To gauge the health of Irish traditional music and dance merely by logging sales of recordings or box office numbers or media attention might lead you to think that it was in desperate straits.
But nothing could be further from the truth as the music is healthier and more appreciated around the world than ever before. One of the reasons for that has been the inherent reverence for those who passed on the tradition down through the generations, or those who made the valiant effort to keep it alive without relying on either a critical or commercial mass appeal.
Two recordings landing my way emphasize it in different ways and medium, and each are important in assuring the continuance of the "living tradition."
It would be hard to imagine anyone working harder than Nicholas Carolan, a founder and director of the Irish Traditional Music Archives on Merrion Square in Dublin, to preserve, protect and pass on the rich legacy of our music and dance.
One of his more public forays is the video production for RTE of the television series Come West Along the Road which he has produced and presented since 1994. It is currently in its 10th series with 130 broadcasts. (An Irish language edition airs on TG4 under the Irish title Siar an Bothar with 70 shows since 2001).
The premise is rather simple in that it is a valuable window into the RTE archives of pre-recorded material aired on other trad shows in the formative decades of TV in Ireland (1960s, 1970s and 1980s), either as original programming or rare footage in live settings, which give a vivid display of the enthusiasm surrounding the music.
Modern technology provides even greater accessibility, and production values allow historical perspective on people and places long gone by or else thriving in the current climate. In that vein comes the second DVD release of Come West Along the Road 2, with 52 highlights from the RTE series aired in the 1990s available to us abroad with no need for license fees.
As in the earlier volume 1 (released in 2005) studios, pubs, public gathering places all provided venues for nostalgic journeys watching some of the most famous or unique performers to take up the music.
The selections on volume 2 allow us a more personal glimpse and visit than surfing through You Tube or Comhaltas Live snippets via the Internet or iPod downloads. It's for those long winter's night viewing without worrying about being besieged with a PBS pledge break (you only have to pay once to view it over and over). And there is something on there for all fans of trad music and dance.
Among the more notable personalities on the current DVD would be vintage Planxty ("The Little Musgrave"), Kevin Burke in humorous form in his Bothy Band days singing "Mrs. Gilhooley's Party" (worth the purchase by itself), Andy Irvine, Paul Brady and Donal Lunny for one of Andy's classics, "The Plains of Kildare," Ronnie Drew doing "The Kerry Recruit" and Seosamh O hEanai (Joe Heaney) with his inimitable version of Cunla. Dolores Keane in her prime offers "Craigie Hills" with her group Reel Union.
There are some memorable musical couplings like Frankie Gavin, Jackie Daly and Alex Finn, Joe Burke on box with Paddy Glackin, Bobby Gardiner with Ringo McDonagh playing reels, Bobby and Peggy Clancy singing "Mrs. McGrath," Fred Finn and Peter Horan (playing three reels including "Martin Mulhaire's #9" written by the Pearl River resident and Galway box player) and Packie Russell and Seamus Walsh.
Ceili band aficionados will enjoy the music of the very classy and under-appreciated three-time senior All-Ireland champions, the Bridge Ceili Band, the Ormond and an older contingent of the Kilfenora Ceili Band who first performed the hat-trick in the 1950s.
There is some Connemara sean nos dancing by Mick Mulkerrins and Seamus O'Mealoid, who helped revive the popular Connemara set and footwork along with some fancy steps from Paidi Ban O'Broin to the whistle-playing of Dessie O'Connor. Nifty half-set set dancing from the Mullagh Half-Set and the Enniscorthy Set Dancers make for an interesting contrast in regional style and performance.
Co. Donegal has a fair representation on this effort as leading with six Donegal fiddlers playing the Mountain and Moneymusk reels on one selection (Francie Byrne, John Gallagher, Vincent Campbell, James Byrne, Con Cassidy and Peter Carr). Songs from Aileach and one of the country's (and county's) finest singers in Irish or English Mairead Ni Dhomhnaill ("Foill," "Foill a Shagairt.") Michael Gallagher adds a fiddle solo while a young Mairead ni Mhaonaigh watches attentively.
It wouldn't be Irish if there wasn't a touch of melancholy as we glanced backward, and three tracks offer that for me because of the passing of three participants in the past year or so.
Folklorist Tom Munnelly is shown interviewing Larry McDonagh, a flute player in a field work setting where he did his best work. Micheal O'Domhnaill sings "Casadh an tSugain," with his Bothy Band mate Kevin Burke accompanying him on fiddle.
And perhaps most poignantly, a fiddle duet with Antoin MacGabhann with his very first Meath fiddle pupil Felim O'Rahallaigh who sadly passed away a year ago at a very young age. (An article in the current CCE Treoir magazine more eloquently remembers their musical and personal friendship).
The DVDs can be ordered stateside through Ossian USA (www.ossian USA.com or 603-783-4383) or Celtic Grooves Imports (www.celticgrooves.homestead.com). Or you can order it directly through the RTE website at www.rte.ie/shop. Running time is 152 minutes and the DVD is suitable for all regions.