Ceol Anam: Traditional Irish Music

In Irish, ceol anam translates literally to “music soul”—a title chosen by Carol Barney and John Sherman to reflect the deep musical kinship felt between the two musicians when they first encountered one another at an Irish music gathering in Elkins, West Virginia. As such, the album’s 17 tracks feel like something of a musical heart-to-heart between the two deeply talented guitar players: always intimate, often wistful, and strongly sentimental. The pieces, almost all arranged by Sherman, represent mostly traditional Celtic melodies merged with a New Age sensibility reminiscent of the Windham Hill guitarist William Ackerman. Mostly instrumental, Ceol Anam also features Irish- and English-language vocal performances from Bridget Fitzgerald and Sue Morgan-Mattison, as well as fiddle performances from former Fairport Convention touring member Rodger Burridge. Released originally by Folk-Legacy Records in 1999, Ceol Anam offers unique and exceptionally beautiful interpretations of Celtic music.