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The Gap Of Dreams

by Altan

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    Packaged in a 6 panel eco-wallet.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Gap Of Dreams via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
The Gap of Dreams / Nia’s Jig / The Beekeeper 05:20
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2.
The Month of January 05:45
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It was in the month of January, the fields were white with snow, Where over hill and valley, my true love he did go, It was there I spied a pretty fair maid with a salt tear in her eye, She had a baby in her arms and bitterly she did cry. Saying, “Cruel was my father who barred the door on me, And cruel was my mother, this dreadful crime to see, Cruel was my own sweetheart who changed his mind for gold, And cruel was the wintery wind that pierced my heart with gold”. For the taller that the pine tree grows the sweeter is the bark, And the fairer that a young man speaks, the falser is his heart, For they’ll kiss you and caress you ‘til they think they have you won, Then they’ll go away and leave you all for some other one. So come all my pretty fair maids a warning take of me, And never try and build your nest on the top of a high tree, For the green leaves they will wither and the branches will decay, And the blushes of a false young man, too soon will fade away.
3.
Seán sa Cheo / Tuar / Oíche Fheidhmiúil (A Spirited Night) 03:54
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4.
Bacach Shíl Andaí 04:23
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An raibh tú i dToraigh nó i gCaisleán a’ Bharraigh, An bhfaca tú campaí a bhí ag na Francaigh? Curfá: Mise ’gus tusa ’gus ruball na muice ‘gus bacach Shíl’ Andaí Bhí mé i dToraigh is i gCaisleán a’ Bharraigh, ‘S chonaic mé campaí a bhí ag na Francaigh. Curfá An raibh tú ar an chruach nó an bhfaca tú an slua, A bhí ar Chnoc Phádraig, a bhí ar Chnoc Phádraig? Curfá Ó bhí mé ar an chruach is chonaic mé an slua, A bhí ar Chnoc Phádraig, a bhí ar Chnoc Phádraig. Curfá
5.
The Piper in the Cave / An Ghaoth Aniar Aneas (The South-West Wind) 05:01
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6.
Níon a’ Bhaoigheallaigh 06:16
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Ó, bhí mé oíche taobh istigh Fhéil’ Bhríde, A’ faire thíos ar a’ Mhullach Mhór, Agus tharlaigh an naoi díom a dtug mé gnaoi di, Mar bhí sí caoithiúil lách álainn óg. ‘Sí go cinnte a mhearaigh m’intinn, Agus lia na bhFiann, ó, ní leigheasfadh mé Agus tá mo chroí istigh ‘na mhíle píosaí Mura bhfaighim cead síneadh lena brollach glé. A chailín donn deas a chuaigh i gcontúirt, Orú, druid anall liom agus tabhair domh póg, Agus dá mbíodh mo mhuintir uilig i bhfeirg liom, Nár chuma liomsa, a mhíle stór? A mhíle grá, tá cách a’ rá liom Gur den ghrá ort a gheobhaidh mé bás, Agus níl lá margaidh a mbíodh sna Gearailtigh Nach bhfaighinn cúl feamainneach agus mise ag ól. Is fada ‘n lá breá ó thug mé grá duit, Agus mé ‘mo pháiste bheag óg gan chéill, 'S gur leatsa shiúlfainnse cnoic ‘s gleanntáin, ‘S go Baile ‘n Teampaill dá mbíodh sé romham, Ach anois ó tá mise curtha cráite, ‘S gur lig mé páirt mhór de mo rún le gaoth, A Rí tá i bParthas, ó, déan domh fáras I ngleanntáin áilne lena taobh.
7.
The Tullaghan Lasses / The Cameronian / The Pigeon on the Gate 03:57
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8.
An Bealach Seo ‘Tá Romham (This Road Ahead of Me) 03:31
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Is minic mé ag smaointiú, Is mé ag féachaint ar gach taobh domh, Is feicim sluaite daoine idir aosta is óg, ‘S iad faoi dheifre shíoraí ag siúl an bealach céanna, Ina bhfuil mé féin go cloíte ag taisteal leo sa ród. Is leanfaidh siad a choíche, is saint ina gcroíthe, Ag bailiú leo maoin shaolta, ó mhaidin go neoin, Tá mise ag leanstan daofa, ‘s ní bhfaighidh mé sos nó scíste, Go scroichfidh mé ceann scríbe, Sa bhealach seo ‘tá romham. Is íomaí corr is lúbadh, sa turas chun na huaighe, ‘S íomaí ábhar buartha, ‘casfar ort sa tslí, Ach is fusa iad a shárú, le greann agus le gáire, ‘S a bheith i gcónaí sásta, nó a theacht le toil an Rí. Is cuma cad ‘tá i ndán domh, ‘s ag Dia féin atá a fhios ag sin, Ní bheidh mé choíche cráite, le buaireamh nó brón, Ach cuirfidh mé mo dhóchas i nDia mhór na Glóire, ‘S dhéanfaidh sé mé ’threorú, sa bhealach seo ‘tá romham.
9.
Dark Inishowen 05:21
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10.
The Templehouse Strathspey & Reel / John Mhosey McGinley’s / The Mermaid of Mullaghmore 04:13
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11.
Cumha an Oileáin 04:19
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12.
Port Alex 02:22
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13.
Fare Thee Well, a Stór 04:24
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about

