 |
| Homepage | Sound Samples |
Debut
Recording
The Rowsome Tradition
"Five Generations of Uilleann Piping"
Press Release… Peter Woods - RTE
Amongst
uilleann pipers there is an old axiom, ‘seven years learning, seven years practising,
seven years playing.’ Kevin Rowsome has been long acclaimed as a gifted uilleann piper. He comes from the fifth
generation of a family that is best described as a musical dynasty.
When – in 1996 – Kevin won the coveted first prize in the Oireachtas, he
was repeating a feat performed, almost one hundred years before,
by his great uncle, Tom Rowsome. His great great grandfather Samuel played
and repaired the instrument. Samuel’s son, William made and played the pipes.
Kevin’s grandfather, Leo Rowsome, is one of the legends of piping
– a man regarded as one of the finest ever pipe-makers, teachers and indeed,
players – as well as one of the fundamental figures of the revival of
Irish music. Again, Kevin’s father, Leon was also an accomplished musician.
Kevin Rowsome learned his piping in this company – taking his first lessons
from his grandfather at the age of six.
This album has been long awaited: for the association with the name Rowsome is not, by itself, enough. Kevin Rowsome adds to the tradition he comes from. His music has great assurance. It settles well into the space it’s come from: embodying the values it springs from and – simultaneously - enhancing them. It represents all that is best in the music - reverberating from the past into the present.
All this is exemplified by his playing of Staker Wallace – a tune recorded by Leo Rowsome on the classic, 1959 album, "Rí na bPíobairí" (The King of the Pipers). It’s not so much the notes as the notes between the notes. Space and silence. Music that is still growing.
Links to on-line CD reviews :
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/rowsome.htm
Selected Quotations - (to date)
This lovely compact disk is a credit to Kevin and to the
musical Rowsome family.
Seamus Connolly
master fiddle player & Director - Gaelic roots festival Boston College USA
I am proud to be associated with Kevin Rowsome's first
CD. Kevin is the proud inheritor of a long tradition spanning five generations. No other
family have given so much to the uilleann pipes and pipe making over an extended period.
Many people will be delighted to hear the archival tracks of Leo, Leon and Liam Rowsome.
Kevin possesses the recognised family traits of gentleness combined with musicality and a
total dedication to the uilleann pipes.
Mick O'Connor
master flute player & ex member Castle Ceili Band
A lovely album of music played with feeling, integrity
and great taste.
Paddy Ryan
master fiddle player & broadcaster Shannonside Radio - Roscommon
The piping style and tradition captured on this great CD
is a monument to the Rowsome name...... Long may it last.
Michael O'Brien master uilleann piper - Dublin
His playing, both of dance tunes and slow airs, is highly
accomplished and in the best of traditional taste
Don Meade
Irish Voice
A classy piece of work.
Pat Aherne
Cork
Examiner
Stylistic adventurous and
imaginative....a player at home in his own musical skin.
Siobhan Long
Hot Press
A fifth generation master........superb
Fintan Vallely
The Sunday Tribune
The Sunday Tribune
One of the top players around
Malcom Rogers
The Irish Post
One for the top drawer
Sean Laffey
Irish music
magazine
A delightful mix of playing finesse.......a first rate
album
Joe Crane
Folk Roots
Sleeve liner note : -
The name Rowsome has always been revered in the Connolly household. It just seems like yesterday but it's almost 50 years now since I first heard the music of Kevin Rowsome’s grandfather, Leo.
I remember so vividly my father proudly holding in his hands a recording of "The Maestro" (as he referred to Leo). He then carefully placed the 78 r.p.m. record on the turntable of our wind-up gramophone and slowly lowered the needle on to the groove. It was then that I saw the smile on my fathers face as our kitchen was filled with sounds of the master at work, playing the haunting air, “The Dark Woman of the Glen”.
Reflecting now on the music of Leo Rowsome, his command of the instrument, his use of the chanter, regulators and drones brings to mind the following lines: “You can make music of a sort with white keys only, but for true harmony you need the black keys also". Leo, with his inimitable style of playing certainly puts the words of James E. Kivegyir into perspective.
Almost a half-century has gone by since my father told me, with pride, stories of Leo Rowsome. It gives me great pleasure now to write about the new generation of Rowsome piping that has emerged to the forefront. Kevin Rowsome proudly perpetuates, with his own creative playing, the long piping tradition of his forefathers. A master in his own right, Kevin’s assured renditions of tunes once recorded by his grandfather, along with the other selections on this lovely compact disk are a credit to him and to the musical Rowsome family. Today, I proudly hold in my hand a recording, which no doubt will further enhance the world of Irish traditional music and uilleann piping. Congratulations Kevin, a job well done! I hope it’s the first of many.
Guest Musicians
• Lorraine Hickey - Fiddle
• Pat Marsh - Bouzouki
(maker - Joe Foley ) Tracks 3,7
• Noel Ryan - Guitar
(maker - Lowden) Tracks 3,7
• Mark Lysaght - Guitar/Bouzoukis'
(maker - Joe Foley) Tracks 1,2,5,6,9,12
Recording
Tracks 3, 7 Xeric Studios, Limerick 1996 Engineer - Fergal O'Neill
Tracks 5, 10, 11 Studio Cooney, Dingle 1997 Engineer - Pierce Dunne
Tracks 1,2,4,5,6,8,9,12 Maurgriette Studios Dublin Engineer - Trevor Hutchinson
Mastered in Trend Studios - Ger Williams
Produced - Kevin Rowsome.
Sleeve Notes / Design - Kevin Rowsome.
Special Thanks to:
Lorraine Hickey, Noel Ryan, Pat Marsh, Mark Lysaght,
Seamus Connolly, Mick O'Connor, Pat Murphy, Trevor Hutchinson,
Benedict Koehlier, Mick O'Brien, Andreas Roggee, Liam O'Flynn, Neil and Tom Mulligan,
Cillian O'Brian,
Dinny Quigley, Fergus Finnegan, Helena Rowsome/Grimes, Sean & Breda Fitzpatrick, Liam
Hickey,
Liam McNulty and Paula Roche NPU, Glen Cummiskey and the staff of the traditional Irish
music Archive,
Steve Coulter, Ron Kavana, Caitríona Rowsome/Mc Namara, Peter & Áine Fawcett.
The set of pipes pitched in "C#" that feature on tracks 2,5,10 and 11
were made by my great grandfather William Rowsome (c. 1898). The same set can be seen
played by my great uncle Tom in the photograph of himself and Leo (left). The concert
pitch set of pipes on tracks 9 and 12 were made by my grandfather Leo Rowsome (c. 1948).
The flat pitched ebony / rosewood set in "C" was possibly made by Harrington,
and the concert pitched boxwood chanter tracks 3 and 7 is of unknown make. All three full
sets were restored by pipemaker Andreas Roggee, Germany.
I wish to dedicate this recording to my mother Noreen and my late father Leon for
all their support throughout the years.
Kevin Rowsome