tracks...Theres a clarity, a beauty, a sensitivity, and a quiet power which is combined with this extraordinary purity..it reminds me of the contradictions we find in high art or work of this calibre and size...the quiet power and wonderful freedom of expression and yet incredible discipline, the warmth of inclusiveness combined with an extraordinary sense of mystery.
Liam OFlynn speaking at the Dublin launch, 1 July 99.

An immaculate collection of West Kerry songs...delivered with a voice rich with purity and passion.
Geoff Wallis & Sue Wilson, The Rough Guide to Irish Music 2001.

Voted Female Vocalist of the Year by Chicago Irish American News, March 2001.


Some more reviews:
http://www.irishamericannews.com/columnists/Margeson/febmargeson.htm
Tradition in Review
February 2001

by Bill Margeson
Four, count `em! Lots of good stuff and new discoveries here.
First, just back from New Year's in Ireland. Enough snow we thought we
were in Elgin! Country ground to a halt, as Ennis is not used to seeing
ANY snow (it had been eight years for God's sakes!) and here were three
inches in the middle of downtown!

Just gave us more time for sessions and music shopping. And we have
come a cropper with some major discoveries! First up is a major new
talent for us all. The regular reader knows we don't swoon for sean nos
(old style) singers. While incredibly vital for the tradition, we often
find their voices too thin or reedy for modern ears.

Then, WHAM! Here comes Finola O Siochru. Lovely! Fab! Her album is,
translated, Love of My Heart. Every song is in Irish, but Finola does
the right thing by giving us notes in the liner for each of the
songs-its meaning, where it comes from, what it means-the whole bit.
Wonderful. All 10 of the selections are love songs.

While a Dubliner now, Finola's roots are all in the Dingle Peninsula,
and the Blasket Islands in particular. Several songs are from The
Dingle-and a couple can be directly traced to those now-deserted but
lovingly remembered Blaskets.

The album is produced by Steve Cooney, so you know the values are
right. Maire Breatnach puts in an appearance on fiddle, as does Brenda
Begley on button box. David James also chimes in with some lovely cello
work.

The cover is strikingly photographed with Finola's lovely visage (we
always wanted to use the term "visage" in a column!) on the front. This
is class stuff. A gorgeous voice. Big Time. Strong, feminine and deep
all at the same time. A lovely album with several shadings for the
listener.

Proof that sean nos can be made accessible to everyone by the right
talent. And Finola IS the right talent. Beautiful voice. Magic. Hard to
find. It is in the shops in Ireland, and we know Shay Clarke has it in
his Blarney stores in Woodfield, Harlem-Irving, Randhurst and Spring
Hill Malls. May also be at Paddy's on the Square in Long Grove. Any
other shops that have it, let us know and we'll pass it on!

This gal is a SERIOUS contender for Female Vocalist of the Year in next
month's column! Rating: 4 Harps.

_____________________________________________________________________

http://www.irishamericannews.com/columnists/Margeson/marmarg.htm
Female Vocalist of the Year

Finola O'Siochru completely captivated us with her Love of My Heart.
She is an amazing talent. Sean nos at its very best. We know you can
get this album at the Blarney Stores around Chicago. You should. What a
voice! A tough album to find, but oh!! so worth the effort! We raved
about her in the review we did on the album, and still listen to her
magic frequently. Spectacular.

________________________________________________________________________

http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CGCatalogI_O.html

Our Catalogue
I-O
FINOLA O'SIOCHRU: SEARC MO CHLEIBH - LOVE OF MY HEART
One of the most impressive vocal albums (sean-nos singing in Gaelic) of
the past year. Five of the 10 tracks have instrumental accompaniment
(Steve Cooney, Maire Breatnach, Brendan Begley), quite successful for
the most part. O'Siochru's voice deserves to be heard. Full Gaelic
texts are included. Rating: **** [$24.99]


http://www.irishamericannews.com/columnists/Margeson/febmargeson.htm
Tradition in Review
February 2001

by Bill Margeson
Four, count `em! Lots of good stuff and new discoveries here.
First, just back from New Year's in Ireland. Enough snow we thought we
were in Elgin! Country ground to a halt, as Ennis is not used to seeing
ANY snow (it had been eight years for God's sakes!) and here were three
inches in the middle of downtown!

