Dedicated to my parents and all those who have worked for peace around the world.
Every musician is indebted to others. I am particularly fortunate to have been encouraged and taught by some humble, generous people. Every name mentioned in these notes has made a contribution to my piping, and this recording, directly or indirectly. I still can’t call myself a musician, hardly a piper. I...
Learn More »Dedicated to my parents and all those who have worked for peace around the world.
Every musician is indebted to others. I am particularly fortunate to have been encouraged and taught by some humble, generous people. Every name mentioned in these notes has made a contribution to my piping, and this recording, directly or indirectly. I still can’t call myself a musician, hardly a piper. I feel more like a medium for other voices to speak through. When I put the pipes on I feel something come over me, like another spirit inhabits my soul for the moments that the pipes are strapped across my lap. What comes out astonishes me, I often don’t plan it, it just plays itself through me. Every musician feels a spiritual journey through their music sooner or later. Every tune on this recording was chosen for the spiritual journey it presented. Some tunes are for celebrating, others are for reflecting or mourning, or praying without words. It’s all moving through the journey. -Todd Denman
1 Mistress of the House 4:15
I know the first reel as Sean Ryan’s, presumably after the whistle player in Galway although he apparently did not compose it. A version of the Mistress is on every recording I’ve made so far... I must like her.
2 Peace March (T.Denman) 5:05
A spontaneous composition, with thanks to Kyle on guitar. When I heard his chords, the tune jumped out of my head.
3 Sail Round the Rocks 4:20
Two slip jigs from Denis Brooks who learned them in west Cork in the early 1970’s followed by a piping favourite, the Black Rogue double jig.
4 Dancing with Africa (T.Denman) 1:56
This tune composed itself in my imagination when I heard Roland’s traditional west African drumming.
5 Keening of the Three Marys 1:58
From the séan nos, sung in Irish, taught to me by Denis Brooks in 1980.
6 The Blacksmith 2:28
The first reel was given to me by Denis Brooks, the second from Paddy Keenan.
7 Anach Cuan 3:39
A version of this haunting lament. Thanks to Paul Machlis.
8 King of the Pipers 5:31
I learned this from Joe McLaughlin in Clare in 1982, then later Francie “Red” Byrne (RIP) played it for me on his fiddle in his mother’s kitchen near Teelin Bay in 1983. The second half are my spontaneous compositions when playing with Christy.
9 Love Lay Down Beside Me 3:37
Dale Russ taught me this ancient Irish harp air in 1979. As performed live with Eamonn at the Dance Palace, Point Reyes, CA. This was the first tune I ever played on the tin whistle and it took almost a year to learn and created several stories.
10 The Old Torn Petticoat 2:53
Thanks to Christy and Eamonn.
11 Danny Boy (The Londonderry Air) 4:14
Eamonn joined me on this well-travelled tune. It actually has a spiritual element, as I discovered, which I believe accounts for its popularity.
12 My Lagan Love (in Cathedral Notre Dame) 4:05
While playing this in the Cathedral of Notre Dame I felt as if the Saints were murmuring to me, through the walls, down from the ceiling, thick throughout the air. It was quite distracting, even unsettling. I spoke back with this tune.
13 Christmas Eve (in Cathedral Notre Dame) 2:41
At one point I helped the priest lift and carry the Virgin statue out and into the back courtyard. Some had once claimed to see blood and tears on Her and there had been some controversy. Walking through the church with Her over my shoulder was the beginning of a very interesting day in the church playing music. I performed through the day for visitors and recorded it with help from my father. I was interested in both the acoustic and spiritual space there. This is a gentle, slower version of this reel played while meditating on the sound and feeling of the church. Dedicated to Christmas-Carol Comfort.
14 Prayer For Peace (T.Denman) (in Cathedral Notre Dame) 3:58
A spontaneous improvisation played in the Cathedral, allowing my spirit to speak with the voices and prayers I felt there.
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