The Session after their latest trip abroad in November 2010 to Moscow.
Brendan Begley and Sons in the Bears Country
On November 27-30 we were lucky to see Brendan Begley with his sons Corma? and Briannan play in Moscow.?In all – it was INCREDIBLE! ?Though a week had already passed and I returned back to Kiev the emotions are still stirring inside.?There are no words to describe what it was! No record can convey what in reality the Begleys are!?A hurricane, a volcano, a storm…. unrestrained, shocking, lifting, swirling, almost mad… something beyond the human, really a Force of Nature. ??Fierce playing … but yet – soothing vibrant songs so deep and warm. An Raibh Tu ag an gCarraig was fantastic. ?The day before the concert we had a session with Brendan and sons – it was amazing – great atmosphere, lots of people and … the electricity cut off almost at the very beginning. So we were playing in the darkness with only a few candles on table.??Great was the session but the gig was incredible. The very first set of polkas smashed the audience into pieces. Fierce was the playing of Brendan, soulful singing, groovy was Cormac on his concertina and mighty and versatile was Briannan on his guitar. They played very tightly together. It was about 2 hours gig they had played but it seemed to me they had energy which would be enough to play three more! ??To say more – it was bitterly cold and windy on Sunday (and the next days) in Moscow, the weather suddenly changed to – 20C but Brendan Begley was all the time wearing his open sandals (with no socks) . It seems to me had he not come the weather would have been colder as he is definitely warms the environment up to a couple degrees with his presence). ?I was lucky to hang out some with Brendan and guys, to talk a bit. Brendan Begley’s sense of humour is fabulous)). ?So – it was 3 great days! Very positive with a lot of new.?Ireland is very lucky to have musicians like this as alive is traditional music until alive is Brendan Begley and his family).??So the moral is: wherever you see an ad saying that Brendan Begley is coming to your whereabouts do not consider and go there to see, listen, communicate with him as it would be very likely an unforgettable experience)!??I personally feel it was not enough)
CELTIC COLOURS, CAPE BRETON.
The Begley family was a great hit at the 2009 Celtic Colours International Festival. Breanndan, his two sons and teenage daughter not only demonstrated the depth and quality of Irish music and dance, they were also living proof of how the culture is being passed down from one generation to the next. This connected them instantly with the local players in Cape Breton who have learned their craft in the same way. The Begleys are the real thing!
Joella Foulds, Artistic Director
PADDY BUSH. FÉILE NA GRÉINE.
Oíche spleodrach agus corraitheach a thug Muintir Uí Bheaglaoich dúinn ag Feile na Gréine. Idir ceol rince lán fuinnimh, agus foinn is amhráin malla a bhéarfadh deora chun do shúile, choinníodar an lucht éisteachta faoi gheasa ceoil ar feadh na hoíche – pé uair ar chríochnaigh sí!
This impossibly talented family kept the capacity Féile na Gréine audience enthralled for the night. Frenetic jigs, reels and polkas, with restorative and moving songs and slow airs interspersed, were a magical, midsummer mixture. The Begleys gave us a wonderful, seemingly endless night of music.
CELTIC CUBAN FESTIVAL.
One of the highlights of CeltFest Cuba 2010 was the Begley family. I don’t think you’ll find a better set of session and concert musicians on the traditional music scene.
Whether on stage, in session or in leading workshops their joyous participation in all that the festival had to offer was infectious.
Breanndán, the patriarch of the clan, is an expert at playing the box and singing in a lovely traditional Kerry style, and didn’t think twice about organizing an impromptu “Céilí” on the street, in Plaza de Armas – ably abetted by his sons Bréanainn on guitar and Cormac on concertina.
Their sense of fun and committed engagement added an extra dimension to the festival. We look forward to having them back in the near future!
Cillín Ó Cinneide (Artistic Director, CeltFest Cuba)
