CD Reviews

If you practice at home or on the road like we do, you quickly discover the need for Irish Dance Music CDs. So let's give you the reader some REEL HELP with the many and varied selection of dance music you'll find in the vendor's area of your next feis.

Irish Dance World	This was our first Irish dance music. When Ges and I first started taking classes, our teacher played this a lot. Actually, the youth teachers played it a lot too. The music is very bouncy and it makes you want to dance -- even if you do not dance! We use this music when we know we have to practice and we need inspiration. It is nice to dance to several instruments, not just the accordian or fiddle. As a musician, I like that the names of the songs are listed. I have looked for several pieces of music because I enjoyed them so. One drawback is that there is no traditional hard shoe speeds, just slow speeds which you will probably not learn till novice level. This music, though, is great for soft shoe beginners. When they get to traditional hard shoe speed, get another album to supplement this one.
By:	Bradley Brothers
Year:	1999

It's About Time	Tony Nother is one of the best and well known Feis Musicians around. It is great that he has some music out to practice to. His music is geared for any level dancer with several different speeds for the same dance. He has 4 traditional dances and 2 non traditional set dances. I think this music is good to have because you get use to the style of what you might dance to at a Feis. I just wish that the names of the dances were included. You canÕt have everything in such a great music set!
By:	Tony Nother
Year:	2001

Reel Rhythms	This CD is great for beginners working on getting used to the music and their steps. We have used this CD when we start a new step but do not want to do it to speed just yet. The reels seem slow to me even though they are at danceable speeds. There are no light jigs, traditional hornpipes, or treble jigs. Mr. Joyce does include the names to the tunes for all you dancer/musicians.
By:	Kevin Joyce
Year:	1998

A Feisin' Statement	Jimmy Butke is a well-known musician on the Feis circuit. His style is upbeat and bubbly, even at the end of the day. I love dancing on stage when he is playing because he actually enjoys playing for dancers -- it's not a chore. This album was his first recording, and it's a great one. He has a little of everything -- some non-trad. set music but no traditional set music. He also has a mix of several treble reels at 120. This album also lacks a traditional speed treble jig. Each dance is played several times over several tunes so you have a long piece to dance to. This is a great CD for any level of dancer; just realize the limited sets. All the music Jimmy plays are used in feisanna. I just wish the name of the tunes were included. This is such bubbly music you will love to practice to it.
By:	Jim Butke
Year:	1998

Dance: Irish Dance Music	Ges and I accidentally stumbled on this one, and it is great! We were looking for dance music at the 2000 Cincinnati Feis and a vendor suggested it because he worked with one of the musicians. We later found out that Hearstone plays some on the Feis circuit. These two ladies are great musicians and know how to play for dancers. Many a time I have seen them clap for dancers after they have finished playing. This CD is bouncy with lots of interesting tunes for each type of dance. The hard shoe dances sound like someone is dancing a beat, which I think adds so much character to the tune. Warning about the slip jig: It is listed at 114 but it feels a lot faster -- closer to 120. It is good practice to try dances at faster and slower speeds. They have included a single jig for all you who dance those, since it's hard to find that dance on Irish dance music. They have also included 8 traditional and non-traditional set dances. One set dance they recorded twice at different speeds. One thing that is missing is a traditional treble jig. Treble reels are also included. Even the names of the tunes are included, too! I recommend this for advance beginners on up since there are so many set dances and slow-speed tunes. This is a must for your Irish dance collection. You will love dancing to this one!
By:	Heartstone (Kay Proffitt/Trish Featherstone)
Year:	2000

Mike & Merv	Mike Shaffer and Merv Bell are both accomplished musicians on several instruments who play the Feis circuit every year. You will probably find Mr. Shaffer more in North America and Mr. Bell across the Atlantic. The Irish dance tunes are very peppy and bouncy. There is special Open speed music, too. DonÕt panic that some cuts doesnÕt say beginner, because a beginner can dance to an open soft shoe music but not open hard shoes. There are beginner soft shoes tunes but expect them to be faster than the open soft shoe dances. The traditional Treble Jig is a bit slow for traditional speed but you could get a musician that plays it at 81 and not 92. (which has happened to members of our family more than once). It is good to practice at different speeds. Some traditional and non-traditional sets and ceilis are also included. I also liked that they included a single jig and treble reel tunes. I recommend this for all levels of dancers -- just be sure you know what speed you are supposed to dance your soft and hard shoes (ask your teacher if you are unsure)
By:	Mike Shaffer and Merv Bell (and friends)
Year:	199?

