In the media yoke this week is “Two For Joy” by fiddle player Sheila Garry and harpist Elaine Hogan. A follow up to their utterly gorgeous album “Shores of Lough Breda” (2105), an album that focused on the compositions of Clare flute player and composer Paddy O’Donoghue, this new release includes some targeted compositions by more recent tunesmiths, but also like its predecessor, it comprises a thoughtfully curated assortment of modern and traditional tunes played with real beauty. Ultimately, it’s music that will enchant traditional music lovers and find a happy home in any fan’s collection.
Hogan and Garry, both of County Clare, share a special chemistry they discovered “on the gig” as longstanding players at the world famous Bunratty Castle, where they met playing its banquet show over a decade ago. (Hogan was the principal harpist for 12 years.) But they have a strong background in Clare where they’re both widely respected musicians. Hogan is a multi-instrumentalist (violin, piano, flute as well as harp) and a graduate of the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, and she’s become a veteran and in-demand harpist who has played for a variety of well-known shows in Clare and beyond. Garry is a graduate of the University College Cork (in 1998 she was a Sean O'Riada memorial prize recipient) who also studied ethnomusicology at the Irish World Academy of Music. In addition to her work at the Bunratty, she’s been a member of both the Kilfenora and Shannon Vale Céilí Bands. These days, both have impressively busy resumés and a keen vision for how the music best sounds, as this album shows.
And of course, this means the music here is beautiful. Hogan and Garry’s Harp and fiddle sit extremely well together with their shared musical affinity is apparent in every track. They’ve done an excellent job with tune selection, which gives the album its particular character. One of the album’s focuses is the compositions of Michael Dwyer. Six of tunes are included here. But to those they add a pair of Séan Ryan’s tunes and one each from Junior Crehan, Séamus Connolly, Paddy O’Brien and Liam O’ Flynn. In addition, two of Hogan’s own tunes are included as is one of Garry’s. It’s a strong assortment.
The album starts with “The Swallow's Return / Donegan's Daughter,” a set of jigs composed by Ryan and Dwyer, respectively. They’re unusual, are played exquisitely and set a very auspicious tone for an album that is excellent throughout. The ensemble work here is entirely appealing. On tracks like “The Gold Ring” and “The Poll Ha'penny / …” Garry’s fiddle playing is at the fore with Hogan playing more of a supporting role on them. Her music is brilliant. On others, like “The Humours of Derryveggil / …,” one of the album’s finest tracks, the two shine in a trio of outstanding Dwyer tunes that divides the melodic work showcases their smart approach to arranging.
Hogan takes the spotlight on the album’s slower tracks. She stands out on all of them, but I find “Lament for the Country House Dance,” a Junior Crehan tune, to be a particular favorite as it’s a haunting, lonely tune in which Hogan finds great expression. “The Corcomroe March” is another real banger. A Hogan original, and another of the album’s best tracks, it’s a track on which she balances an expressive beauty against the martial nature of the march form. A great composition played extremely well.
“Two For Joy” is a fabulous album. LIke “Shores of Lough Breda,” it features a selection of excellent and very tastefully chosen tunes and captures well the dynamic between a pair of sharp musical minds. But of the duo’s two albums I think I prefer this new one because I find musical dynamic between the two captured in a more mature and refined way. Ultimately, it’s a lovely album that listeners of traditional music should make an effort to get ahold of. Top shelf playing and highly recommended! Please note that at the time of writing, this album is only available through Custy’s in Ennis, so to purchase please visit here.
