Eagle Alley are a close harmony folk group with Anne Gregson, Chris Timson (me) and Rob Winder.  Eagle Alley is also a shanty and that is what we sing here. We enjoy singing it and we hope you enjoy listening to it.

Eagle Alley

08 Monkey In The Hold

Sailing Homeward

Here is the shanty Santy Anno. We never seem to get too far from Shanties in Eagle Alley. It's a shared love that dates back a long way for all of us.

Santy Anno

This piece was written by Anne in just one day when she was attending Acadeny Inégales, a weekend course for composers and performers in July 2016 run by Club Inégales.

Inégales is the French word for unequal and this seemed an appropriate name for a piece which depends on making equal things unequal.

The piece has 5 sections each consisting of a short phrase of melody where all the notes are shown as equal length. The conductor chooses which section should be played and which of the musicians should play it and the chosen section is repeated until the conductor indicates a change. The musicians have considerable freedom in how they each play the section,  being able to vary the length of notes and tempo of the section, stop playing for short periods and even extend the section if they wish. Thus the piece allows for both structure and improvisation.

Instruments include concertina, electric guitar, musical saw, taegum flute, pipa, kanum and bass clarinet as well as more conventional classical instrumentation.

Inégales

Scarred

David Moss of the band Lightgarden is currently (Jan 2017) recording tracks with me for his forthcoming solo CD. There is some lovely music coming along here and this is one of my favourites. Composed by David, he plays mandola and mandolino.

Jackie Murray's Wonky Waltz

Another track from David Moss's forthcoming solo CD. Like the other track it is composed and played by David, but whereas on that track David played assorted mandolas and balalaikas here he plays violin and viola.. This is going to be one lovely CD.

The End Of The Dale

My garden’s overgrown
Now I can’t find my way through
Been ten years since I went down there    
With the good friends     I once knew
But now it’s time I found my way, it’s time I found my way
Before it’s gone

I recall a door at the end
Opened through the garden wall 
I turned from it seems like years ago     
Locked the door and walked away
But I could find the key, I could find that key
Before it’s gone

They say that door’s still there
And the path and the fields beyond
They say it will be spring again soon
And there’s a revival on the way
But I can’t believe it’s that good; nothing can be that good, 
No I don’t believe it’s that good; nothing can be that good, 
And so it’s gone

Before It's Gone

Jonny Fong sings his latest hit song 'Let It All Out' in E minor. An enjoyable psychedelic romp!

Frank's Theme

Rob Colquhoun

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