Eugene O'Donnell and Mick Moloney
About Irish Fiddle Music
Listen to O'Donnell and Moloney Play
Traditional music in Ireland has evolved over the centuries
as well and continues to impact American music through the
arrival of recent Irish immigrants. Two of the most influential
of these Irish musicians live in Philadelphia: Eugene O'Donnell
and Mick Moloney.
Master fiddler Eugene O'Donnell was born in County Derry
in the north of Ireland in 1932. As the son of parents from
County Donegal, O'Donnell grew up as a member of a minority
community where Irish traditions formed the bond that gave
them strength in the face of adversity. This fact, combined
with his strong link to the musical traditions of County Donegal,
gave O'Donnell the motivation and encouragement to develop
his musical skills.
Today, Eugene O'Donnell is a fiddler's fiddler. He plays
with power, exquisite tone, immaculate intonation and invention.
He has the extraordinary ability to accompany both song and
dance with equal skill. As a five-time All Ireland Step Dance
Champion, he has an understanding of timing and rhythm that
makes him a much sought after dance fiddler. Yet, his specialty
is accompanied song. He is one of the world's finest interpreters
of slow airs.
O'Donnell is joined by Mick Moloney, one of Ireland's finest
tenor banjo and mandolin players. He grew up in County Limerick
and learned much of his vast repertoire of tunes from older
traditional musicians in neighboring County Clare. He played
professionally in Ireland and Europe throughout the 1960s
and early 1970s before immigrating to Philadelphia to embark
on doctoral studies in folklore at the University of Pennsylvania.
Today, Moloney is recognized as a scholar on Irish culture
in the United States. He has also recorded extensively and
continues to perform nationally. He is a versatile and powerful
instrumentalist with an intricate, ornamented style of triplets,
pull-offs, and hammer-ons. In addition to his instrumental
skill, Moloney possesses a large repertoire of traditional
and contemporary songs from both the Irish and Irish-American
experience.
Together, O'Donnell and Moloney provide an opportunity to
enjoy Irish music and song and to explore the ways in which
our musical traditions have been influenced and shaped by
the songs and dances of Ireland.
© 2001 On Tour Productions
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