Just gave us more time for sessions and music shopping. And we have
come a cropper with some major discoveries! First up is a major new
talent for us all. The regular reader knows we don't swoon for sean nos
(old style) singers. While incredibly vital for the tradition, we often
find their voices too thin or reedy for modern ears.

Then, WHAM! Here comes Finola O Siochru. Lovely! Fab! Her album is,
translated, Love of My Heart. Every song is in Irish, but Finola does
the right thing by giving us notes in the liner for each of the
songs-its meaning, where it comes from, what it means-the whole bit.
Wonderful. All 10 of the selections are love songs.

While a Dubliner now, Finola's roots are all in the Dingle Peninsula,
and the Blasket Islands in particular. Several songs are from The
Dingle-and a couple can be directly traced to those now-deserted but
lovingly remembered Blaskets.

The album is produced by Steve Cooney, so you know the values are
right. Maire Breatnach puts in an appearance on fiddle, as does Brenda
Begley on button box. David James also chimes in with some lovely cello
work.

The cover is strikingly photographed with Finola's lovely visage (we
always wanted to use the term "visage" in a column!) on the front. This
is class stuff. A gorgeous voice. Big Time. Strong, feminine and deep
all at the same time. A lovely album with several shadings for the
listener.

Proof that sean nos can be made accessible to everyone by the right
talent. And Finola IS the right talent. Beautiful voice. Magic. Hard to
find. It is in the shops in Ireland, and we know Shay Clarke has it in
his Blarney stores in Woodfield, Harlem-Irving, Randhurst and Spring
Hill Malls. May also be at Paddy's on the Square in Long Grove. Any
other shops that have it, let us know and we'll pass it on!

This gal is a SERIOUS contender for Female Vocalist of the Year in next
month's column! Rating: 4 Harps.

_____________________________________________________________________

http://www.irishamericannews.com/columnists/Margeson/marmarg.htm
Female Vocalist of the Year

Finola O'Siochru completely captivated us with her Love of My Heart.
She is an amazing talent. Sean nos at its very best. We know you can
get this album at the Blarney Stores around Chicago. You should. What a
voice! A tough album to find, but oh!! so worth the effort! We raved
about her in the review we did on the album, and still listen to her
magic frequently. Spectacular.

________________________________________________________________________

http://celticgrooves.homestead.com/CGCatalogI_O.html

Our Catalogue
I-O
FINOLA O'SIOCHRU: SEARC MO CHLEIBH - LOVE OF MY HEART
One of the most impressive vocal albums (sean-nos singing in Gaelic) of
the past year. Five of the 10 tracks have instrumental accompaniment
(Steve Cooney, Maire Breatnach, Brendan Begley), quite successful for
the most part. O'Siochru's voice deserves to be heard. Full Gaelic
texts are included. Rating: **** [$24.99]


http://www.folkworld.de/13/d/irishcd.html
Da der Sean ns-Gesang so etwas wie eine Renaissance erlebt, darf ein
kurzer Hinweis auf zwei hochkartige Wiederverffentlichungen lterer
Aufnahmen und auf eine brandneue Einspielung nicht fehlen. Rinn na
nGael ist eine Kollektion von 19 Songs, die Niocls Tibn in den
frhen 60er Jahren aufgenommen hat. Er gilt als einer der besten Sean
ns-Snger berhaupt, was ihm dereinst den Titel "The King of Irish
Song" einbrachte. Aus den spten 80er Jahren stammen die Aufnahmen von
Dara Bn Mac Donnchadha, die jetzt unter dem Titel Rogha Amhrn ihre
CD-Premiere erleben. Am leichtesten zugnglich fr ungebte Ohren
drfte Searc Mo Chlibh von Finola quot; Siochr sein, die nicht 100%ig auf
die Gegenwart von Instrumenten verzichten mag, sondern gewitzterweise
gelegentlich auch Steve Cooney (Gitarre), Mire Breatnach (Fiddle) und
Breanndn quot; Beaglaoch (Akkordeon) zum Zuge kommen lt. Dies ist ein
feines Debt einer groartigen Sngerin, von der wir mglicherweise
noch viel hren werden.
http://www.fiddle-dervish.de/angebot.html