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Reeling In The Old, Rolling Out The New

Time To Dance 2 Is The Latest Offering Of Irish Dance Music From Cathal Hayden & Co. Eddie Creaney Takes A Closer Look

The American critic George Nathan once wrote of George Bernard Shaw “he writes his plays for the ages…the ages between five and twelve.” A humorous pun maybe, but also a cruel analysis of a creative giant. Then again, Nathan always was a few chips short of a fish supper. But I’m struck as to how such a throw-away comment can hide the perception that it’s us adults who should benefit from the great works of our time, whilst those of developing ages are ignored. After all, is it not when we are of that tender age that we are most perceptive? Absolutely. And especially so when it comes to that inherent element of our culture, that melange of art forms that we simply call music and dance. Now you may or may not be averse to treading the boards on occasion. Maybe the years have caught up with you and it’s now a struggle to get out of the armchair without grunting. But for tens of thousands of Irish Dancers across the globe there’s nothing better than the rhythm of a Reel and the fun of a Feis. The seniors have excelled on the professional stage through the many glitzy productions that seem to beat their way across the globe. But there’s also the youngsters to think about. Not so much with dancing, that’s always been well taken care of by the many dedicated teachers over the years. And ask any child leaving a dance school on a Saturday afternoon did they enjoy themselves and the answer will always be positive. But what about the music? How much emphasis do we put on the importance of the tunes and those who play them? Dare we actually take five minutes to inform the dancers where it all comes from? Well, let’s make a start.

The title, Time To Dance 2. The players, Ireland’s hottest traditional musicians. The content, 22 wonderful tracks that are sure to be heard at every dance school, Feis and hole in the hedge over the coming months and years. The tunes have been unselfishly selected and beautifully crafted with a blend of innovative compositions and traditional arrangements. And boy what a line up. Cathal Hayden (fiddle/banjo), Mark Mohan (banjo), Brian McGrath (piano/banjo), Máirtín O’Connor (button accordion), Alan Kelly (piano accordion) and Arty McGlynn (guitars). On a practical level there’s something for everyone. The album is presented on two discs with both the advanced dancer and the aspiring novice catered for. So first up, well done lads. It really can’t be easy carrying restrictions in to the studio (in this case adhering to the guidelines of An Coimisián Le Rincí Gaelacha). It may have been a while since any of the boys had to work with a metronome, but the challenge was met and duly conquered. And why did such an assemblage of creative giants band together to roll out the tunes for Irish Dancers? Well, because it’s important. It’s important that our proud dancers are supplied with the finest of tunes. It’s important that those fine tunes are played with a vigour and passion by those worthy of praise from all quarters. And with Irish Dancing coming on leaps and bounds (no pun intended) it’s important that a creative gap doesn’t appear between the two art forms. And it’s vital that it continues that way.

So where did it all begin? Well, if you’re a Sherlock Holmes aficionado you may have already deduced that there must have been a Time To Dance 1. And you’d be right. The previous release brought Hayden & Co. respect within the dance fraternity and has been the staple accompaniment for many dancers over the years. “It was time for an update, new ideas and a fresh approach” says Cathal Hayden, master fiddler and master mind behind the project. “It had been on our minds for quite a while and when the opportunity came along between tours and other recording projects, we just had to do it” explains Hayden. Banjo player Mark Mohan takes it up. “We were delighted to welcome such a calibre of musicians to the project. Some were former dancers themselves, and they brought an appreciation of the subject which helped keep the music in context.” And a grand job it is. From the first set of Reels Miss Monaghan / Paddy Carthys / The Concertina / The Fair Wind, it’s evident that this is no ordinary outing. Truth be told all of the tunes are as tight as a photo finish. Well, what else would you expect from those in their musical prime? But was it all as easy as it sounds for Haydens ensemble? Absolutely not. Accordion master Máirtín O’Connor summed up the intricacies of recording a dance album by saying “It’s akin to running on glue. We are all so used to doing our own thing, yet there we were, always conscious of the strict timing, holding back, trying to fit in to the grooves. And just when the frustrations are setting in, bang, we’ve clicked.” In the end O’Connor admits they found their mantra, and not before time. With the pace picking up, and the signs encouraging, the musicians continued to serve up the goods.

There’s a very generous helping of Reels on CD1, each delicately created with the senior dancer in mind. Fred Flinns / Tim Maloneys / Devaney’s Goat / The Ash Plant / Rattigans / The Providence, all traditional arrangements that most of you will recognise, with the latter Reel proving to be a real favourite for teaching supremo Mona Ni Rodiagh ui Lionnain. Speaking from a series of engagements in Southern California the respected dancer commented on her elation for the project. “I was asked to write a forward for the album and I’m delighted to endorse such a wonderful piece of work. The dancers are always keen to experiment with new recordings, and this one will be special.” Mona was also eager to highlight the Hornpipes such as Mrs. McMahons / The Stage / Belfast Hornpipe / Happy Hornpipe & Murphys. But it was one in particular that she singled out for special praise, O’Connors self-penned The Leverett. And it’s a real sparkler. Indeed anyone who appreciates a good Hornpipe will be very impressed with the subtleties involved in all of the pieces. And who would have thought that a guitar accompaniment could make such a difference, with the work of Arty McGlynn freshening up some old classics. “I wasn’t much of a dancer when I was younger, so I really took on board what the other guys were suggesting” says McGlynn. “But I managed to fit in some relevantly paced chords here and there, and it all seemed to gel.” Modest as usual, McGlynns creativity on this album just goes to prove why he is the envy of every guitarist in the country. Bravo.

And there are Jigs a-plenty on the play list with a host of traditional arrangements like Drops Of Brandy / The Bird On The Strand / Tongs By The Fire and The Blue Angel. Pianist Brian McGrath and Accordion master Alan Kelly both excel on the album. But then again they weren’t brought in for their cooking skills. “In an unnatural environment such as the studio it takes time to create something special” says McGrath. “But we were very lucky to be guided by someone who knows the business inside out, engineer Kenny Ralph. And just when we thought we’d cracked it, there was Kenny with a wry smile after spotting an imperfection, and then it’s from the top again. But that’s a good thing. We received the result we had come for, and then some.” Indeed the entire album serves as a master class in musicianship. Needless to say that Hayden wove his magic at the right times and in the right places. As did Armagh man Mark Mohan with some banjo work that was sometimes as intricate as it was prominent. Delightful work indeed. And if all of this wasn’t enough there’s the added bonus of an extra disc, expertly titled CD2, jam-packed with Easy, Light & Single Jigs, more Hornpipes & Reels, and a cluster of Traditional Sets, all delightfully crafted with the beginner in mind. This is great news for the youngsters. Let’s hope they make the most of it, and that somewhere in between the fitting of the Hullachans and the rolling of the ringlets, they’ll take a breather to appreciate the music and where it came from. Time To Dance 2, currently available on the Hook label, is a must have for anyone who has an interest in Irish Dancing or an appreciation of impeccably played tunes. So ladies, tighten those curls, and lads, brighten up the brogues. It’s time to dance.

Eddie Creaney
eddiecreaney@hotmail.com