‘Tobar an Cheoil’ is the third collaborative album by Monaghan-born harper Michael Rooney and Sligo-born flutist June McCormack, having previously released ‘Land’s End’ in 2006 and ‘Draíocht’ in 2004. Both players have substantial musical credentials. Together as ‘Draíocht’, they have toured extensively, throughout the States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Their duet playing is outstanding, rich, melodic and subtle, with a unique blend of harp and flute. They have already achieved great things individually, including major awards and two acclaimed recordings.
With over 55 minutes of music, ‘Tobar an Cheoil’ offers a fourteen-track album with a difference, a mixture of traditional tunes and features twelve of Michael’s original compositions. The album has an unusual variety of tunes, incorporating several reel and jig sets, in addition to newly composed hop-jigs, slip jigs, a number of airs and planxties by Michael.
A native of County Sligo, June grew up immersed in the fiddle and flute music of Sligo and was recipient of the TG4 Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award in 1998. A primary school teacher by profession, June has published two Irish flute tutorials ‘Fliuit’, ‘Fliuit 2’ and most recently, ‘The Book of Sligo Tunes’.Michael is a prolific composer and is widely regarded as one of the foremost players of the traditional Irish harp. Michael was announced as the TG4 Composer of the Year 2017. Among the highlights of his recent orchestral and ensemble compositions are ‘The Ulster Suite’ (2022), ‘Clairseoireacht’ (2022), ‘Constance’ (2019), The Famine Suite (2019), The Macalla Suite (2016), The De Cuellar Suite (2011), The Reconciliation Suite (2015) and several more.
For more info visit: http://www.draiochtmusic.com
