Part of my heart is Irish, and I love Celtic music.  I hope you do too!  Here are some great Celtic tracks on Soundcloud!

Celtic Gems

A track I have played with in the past but was never fully satisfied with until now.  Very happy to have collaborated with Finn again on this fun take on a Irish trad standard.

Image courtesy of freestocks.org

The Star of the County Down (Phil & Finn)

Watch YT music video here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD1sVV_G1Bw

"If I Were a Blackbird" is a timeless, classic Nova Scotia folk song about forbidden love between a young maiden and a sailor re-imagined by Sue McBride. This beloved folk song of Nova Scotia was collected by Helen Creighton from the Armstrong twins, Alister and Judson, around 1950 in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. It appears to have originated in Ireland. In this variant of  the folk song, Sue pushes the boundaries of traditional folk music in instrumentation with mainly computer generated instruments and effects other than piano and tin whistle to create a melancholy atmosphere.

Lyrics:
If I Were a Blackbird - Traditional 

Verse 1:
I am a young maiden, a maiden so fair
Fell in love with a sailor, a young sailor boy
And we courted in secret,  by night and by day
'Til at length that young sailor, oh he sailed far away. 

Chorus:
If I were a blackbird, I'd whistle and sing
I'd follow the ship that my true love sails in
And in the top rigging, there I'd build my nest
And flutter my wings o'er his broad golden chest. 

Verse 2:
My true love is handsome, in every degree
And my parents despise him, because he loves me
Well,  let them despise him and say what they will
For as long as I'm living, I'll love that boy still. (Chorus)

Verse 3:
And if I were a scholar who could handle a pen
A secret love letter unto him I would send
And I'd tell him my sorrows, my pain, and my woes
Should the day come I find him, I'll crown him with gold. (Chorus)
Verse 1:  (repeat and fade)

Treasures Of Earth And Sea

If I Were A Blackbird

If I Were I Blackbird

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbFu_0jlqvY 

A song I've grown up with but always thought deserved a softer approach than the usual raucous 'pub song' it is usually portrayed as.  Another collaboration with my friend the amazing @Philleann with the very talented Sue McBride whose vocal performance gives the song the tragic, haunting, melancholy air I was aiming for.  
  
Vocal - Sue McBride. https://suemcbridemusic.com/music/ 
Accordion, Whistle & Flute - Philleann https://philleann.com/ 
Vocal, Mandolin, Banjo & Guitar - Finn Eces 
Produced by Finn Eces

Image http://deviantart.com

"Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye"  also known as "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya", is a popular traditional song, sung to the same tune as "When Johnny Comes Marching Home". For More https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_I_Hardly_Knew_Ye

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya

I Can See Hope From Here, is a collection of 14 favourite tracks from True North: The Canadian Songbook, Eleanor McCain’s most ambitious project to date - produced by Don Breithaupt and featuring the creations of 14 arrangers, 28 guest artists, and 10 symphony orchestras from across the country. I Can See Hope From Here not only offers a cross-section of the many musical flavours of Canada’s vast songbook but also serves as an apt reflection of the country’s ethos of strength and diversity.

“The honest emotion and powerful spirit of Canadian music has always inspired me,” says McCain, “especially now as we begin to emerge from a very dark and uncertain time. Though I’m not a songwriter, as a long-time interpreter I have the deepest admiration and respect for those who can capture and convey deep feeling through music and words.”

Though the origin of the title track, an original song by album producer Don Breithaupt and his brother Jeff, was personal, the profound impact that COVID-19 has had on the world suddenly caused its words to take on a more universal meaning during this time of restoration and healing.

09 Aujourd'hui, Je Dis Bonjour A La Vie (feat. Don Ross, Orchestre Symphonique De Quebec)

08 Get Me Through December (feat. National Arts Centre Orchestra)

07 Undun (feat. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra)

06 Constant Craving (feat. Jens Lindemann, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra)

05 Angel (feat. Denise Djokic, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra)

04 Run To You (feat. Vineet Vyas, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra)

03 A Case Of You (feat. National Arts Centre Orchestra)

02 I'll Always Be There (feat. Roch Voisine, Sharon Riley And The Faith Chorale)

01 Hallelujah (feat. National Arts Centre Orchestra)

Hi! This is the Outlander cover that I made for my Youtube Channel. I hope you like it!

OUTLANDER theme by CamillasChoice

Paddy Murphy

Showcasing 32 of Canada’s most beloved folk and pop songs, True North: The Canadian Songbook is Eleanor McCain’s sixth studio album. Produced by Don Breithaupt and featuring the creations of 14 arrangers, 28 guest artists, and 10 symphony orchestras from across the country, True North: The Canadian Songbook was developed to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. In addition to the recording, there is an accompanying English/French hardcover coffee table book featuring fashion portraits in select Canadian locations by V. Tony Hauser (who is also its co-curator), sumptuous full-colour landscape photography by 23 photographers from across Canada, complementary song lyrics, songwriter commentary, and behind-the-scenes shots by Greg Locke, along with a double CD insert. This epic, multi-year passion project is a touching tribute to the people, musicians, photographers and landscape of Canada. Eleanor is joined on this project by a talented team of artists, performers, and industry experts all of whom worked passionately to bring this to fruition. True North: The Canadian Songbook will be released ‪May 12th, 2017 and will also be available digitally through her website (eleanormccain.ca) and on iTunes

CD 2 - 016 The Island (feat. The Men Of The Deeps, Symphony New Brunswick)

Six albums and multiple ECMA nominations into her career, Eleanor McCain is often described as a classical crossover artist; but it’s her ability to cut the heart of songs that best explains her appeal. Based in Toronto and hailing from Florenceville, NB, the classically trained vocalist has interpreted everything from pop songs to celtic folksongs to jazz standards — with an intimacy that’s rare to find. Her most recent album, True North: The Canadian Songbook, an ambitious 32 song double-CD with an accompanying coffee table book, was created in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday. She has accompanied symphonies across Canada, performed alongside JUNO-nominated singer Matt Dusk, and has collaborated with artists such as Natalie MacMaster, John McDermott, Liona Boyd, and Chantal Kreviazuk.

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CD 2 - 016 The Island (feat. The Men Of The Deeps, Symphony New Brunswick)

Eleanor McCain

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