The Manx Heritage Foundation has just released two exciting new CDs – one full of Manx song and the other with tracks from five up and coming young bands.
Sollys – which means ‘light’ – gathers together 30 songs in Manx Gaelic. Mainly unaccompanied, they show the range of material currently being sung – old words to new tunes, new words to new tunes as well as traditional material from the manuscript collections. Featuring fourteen well-known singers – Bob Carswell, Aalin Clague, Bill Corlett, Cairistiona Dougherty, David Fisher, Jonee Fisher, Hillary Gale, Phil Gawne, Sarah Hewson, Greg Joughin, Ruth Keggin, Clare Kilgallon, Annie Kissack, Julie Matthews and Caarjyn Cooidjagh – the CD features solos, duets, trios and even one choral piece.
By way of contrast, Blass gives you a taste of two tracks from five previously unrecorded artists from the contemporary Manx trad scene. Favourites of the bands scene, guitar and mandolin duo Strengyn have finally laid down some of their fast and furious tracks, and they are joined by award-winning Nish As Rish, whistle and guitar duo Beccy Hurst and Beki Collings, Amber Fiddle Award finalist Laura and Dave Rowles and The Reeling Stones. Ten dazzling tracks represent exciting new ideas which showcase the variety of the developing tradition. If you want somewhere to start with Manx music, this is it – a great mix of toe-tapping tunes and shimmering singing.
Chairman of the Manx Heritage Foundation, Phil Gawne MHK, is delighted with both CDs. “The incredibly high standard of Manx traditional music is very well demonstrated on these excellent new CDs. It is particularly pleasing to see a good mix of old and new talent on the CDs and the professional standards to which everyone has performed. Both CDs will make you proud of the Isle of Man and proud of its traditional musicians and singers!”
Sollys and Blass are in the shops at the RRP of ?10.
To find out more about Manx music, check out www.manxmusic.com
To find out more about the work of the Manx Heritage Foundation as a whole: www.manxheritage.org.