Sets & Solos Volume 2: Beginner & Advanced Irish Dance Music	This collection of Irish Dance music is great! Each dance step has the names of the songs (THANK YOU, Ms. Hurley), tempo, and the number of minutes each cut lasts. There are several reels on this collection with tempos from 112 to 121, which gives you a variety of dance speeds based on your level. The only available light jig is at a tempo of 121 -- great for beginners but rough on us older dancers. There are two slip jigs and one single jig. This CD also passes the acid test of Clan Seger approval by having a traditional speed Treble Jig (which seems a little slow to me, but I'm the dancer that always comes out of the chute like a racehorse) in addition to a slow-speed Treble Jig. There are two hornpipes, neither of which is at traditional speed. Five traditional sets are also available. Overall, this is good for beginners doing soft shoes and dancer starting to learn hard shoes. The sets and slower speed hard shoe speeds will help the more advanced dancers. This is a must for beginners and a great supplement for other dancers.
By:	Olive Hurley
Year:	199?

The Sandymount Set	Pat King is an accomplished feis musician. I have always liked to have dance music by musicians that I might dance to in a feis so I can get used to their style of playing. There are two reasons I like this set of dance tunes: The names of the tunes are listed There is a dedicated beginner's section. In it, all speeds are listed except the reel and jigs (light, slip, and single). The reel is listed as a polka, which is just a slower reel It's also great to have both hard shoe dances at traditional speed, because it's hard to find an album with both treble jig and hornpipe at the faster speed these days. The Novice and beyond section has all solo step dances at the correct speed. The only traditional set is St. Patrick's Day, which is recorded three times in a row. This helps in case you mess up the first time! The best thing about this set of dance tunes is that their lengths are long. Most of them run on the order of seven minutes, which helps you repeat your steps in practice without having to restart the music all the time. Overall, a good choice for all levels and ages.
By:	Pat King
Year:	199?

Rhythm & Roots	Our whole family looked forward to the release of this set of dance tunes, which happened at the 2001 Midwest Oireactas in Chicago. Both Shaffers are accomplished feis musicians in their own right, and it's always a pleasure to dance to them when they play. I think that this was a unique idea for a father and daughter to record dance tunes together on their respective instruments. On this album, there is beginner and open level music. The music is extremely bouncy and lively, and the keyboard adds a lot of rhythm and percussion that livens the tunes up. Some of the beginner music (the traditional hornpipe listed at 148 in particular) looks like it will be extremely fast, but don't panic! They aren't played as fast as they are listed (and as an adult dancer, I would know if I couldn't keep up!). The open dance tunes don't seem to trend this way. There are three ceili dances listed -- St. Patrick's Day, High Cauled Cap, and Humours of Bandon. No traditional sets are listed. Neither are the names of the tunes they play for each step, but you can't have everything on such a great and energetic album. Overall, you will be bouncing and actually enjoying practicing your dance steps!
By:	Mike Shaffer and Theresa Shaffer Wilkinson
Year:	2001

Tempo 2	Brian Glynn is a feis musician with a flair. This set of dance tunes are so bouncy and lively that I can't stop my feet from dancing. He uses an accordion, keyboard, bodhran, and drums. All of the soft shoe solo dance steps are for Advanced Beginner on up (no designated beginner section). The hard shoes are at traditional speed. Be warned that the Traditional Treble Jig at 92 feels closer to 87 or so. The first four traditional sets that any Irish Dancer will learn are recorded several times. All these sets have a good, steady beat that can be picked up easily. All the tunes are recorded for a long length like 5-7 minutes. This is a good album to have for all ages, advanced beginner level on up. If you have a hard time getting motivated to dance, this might be the set of tunes you need to help you "get up and dance!"
By:	Brian Glynn
Year:	?