After thirty years of playing on stages all over the world from Dublin to New York, Tokyo to Sydney, premier traditional Irish band, Altan came back to the hills of Donegal to record their new album, THE GAP OF DREAMS. The 13 tracks transport the listener to the lifestyle of rural Donegal, to a time before electricity when folks would gather together in the mists of winter to tell stories, sing songs and dance into the wee hours of the night. The music lifted the locals’ spirits and helped elevate them beyond the hardships of the day like famine, conflict and emigration. It is this spirit that informed the development of the band through their many phases of growth from a duo performing in pubs to international touring and recording artists.

The album title, THE GAP OF DREAMS, is borrowed from a poem by Francis Carlin, The Ballad of Douglas Bridge, in which he writes: “The Gap of Dreams is never shut,” referring to the gap between this world and the Otherworld. The Otherworld has always exerted a large influence on the fiddling tradition of County Donegal and has served as inspiration for song, music and folklore.

The album features many sets of traditional Donegal reels, such as Néilidh Boyle’s provocative composition, “Seán sa Cheo” (John in the Mist), as well as original compositions. Martin Tourish wrote two lively reels in the Donegal style: “Tuar,” which translates to “omen or sign,” and “Oíche Fheidhmuúil,” meaning “a spirited night.”

One of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh’s compositions for this album is a slip jig, which features as the title track, “The Gap of Dreams,” and is followed by two more. Mairéad’s daughter Nia Byrne wrote the first titled “Nia’s Jig,” and plays fiddle on the track. Mark Kelly’s son Sam penned the second, “The Beekeeper,” (logically named because it’s in the key of B!), and plays concertina on the track. Four of the songs are in Irish (Gaelic), which is Mairéad’s first language, and the language of the northwest of Donegal.

Back in their beloved landscape at Attica Studios in the townland of Termon, it seemed as if the inspiration of the beloved landscape spilled into the studio. With producers Michael Kenney and Tommy McLaughlin, the new album captures the essence that has continued to represent the hallmark of Altan’s music.

credits

released March 2, 2018

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh: Vocals, fiddle
Ciarán Curran: Bouzouki
Dáithí Sproule: Guitar, vocals
Mark Kelly: Guitar, vocals
Martin Tourish: Piano accordion
with Tommy McLaughlin: Keyboards

Produced by Altan, Tommy McLaughlin and Michael Keeney
Executive producers - Howard Chu, Marian Moran
Recorded at Attica Audio Recording, Termon, Co. Donegal, Ireland
Engineered by Tommy McLaughlin, Michael Keeney and assisted by Karen Kelly
Mastered by Randy LeRoy at Tonal Park
Band photography by Gearóid Ó Maonaigh
Errigal photography by Lain Miller
CD artwork by Édaín O’Donnell

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Altan Donegal, Ireland

Altan is arguably the most iconic band working in traditional Irish music today. For the past 35 years, they have been bringing the music of their native County Donegal to the world stage. Irish-language songs and dynamic twin-fiddling, the hallmarks of Altan’s sound, framework the band’s newest album, aptly titled Donegal. ... more

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