It was an epic day's recording in RTÉ Radio’s Studio 1 when the Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland landed for a Céilí House recording session - listen above.
Up to fifty of the finest young musicians and singers, both traditional and classical, arrived for what was a very memorable session in the historic old studio.
Fiddles, violas, violins, bass, flutes accordions, concertinas, banjos, harps, drums, bodhran, vocals and uilleann pipes make up the instrumentation for this unusual collection of outstanding talent.
The orchestra is drawn from all over the country and abroad and from a variety of backgrounds with teachers, doctors, engineers and pharmacists. There’s a dentist, an actuary, a solicitor, a psychologist, a biomedical scientist a cake designer and more in the line-up; united by their love for traditional music and song, they’re very much attracted to the challenges of the orchestral environment.
At the helm of the NFOI is Tom Doorley, founding member of the legendary trad outfit Danú. Tom, who only writes for the NFOI is musical director, arranger and conductor with the group.
Tom says "The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland is brimming with prodigious talent and its youthful pulse is a testament to the living, breathing art of our Irish traditional heritage".
Listen to more from Céilí House here.
