Across the Water, 2015
Unaccompanied recordings of traditional songs

Between 2006 and 2010, I was given the opportunity to record unaccompanied versions of some of my favorite traditional songs, courtesy of Riccardo Schulz, Director of Recording Activities in the School of Music, Carnegie Mellon University. Sixteen of those acappella recordings were compiled for an album, entitled Across The Water, which was launched at a concert with a group of local Pittsburgh musicians on October 15th , 2015. The acappella versions of those 16 tracks, plus a further 32 tracks, are available here on this website, via Soundcloud.

There are songs of romance, of love fulfilled, of love and parting, of love lost and forbidden. There are songs of war and seafaring, songs of emigration and deportation, and longing for the homeland. There are work songs and political songs, songs of celebration and revelry, popular songs, parlor songs, and pub songs. They all come from the British Isles, primarily Ireland and Scotland. Some have criss-crossed the Atlantic. My love of these songs comes from my Irish background and enjoyment of folks singing at home and at social gatherings. As well as the skill with which a narrative can be nuanced, I enjoy the range and expression in the music of the human voice, in ways which transcend language.

I would describe these songs as traditional, in that they are part of a folk tradition, with words and music passed down through the years and adapted by successive generations. It is often difficult, and sometimes impossible, to trace the specific source of each song. Where I could, I have acknowledged composer, arranger, or collector – closest to the version I sing. In many cases those people may have added words to an old existing tune. Over time, each singer interprets and delivers each song to their own liking, and this is what I have done. I hope that you like the results.