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Music of the WestBy Hugh McLennanFebruary-March 2006 The Saloon SessionsDavid Wilkie & Cowboy Celtic
Sitting by the fire in a warm and rustic ranch house living room, a glass of Irish Cream in hand and the strains of Dave’s beautiful instrumental arrangements of this musical connection between the Celtic world and the West can be a soul satisfying experience. The unforgettable strains of the theme from High Noon, being played by a beautiful blend of harp, tin whistle, bodhran, fiddle, guitar and mandolin may seem incongruous but it has a sincerity of sound that really makes it work. The Saloon Sessions is a compilation of instrumentals from the three previous Cowboy Celtic cd’s along with seven new tracks, each a masterful blend of the original melodies, the forerunner of many traditional Western songs. I was honoured to introduce the group for a feature performance in Cody, Wyoming a couple of years ago and was proud to watch the appreciative audience give them a rousing standing ovation. That’s the way they’re received in the U.S. In 1998, the prestigious Western Heritage Center and National Cowboy Hall of Fame presented them with the Wrangler Award. The group has performed in Scotland, Ireland, England, China, Indonesia and all over the U.S. Canadians have been slower to recognize this homegrown musical treasure though. In reflecting on this Dave says, “It really works best where there is a cowboy culture already, like Southern Alberta. Toronto and Ottawa just don’t understand. It’s always been better in the States.” You can order The Saloon Sessions from www.cowboyceltic.com or call (403) 933-2210. |
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