Search - Eoin O'Riabhaigh :: Handed on

Get Your Hands on "Handed On"

Luke D. Powers | Seaford, NY United States | 03/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a must-have CD for any fans of Irish Traditional music, and uillean pipe fans in particular. Eoin O Riabhaigh shows incredible talent and taste in his playing. His chanter-work is light and lilting, and ornamented enough without being gratuitous or "showboaty." He also takes full advantage of his regulators, proving that the uillean pipes are the only bagpipe that can truly accompany themselves.For those of you who are not that familiar with the uillean pipes, he also plays pipes in varying keys, from the standard concert D, to a B set, to a set in C#, showing the variety present within the uillean pipe genus alone. O Riabhaigh gets solid backing from great Irish rhythm players such as Alec Finn. The arrangements are tasteful, adding fullness to the tunes without overshadowing the pipes. Highlights include a beautiful arrangement of a "Moving Cloud/ Peter Street" set with lovely piano accompaniment, a lovely 2 double-jig/ slip-jig set to open the album, lovely slow airs, a set piece, and a wild bluegrass reel with accidentals galore to finish the album. There is also an "uillean pipe band" track, with seven uillean pipers playing a set of marches (although I would rather have heard some of the chanters playing harmonies, rather than in unison).To sum up, this is an indispensable album."