The Light and the Half Light

by Sean Doyle

Overview

The father of Solas' John Doyle, Sean Doyle is a good, accomplished singer, with a strong selection of songs from both sides of the Irish border. For the most part he prefers ballads, such as "Henry Joy McCracken," but he can bring plenty of life to "The Flower of the County Down" (a version of "The Star of the County Down") and humor to "Let Mr. McGuire Sit Down." The accompaniment is happily sparse, keeping attention focused on the song and the singer. At times it's simply Doyle and his son, a perfect, sympathetic combination. He's a casual, effortless singer, which works excellently in this context. Quite whether the poem "He Thinks of His Past Greatness When a Part of the Constellations of Heaven" belongs here is up for debate, as it breaks the rhythm. It leads into "The Shores of Lough Bran," a lovely closer whose tune is a dead ringer for "She Moves Through the Fair," but still a wonderful piece. Sean Doyle might have waited a long time to make his recording debut, but it's well worth the wait. ~ Chris Nickson

Product Details

Release Date:	07/20/2004
Label:	Compass
UPC:	0766397438726
Rank:	129174

Tracks

1. The Fiddler of Dooney
2. The Maid of Bunclody, and the Lad She Loves Dear
3. Let Mr. Maguire Sit Down
4. The Hawk and the Crow
5. Henry Joy McCracken
6. Mrs. McGrath
7. Song of Repentance
8. The Flower of the County Down
9. The Yellow Bittern
10. Carmin Fair
11. A Cock and a Hen
12. The Flying Cloud
13. The Sweet Brown Knowe
14. He Thinks of His Past Greatness When a Part of the Constellations ...
15. The Shores of Lough Bran

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Sean Doyle   Primary Artist,Vocals
John Doyle   Vocals (Background),Tenor Banjo,Mandolin,Bouzouki,Guitar
John Williams   Accordion
Emer Mayock   Low Whistle
John Herrmann   Banjo
Rayna Gellert   Fiddle
John "Buddy" Williams   Accordion
Kieran O'Hare   Uillean Pipes
Liz Carroll   Fiddle
Dirk Powell   Bass,Banjo

Technical Credits

John Doyle   Audio Production
Dirk Powell   Engineer
Griffin Norman   Package Design
Traditional   Composer
Steven Heller   Engineer,Mixing,Mastering
Sean Doyle   Arranger
Geraldine Doyle   Artwork