Tara Music Company | |
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Founded | circa 1972 |
Founder | John Cook, Jack Fitzgerald |
Status | Active |
Genre | Celtic, Traditional Irish |
Country of origin | Ireland |
Location | Dublin |
Tara Music (formerly known as Tara Records) has been regarded for many years as one of the leading traditional Irish music recording companies. The label was set up by Jack Fitzgerald and John Cook in the early 1970s.
Their first release was the album Prosperous [1] : 91 by a young Christy Moore, still largely unknown at the time. There was quite a gap between that album coming out and anything further being released. Then, in the early eighties, there were two albums from Planxty ( After The Break [1] : 262 and The Woman I Loved So Well [1] : 280 ), two further solo albums from Moore ( The Iron Behind the Velvet and Live In Dublin ), as well as two albums from Clannad ( Crann Úll and Fuaim ), followed by the first of numerous albums from Stockton's Wing.
In the late seventies, Tara recorded Shaun Davey's The Brendan Voyage , a ground-breaking album which featured uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn as a soloist with a full orchestra. The Brendan Voyage launched Davey as a contemporary orchestral composer of international standard and led to further commissions for work in a similar vein, several of which ( The Pilgrim , Granuaile and The Relief of Derry Symphony) have been released on the Tara label. Most of Davey's works feature O'Flynn and vocalist Rita Connolly, both of whom have also recorded numerous solo albums for the Tara label under Davey's supervision as producer.
The Irish phenomenon that is Riverdance has musical roots that had been developing over many years prior to the first performance of Riverdance at Eurovision song contest in 1994. These roots included musical elements introduced by Andy Irvine who, having returned to Ireland from the Balkans, introduced Eastern European music and time signatures to the group Planxty, who then proceeded to record a number of these instrumental pieces. Irvine and Davy Spillane also recorded the East Wind album, which was produced by Bill Whelan, possibly the first seeds of what became Riverdance.
Tara Music also released Whelan's first major orchestral work, The Seville Suite and his most recent release: The Connemara Suite. Other albums, such as Spillane's Out of the Air and Pipedreams, as well as The Storm by Moving Hearts, feature some of the musical elements and instruments that are easily recognizable in their influence on the Riverdance music.
In recent years, many releases on the Tara Music label are recordings by self-produced artists, with Tara Music acting as distributor and coordinating press and publicity. Albums by artists such as: Frankie Gavin & De Dannan, The Voice Squad, Zoë Conway, Máirtín O'Connor and Michelle Lally are currently available on the Tara Music label.
William Michael Joseph Whelan is an Irish composer and musician. He is best known for composing a piece for the interval of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest. The result, "Riverdance", was a seven-minute piece of original music accompanying a new take on traditional Irish stepdance that became a full-length stage production and spawned a worldwide craze for Irish traditional music and dance. The corresponding soundtrack album earned him a Grammy. "Riverdance" was released as a single in 1994, credited to "Bill Whelan and Anúna featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra". It reached number one in Ireland for 18 weeks and number nine in the UK. The album of the same title reached number 31 in the album charts in 1995.
Planxty were an Irish folk music band formed in January 1972, consisting initially of Christy Moore, Andy Irvine, Dónal Lunny, and Liam O'Flynn. They transformed and popularized Irish folk music, touring and recording to great acclaim.
Riverdance is a theatrical show that consists mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. With a score composed by Bill Whelan, it originated as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, featuring Irish dancing champions Jean Butler, Michael Flatley and the vocal ensemble Anúna. Shortly afterwards, husband and wife production team John McColgan and Moya Doherty expanded it into a stage show, which opened in Dublin on 9 February 1995. As of 2023, the show continues to tour the world.
Liam O'Flynn, Óg Flynn was an Irish uilleann piper and Irish traditional musician. In addition to a solo career and as a member of Planxty, O'Flynn recorded with: Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Kate Bush, Mark Knopfler, The Everly Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Mike Oldfield, Mary Black, Enya and Sinéad O'Connor.
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is an Irish folk singer, songwriter and guitarist. In addition to his significant success as a solo artist, he is one of the founding members of the bands Planxty and Moving Hearts. His first album, Paddyon the Road was recorded with Dominic Behan in 1969. In 2007, he was named as Ireland's greatest living musician in RTÉ's People of the Year Awards.
