Russian musicians playing Irish music for Russian set-dancers is not something you see every day! We wanted to tell you our story, so the album features a painstakingly-designed 40-page illustrated booklet, revealing how Polca an Rí came to be, where the journey of playing for the sets has brought us, how we got all these wonderful tunes, and what Irish-Russian musical connections we've forged along the way. It comes in hard cover with fantastical art by Sophie Petkevich.
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Reels: BULLOCK ON THE BONNET / MOUSE’S / KEVIN’S SALUTE
Tatyana Vasilyeva – flute
Anton Zille – fiddle
Evgeny Kazenkov – bouzouki & mandolin
Katerina Moskovskova – harp
Sophie Petkevich – keyboards
This entire set of reels is made up of the wonderful tunes written by Peadar Ó Riada that we’ve played over the years. They all have distinct characters, but are similarly evocative while staying true to the traditional idiom – qualities not always found in modern compositions. Of course, many know Peadar as the director of Cór Cúil Aodha and a prolific composer across several genres, but not everyone’s aware that his traditional tunes, written in his family home ‘An Draighean,’ have spread across the globe, making their way to Russian sessions and gigs in the process. Polca an Rí once prepared several sets of Peadar’s tunes for the Big Samhain Festival in St. Petersburg. Coinciding with Féile na Samhna, it’s the second time of the year in Russia that keeps musicians busy at Irish-themed events for over a week, but this time devoid of St. Patrick’s Day paraphernalia. It’s become a tradition to host mixed events for Irish, Scottish, Breton and French dancers for Samhain in several Russian cities, and the ‘Big Samhain’ is perhaps the crown of them all in terms of scope. There, dance performances and carnival culture meet traditional music, turning a large venue of choice into some special surreal space for the night, with backstage tunes raging even as the bands play.
credits
from From Sliabh Moscó to Cathair Pheadair,
released July 4, 2021
Bullock on the Bonnet (originally in Am), the Mouse’s reel and Kevin’s Salute were composed by Peadar Ó Riada of Cúil Aodha, Co. Cork and appear here with his kind permission. Аrranged by Polca an Rí.
A beautiful duo of our flute player Tatyana Vasilyeva and a long-time friend of Polca an Rí, harp player Katerina Merkulova. Featuring Celtic harp, hammered dulcimer, flutes and whistles galore. Polca an Rí
Sliabh Luachra's finest - and star guests inspired by music of the area - are featured in this recording promoting a festival in Scully's, Newmarket, Co. Cork, home to a legendary 40-year-old session! Polca an Rí
Featuring some rarely-recorded Sliabh Luachra musicians, this album contains local legends that you've only seen in tune names! For more recent recordings be sure to visit sliabhluachra.bandcamp.com Polca an Rí
supported by 16 fans who also own “Bullock on the Bonnet / Mouse’s / Kevin’s Salute (Reels)”
I love the whole album and it’s so carefully curated! Thank you for adding the origins of the tunes. I absolutely loved the slow air,An Raibh Tu an an gCarraig and now I’m going to have to get the Star an over the Garter! I am glad to be able to listen to music from that era. My Grandaddy was a fiddle player from Donegal and though we spent every summer there I can’t remember what he played. I’m learning to play the fiddle at the age of 60 which is the hardest thing I’ve done in my li carmelg
supported by 15 fans who also own “Bullock on the Bonnet / Mouse’s / Kevin’s Salute (Reels)”
Masterful box playing. Has some very appealing, unusual quality to it - hard to put into words... might be the Sliabh Luachra style peeping through. musicstillspeaks