Search - Clancy Brothers, Tommy Makem :: The Rising of the Moon: Irish Songs of Rebellion

Rebellion and transcendence

Steven Cain | Temporal Quantum Pocket | 04/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A timeless album from the boys, and a great collection of songs. When I was growing up (in England), just about every household we ever went to had this album - even a lot of English folk music fans loved the Clancies and Tommy M. You can't be a Folk fan and not love Irish music.My one regret is that this album lacks a traditional version of Wearin' O The Green (the Wolfe Tones covered it on Profile). Like so many classic Irish rebel songs, Rising Of The Moon was written about the 1798 United Irishmen uprising, and is the same air as WOTG, but lyrically it lacks some of The Green's power. WOTG was about the banning of the shamrock and St. Patrick's Day by the English, and when they sang "They're hanging men and women there, for the wearin' o' the green" they weren't kidding.This beautifully remastered CD contains a very informative booklet, which gives something of the history of each song, and which singer is featured, as well as details about each of the boys, including Pat's former IRA connections. Street cred, or what?There are so many standout songs here, including Tipperary Far Away (sometimes known as Sean Tracy) and The Wind That Shakes The Barley, which features the golden voice of Tommy Makem. While Tommy's version is quite simply the best rendition ever by a male, the greatest version by a female remains Lisa Gerrard's version on Toward The Within by Dead Can Dance (available through Amazon).Truly a wonderful album, full of love, passion and ancient wisdom."

Early Clancy stuff, seriously presented...

William E. Adams | Midland, Texas USA | 12/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have this album on vinyl issued on the Tradition label. There is a story, probably not true, that the boys recorded these songs in their kitchen around l956. It doesn't matter. If you like the Clancys and/or songs of the Irish uprisings, it is a must own. I have played it to death over the years, and had to buy a cassette reissue when my last turntable failed. Undoubtedly, one of these days I will buy this CD to replace the tape. I like almost everything on this collection. These are hymns of death, bravery, oppression, betrayal, guerilla warfare, grief and loss. Doesn't sound like fun, but it is great music. Later in their careers, the Clancys put out some great humorous songs, drinking songs, love songs...but this one is different. If you have an interest in Ireland's struggle against Britain, and sometimes the fight between factions of Irishmen, this is essential."

WHEN THE HARP WAS CRUSHED BENEATH THE CROWN

Alfred Johnson | boston, ma | 04/17/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The following review is being used to comment on several of the Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem recordings. The obvious musical skills, talent and commitment to craftsmanship of this group during its history need no comment by me. Nor does their commitment to keeping alive the Irish folk tradition. Thus, the criterion for review is whether the works represents the political traditions associated with the historic struggle for independence from the English.



A word. As I developed a quasi- leftist political consciousness in my youth I also, in an unsystematic and for the most part then unconscious manner, developed an interest in what is today is called roots music. Initially this was reflected in my first love-the Blues. During the early sixties, under the influence of Dave Van Ronk at first, then Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and the rest I developed an interest in folk music, then at the height of its revival. It is through this process that I came to appreciate the work of the artists under review. This is odd, and I will explain why. I was actually reared on the material presented here by my maternal grandfather, a great supporter of the Irish Republican Army. I gained from him my own romantic attachment to the exploits of the IRA in 1916 and beyond until independence. Although my own political evolution since then has led me away from political support to the IRA I still love the old songs which represent the spirit of Irish national identity and aspirations for national liberation historically suppressed by the bloody English.



A word about the songs presented here. The liner notes included with the CD are helpful here. The songs range in subject from `The Rising of the Moon' at the time of Wolfe Tone and the United Irishman, probably the last time that a united, independent, non-sectarian single Irish state was possible, to `Kevin Barry' and `Sean Treacy' just before the partition in 1921, creating the mess that still confronts us politically today. That said, as these lines are being written we are approaching the 90th Anniversary of the Easter Uprising of 1916. The vision that James Connolly and others of a Social Republic proclaimed at the General Post Office still waits. In short, there is still work to be done, North and South, united or as independent states. Listen to these songs to understand where we have come from and why we still need to fight.

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