Irish Dance World

This was our first Irish dance music. When Ges and I first started taking classes, our teacher played this a lot. Actually, the youth teachers played it a lot too. The music is very bouncy and it makes you want to dance -- even if you do not dance! We use this music when we know we have to practice and we need inspiration. It is nice to dance to several instruments, not just the accordian or fiddle. As a musician, I like that the names of the songs are listed. I have looked for several pieces of music because I enjoyed them so. One drawback is that there is no traditional hard shoe speeds, just slow speeds which you will probably not learn till novice level. This music, though, is great for soft shoe beginners. When they get to traditional hard shoe speed, get another album to supplement this one.

By:

Bradley Brothers

Year:

1999

It's About Time

Tony Nother is one of the best and well known Feis Musicians around. It is great that he has some music out to practice to. His music is geared for any level dancer with several different speeds for the same dance. He has 4 traditional dances and 2 non traditional set dances. I think this music is good to have because you get use to the style of what you might dance to at a Feis. I just wish that the names of the dances were included. You canÕt have everything in such a great music set!

By:

Tony Nother

Year:

2001

Reel Rhythms

This CD is great for beginners working on getting used to the music and their steps. We have used this CD when we start a new step but do not want to do it to speed just yet. The reels seem slow to me even though they are at danceable speeds. There are no light jigs, traditional hornpipes, or treble jigs. Mr. Joyce does include the names to the tunes for all you dancer/musicians.

By:

Kevin Joyce

Year:

1998

A Feisin' Statement

Jimmy Butke is a well-known musician on the Feis circuit. His style is upbeat and bubbly, even at the end of the day. I love dancing on stage when he is playing because he actually enjoys playing for dancers -- it's not a chore. This album was his first recording, and it's a great one. He has a little of everything -- some non-trad. set music but no traditional set music. He also has a mix of several treble reels at 120. This album also lacks a traditional speed treble jig. Each dance is played several times over several tunes so you have a long piece to dance to. This is a great CD for any level of dancer; just realize the limited sets. All the music Jimmy plays are used in feisanna. I just wish the name of the tunes were included. This is such bubbly music you will love to practice to it.

By:

Jim Butke

Year:

1998

Dance: Irish Dance Music

Ges and I accidentally stumbled on this one, and it is great! We were looking for dance music at the 2000 Cincinnati Feis and a vendor suggested it because he worked with one of the musicians. We later found out that Hearstone plays some on the Feis circuit. These two ladies are great musicians and know how to play for dancers. Many a time I have seen them clap for dancers after they have finished playing. This CD is bouncy with lots of interesting tunes for each type of dance. The hard shoe dances sound like someone is dancing a beat, which I think adds so much character to the tune. Warning about the slip jig: It is listed at 114 but it feels a lot faster -- closer to 120. It is good practice to try dances at faster and slower speeds. They have included a single jig for all you who dance those, since it's hard to find that dance on Irish dance music. They have also included 8 traditional and non-traditional set dances. One set dance they recorded twice at different speeds. One thing that is missing is a traditional treble jig. Treble reels are also included. Even the names of the tunes are included, too! I recommend this for advance beginners on up since there are so many set dances and slow-speed tunes. This is a must for your Irish dance collection. You will love dancing to this one!

By:

Heartstone (Kay Proffitt/Trish Featherstone)

Year:

2000

Mike & Merv

Mike Shaffer and Merv Bell are both accomplished musicians on several instruments who play the Feis circuit every year. You will probably find Mr. Shaffer more in North America and Mr. Bell across the Atlantic. The Irish dance tunes are very peppy and bouncy. There is special Open speed music, too. DonÕt panic that some cuts doesnÕt say beginner, because a beginner can dance to an open soft shoe music but not open hard shoes. There are beginner soft shoes tunes but expect them to be faster than the open soft shoe dances. The traditional Treble Jig is a bit slow for traditional speed but you could get a musician that plays it at 81 and not 92. (which has happened to members of our family more than once). It is good to practice at different speeds. Some traditional and non-traditional sets and ceilis are also included. I also liked that they included a single jig and treble reel tunes. I recommend this for all levels of dancers -- just be sure you know what speed you are supposed to dance your soft and hard shoes (ask your teacher if you are unsure)

By:

Mike Shaffer and Merv Bell (and friends)

Year:

199?