Andrew Kennedy Irvine is an Irish folk musician, singer-songwriter, and a founding member of Sweeney's Men, Planxty, Patrick Street, Mozaik, LAPD and Usher's Island. He also featured in duos, with Dónal Lunny, Paul Brady, Mick Hanly, Dick Gaughan, Rens van der Zalm, and Luke Plumb. Irvine plays the mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, harmonica, and hurdy-gurdy.
Dónal Lunny is an Irish folk musician and producer. He plays guitar and bouzouki, as well as keyboards and bodhrán. As a founding member of popular bands Planxty, The Bothy Band, Moving Hearts, Coolfin, Mozaik, LAPD, and Usher's Island, he has been at the forefront of the renaissance of Irish traditional music for over five decades.
Shaun Davey is an Irish composer.
Prosperous is the second album by Irish folk musician Christy Moore, released in 1972. His first album, Paddy on the Road, was recorded by Dominic Behan in 1969 and has long been out of print. In addition to Moore's guitar and voice, Prosperous featured musicians Andy Irvine, Liam Óg O'Flynn and Dónal Lunny. These four musicians later gave themselves the name Planxty, making this album something of the first Planxty album in all but name. Other musicians included Kevin Conneff on bodhrán, Clive Collins on fiddle, and Dave Bland on concertina.
Planxty is the first album by the Irish folk group Planxty, recorded in London during early September 1972 and released in early 1973.
Ordinary Man is the tenth studio album by Irish folk artist, Christy Moore. It features songs like "Ordinary Man", "St. Brendan's Voyage" and "Another Song is Born". The album featured songs by Peter Hames, Johnny Mulhearn, Hugh McDonald, Colm Gallagher and Floyd Red Crow Westerman; as well as some backing vocals by Enya on "Quiet Desperation", "Sweet Music Roll On" and "The Diamondtina [sic] Drover" and some fine uilleann pipes work by Liam O'Flynn. The original release of the album featured the song "They Never Came Home" which Moore wrote for the victims and families of the Stardust fire. The song was quickly removed from the album because the lyrics were found to be libelous.
After The Break is the fourth studio album by the Irish folk music band Planxty, recorded at Windmill Lane Studios from 18 to 30 June 1979 and released the same year. It was the band's first of two releases on Tara Records.
The Woman I Loved So Well is the fifth studio album by Planxty. Like their previous album, After The Break, the album was recorded at Windmill Lane Studios and released by Tara Records. Co-produced by band member Dónal Lunny and engineer Brian Masterson, the album was recorded in April and May of 1980 and released on LP in July of that year. It remains in print on CD and in digital form from Tara to date.
The Brendan Voyage was Shaun Davey's first major orchestral suite, composed for uilleann pipes played by Liam O'Flynn. It depicts Tim Severin’s adventure in reconstructing Saint Brendan’s 6th century Atlantic crossing to America. It features guest musicians Paul MacAteer (drums), Garvan Gallagher and Tommy Hayes (bodhran). The album title is also the title of Severin's book (ISBN 0-375-75524-1).
Out to an Other Side is the third solo album by master uilleann piper and prominent Irish traditional musician Liam O'Flynn. Produced by Shaun Davey and recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland, the album was released on the Tara Music label in 1993. As with a number of Liam's other album titles, Out to an Other Side comes from the writing of Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney with whom Liam has performed live on numerous occasions.
The Pilgrim is a live album by the composer Shaun Davey. It was recorded at Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.
EastWind is an album by Andy Irvine and Davy Spillane, showcasing a fusion of Irish folk music with traditional Bulgarian and Macedonian music. Produced by Irvine and Bill Whelan, who also contributed keyboards and piano, it was widely regarded as revolutionary at recording.
Words & Music is the sixth album by the Irish folk band Planxty, produced by Dónal Lunny and recorded at Windmill Lane Studios in late October and early November of 1982; it would be their only release on the WEA label. In 1989, the album was reprinted by the Shanachie label, who have kept it in print ever since.
Declan Masterson is an Irish uilleann piper, traditional musician, composer and arranger. In addition to pursuing a solo career and playing with Moving Hearts and Patrick Street, Masterson was one of the Riverdance musicians.
Between the Jigs and the Reels: A Retrospective is a two-disc anthology by the Irish folk band Planxty. It includes a 17-track CD and a 36-track DVD with over two hours of previously unreleased footage (1972–1982) from RTÉ archives.
Long, Harry (2005). Waltons Guide to Irish Music. Ireland: Waltons Publishing. ISBN 18-5720-177-9.
Harper, Colin; Hodgett, Trevor (2005). Irish Folk, Trad and Blues: A Secret History. London: Cherry Red Books. ISBN 19-0144-740-5.
Cat. No. | Title | Artist |
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TARA1002/9 | The Best of Irish Piping | Seamus Ennis |
TARA2002 | The Iron Behind the Velvet | Christy Moore |
TARA2004 | Stockton's Wing | Stockton's Wing |
TARA2005 | Live In Dublin | Christy Moore |
TARA2006 | Noel Hill & Tony Linnane | Noel Hill & Tony Linnane |
TARA2007 | Doublin' | Paddy Glackin & Paddy Keenan |
TARA2008 | Prosperous | Christy Moore |
TARA2017 | Out of the Air | Davy Spillane Band |
TARA3001 | After The Break | Planxty |
TARA3003 | High Kings of Tara | Planxty & Other artists |
TARA3004 | Take A Chance | Stockton's Wing |
TARA3005 | The Woman I Loved So Well | Planxty |
TARA3006 | The Brendan Voyage | Shaun Davey / Liam O'Flynn |
TARA3007 | Crann Ull | Clannad |
TARA3008 | Fuaim | Clannad |
TARA3014 | The Storm | Moving Hearts |
TARA3015 | Memories of Ireland | The Emerald Isle Singers |
TARA3017 | Granuaile | Shaun Davey / Rita Connolly |
TARA3018 | Classic Irish Ballads | Diarmuid O'Leary & The Bards |
TARA3019 | Atlantic Bridge | Davy Spillane |
TARA3023 | Shadow Hunter | Davy Spillane |
TARA3024 | The Relief of Derry Symphony | Shaun Davey |
TARA3025 | Anam | Clannad |
TARA3026 | Pipedreams | Davy Spillane |
TARA3027 | EastWind | Andy Irvine & Davy Spillane |
TARA3028 | The Crooked Rose | Stockton's Wing |
TARA3029 | Rita Connolly | Rita Connolly |
TARA3030 | The Seville Suite | Bill Whelan |
TARA3031 | Out To An Other Side | Liam O'Flynn |
TARA3032 | The Pilgrim | Shaun Davey |
TARA3033 | Valparaiso | Rita Connolly |
TARA3034 | The Given Note | Liam O'Flynn |
TARA3035 | Causeway | Nollaig Casey & Arty McGlynn |
TARA3036 | Letting Go | Stockton's Wing |
TARA3037 | The Piper's Call | Liam O'Flynn |
TARA3038 | Brian Boru - The High King of Tara | Maurice Lennon |
TARA3039 | Masters Of Their Craft | Compilation |
TARA4 | Collection | Stockton's Wing |
TARA4004 | Many's The Foolish Youth | The Voice Squad |
TARA4005 | Happy Ever After - Deleted | The Fallen Angels |
TARA4006 | Blood & Gold - Deleted | MACA |
TARA4007 | From The Edge of Memory | Phil Callery |
TARA4008 | Josephine Marsh | Josephine Marsh |
TARA4010 | Mosaic | Alan Kelly |
TARA4011 | Fierce Traditional | Frankie Gavin |
TARA4012 | Zoe Conway | Zoe Conway |
TARA4013 | Holly Wood | The Voice Squad |
TARA4014 | Spirit of an Irish Christmas | Roisin Dempsey |
TARA4015 | Aisling Na nGael | Emma Kate Tobia |
TARA4016 | Stockton's Wing Live – Take One | Stockton's Wing |
TARA4017 | May We Never Have To Say Goodbye | Shaun Davey |
TARA4018 | The Horses Tail | Zoe Conway |
TARA4019 | If This Be Love | Michelle Lally |
TARA4020 | The Full Score | Frankie Gavin & Hibernian Rhapsody |
TARA4021 | The Conemara Suite | Bill Whelan |
TARA4022 | Live at St. James Church Dingle | Beal Tuinne |
TARA4023 | Voices from the Merry Cemetery | Shaun Davey |
TARA4024 | Jigs, Reels & Rock n' Roll | Frankie Gavin & De Dannan |
TARA4025 | Go Mairir i bhFad – Long Life to You | Zoë Conway & John Mc Intyre |
TARA9003 | Best of Irish Ballads | John Ahern |