I am just home from a fabulous concert- my toes are still tappin' and my head is still ringing with the glorious music of the Barra MacNeils. They are presently touring the Maritimes with their new concert project "Cathedral". The Barra MacNeils are a family group of six siblings - Kyle, Lucy, Sheumas, Stewart, Ryan and Boyd, from Sydney Mines, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. They are best known for being deeply rooted in Celtic music and dance, culture and language. Cathedral is a little different from their usual performances because the pipe organ plays an important role in this show. The soaring splendour of the organ combines with more traditional instruments such as the fiddle, tin whistle, mandolin and harp. Imagine the usual jigs and reels combined with Bach and Vivaldi, Bobby McFerrin and Styx, then throw in some a cappella Gregorian chants in Latin and Gaelic... sounds like a strange mix, but it was an amazing treat!
These siblings are incredibly talented musicians, all classically trained and alumni of Mt. A. Imagine a show featuring piano, pipe organ, bass, cello, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, bouzouki, bodhran, both electric and acoustic guitar, flute, tin whistle, Celtic harp, accordian, Irish pipes and probably a few more which I have forgotten. Add to this the amazing vocal talent of this group and you have one fabulous show. They are joined also by twin sisters Meghan and Mikayla Luckie-Taylor; their teenage soprano voices add much to the show, including a wonderful rendition of Pie Jesu.
If you enjoy music at all, and this show comes to your area, you must go! You won't be disappointed. Click here for a little taste....
2 comments:
What a fabulous evening of music. I watched the trailer, and it was incredible. Thanks for posting.
Love them. I'm sorry I missed them...
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