Sets & Solos Volume 2: Beginner & Advanced Irish Dance Music

This collection of Irish Dance music is great! Each dance step has the names of the songs (THANK YOU, Ms. Hurley), tempo, and the number of minutes each cut lasts. There are several reels on this collection with tempos from 112 to 121, which gives you a variety of dance speeds based on your level. The only available light jig is at a tempo of 121 -- great for beginners but rough on us older dancers. There are two slip jigs and one single jig. This CD also passes the acid test of Clan Seger approval by having a traditional speed Treble Jig (which seems a little slow to me, but I'm the dancer that always comes out of the chute like a racehorse) in addition to a slow-speed Treble Jig. There are two hornpipes, neither of which is at traditional speed. Five traditional sets are also available. Overall, this is good for beginners doing soft shoes and dancer starting to learn hard shoes. The sets and slower speed hard shoe speeds will help the more advanced dancers. This is a must for beginners and a great supplement for other dancers.

By:

Olive Hurley

Year:

199?

The Sandymount Set

Pat King is an accomplished feis musician. I have always liked to have dance music by musicians that I might dance to in a feis so I can get used to their style of playing. There are two reasons I like this set of dance tunes:

The names of the tunes are listed
There is a dedicated beginner's section. In it, all speeds are listed except the reel and jigs (light, slip, and single). The reel is listed as a polka, which is just a slower reel

It's also great to have both hard shoe dances at traditional speed, because it's hard to find an album with both treble jig and hornpipe at the faster speed these days. The Novice and beyond section has all solo step dances at the correct speed. The only traditional set is St. Patrick's Day, which is recorded three times in a row. This helps in case you mess up the first time!

The best thing about this set of dance tunes is that their lengths are long. Most of them run on the order of seven minutes, which helps you repeat your steps in practice without having to restart the music all the time. Overall, a good choice for all levels and ages.

By:

Pat King

Year:

199?

Rhythm & Roots

Our whole family looked forward to the release of this set of dance tunes, which happened at the 2001 Midwest Oireactas in Chicago. Both Shaffers are accomplished feis musicians in their own right, and it's always a pleasure to dance to them when they play. I think that this was a unique idea for a father and daughter to record dance tunes together on their respective instruments.

On this album, there is beginner and open level music. The music is extremely bouncy and lively, and the keyboard adds a lot of rhythm and percussion that livens the tunes up. Some of the beginner music (the traditional hornpipe listed at 148 in particular) looks like it will be extremely fast, but don't panic! They aren't played as fast as they are listed (and as an adult dancer, I would know if I couldn't keep up!). The open dance tunes don't seem to trend this way.

There are three ceili dances listed -- St. Patrick's Day, High Cauled Cap, and Humours of Bandon. No traditional sets are listed. Neither are the names of the tunes they play for each step, but you can't have everything on such a great and energetic album. Overall, you will be bouncing and actually enjoying practicing your dance steps!

By:

Mike Shaffer and Theresa Shaffer Wilkinson

Year:

2001

Tempo 2

Brian Glynn is a feis musician with a flair. This set of dance tunes are so bouncy and lively that I can't stop my feet from dancing. He uses an accordion, keyboard, bodhran, and drums. All of the soft shoe solo dance steps are for Advanced Beginner on up (no designated beginner section). The hard shoes are at traditional speed. Be warned that the Traditional Treble Jig at 92 feels closer to 87 or so. The first four traditional sets that any Irish Dancer will learn are recorded several times. All these sets have a good, steady beat that can be picked up easily. All the tunes are recorded for a long length like 5-7 minutes. This is a good album to have for all ages, advanced beginner level on up. If you have a hard time getting motivated to dance, this might be the set of tunes you need to help you "get up and dance!"

By:

Brian Glynn

Year: