Draiocht is the debut recording of Irish musicians Michael Rooney on harp and June McCormack on flute. Although the pair have been playing together for several years, as well as being well respected solo artists, this is their first recording as a duo.

Performing predominantly traditional pieces, they also have included three composed by Rooney. Each piece is distinctive and combines the two main instruments beautifully, trading lead throughout the album. The tempos are mostly upbeat and joyful and sound like they would be great to dance to. In fact, as a handy extra, they also list what type of piece each is (hornpipe, jig, reel, air).

Rooney's harp skills are superb. His ability to infuse each tune with energy and subtlety, as well as carry very different melody and harmony lines, is not to be missed. A particularly stunning version of this is "The Fly by Night/Cornphiopa Corafinne/Cape Breton Fiddler's Welcome to Shetland." His backing counterpoint fuses well with McCormack's flute playing.

McCormack is also a fantastic musician on a difficult instrument. Her flute never sounds breathy or light. Instead, she creates a solid sound, easily carrying the lead and suffusing each track with liveliness. She is equally adept at playing slower pieces and providing backing harmony.

Rooney's composition "Na Maithe Mona" is a minuet written to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine. It is beautiful, with spine-tingling harmonies and an air of melancholy and loss. Another of his pieces, "Gortna Mona/Tir Rafartaigh," is a joyful-sounding number written to celebrate the millennium as part of the Millennium Suite.

"An Bhutais" has a much more traditional sound that is simple, yet beautiful. "The Graf Spey" ends the album on a high note, with its complex interplay of harp and flute. The liner notes give information on Rooney and McCormack, as well as the source of each tune.

This album is a treat. Each track is well arranged to highlight the skills of the two musicians. The three additional musicians -- Fergal Scahill on guitar, Aoife O'Brien on violin and Laura Maher on cello -- provide a fuller sound on some songs. The range and variety on the album, added to the fantastic quality of the musicianship, make this a recording that will make repeated trips to your CD player.

- Rambles
written by Jean Emma Price
published 18 June 2005

[ visit the artist's website ]