It's been a long wait, but we finally have a new CD out (2002)! Of course, we have been doing a few other things in the meanwhile, such as completely remodelling our house. Now that that's nearly done, we've been able to get back to recording again. I've totally redone this page to describe the new CD and also to be more compact.

The page contains information about our recordings, of which we now have two. This includes brief descriptions of each track for each CD, and some sound samples. Links are provided for additional information. Choose from the links below. I am still working on this page. There may be a few inconsistencies.

Sound sample format. Understand what you are getting when you click on the links below. Recording Where in this Wide World 1995 Recording An Craoibhín Aoibhinn (The Pleasant Little Branch) 2002 Key to abbreviations

Sound Sample Format

In the samples that I did originally from our first CD, Where in this Wide World, I used WAV format. In order to keep the file size as low as possible, I used low sampling rates and 8-bit samples. In most cases I also sampled in mono. The end result sounded a lot like a 78-RPM record. Also, I understand that WAV format is not so easy to access on a Macintosh.

When I started doing samples for our second CD, I switched over to MP3 format, which is now commonly in use. It uses audio compression, so you can get much better sound quality for the same file size. You should be able to use this on any computer. It was so much better that I went back and did the first CD the same way as well.

You may think from what people say about it that MP3 is a standard format, but actually it is a whole family of formats. MP3 formats are compressed formats using irreversible compression that removes information from the original signal. To keep the file size as low as possible, I selected a very low bit rate, 16 Kbps. Near-CD quality would be 128 Kbps. I think 16 Kbps is about the same quality as an AM radio. It does sound a bit like you're listening through a length of concrete pipe, but the file size is quite small. (If you are interested, I used the free WAV to MP3 encoder from www.mthreedev.com. It is not without problems, but it works OK.) Unfortunately the MP3 encoder sometimes puts a funny noise at the end of the file, if you are encoding something that does not end in silence; this is present in some of these samples. Needless to say, this is not on the actual CD.

You should be able to hear the samples simply by clicking on the link. I tested it with three different browsers. Netscape Communicator 4.7 and Opera 5 both worked with no problem. Microsoft Explorer sometimes worked, and sometimes called up strange dialogue boxes that wanted to install unnecessary plugins and change all my preferences. (Of course, the setup you have on your computer isn't the same as what I have on mine, so you may get different results.)

Top of the page. Recording Where in this Wide World 1995 Recording An Craoibhín Aoibhinn (The Pleasant Little Branch) 2002 Key to abbreviations

No.	Title	Origin	Time	Description	Sound Sample
1	Bean Uí Mhurchú Gort Rua Sailor's Polka	Ire	2:57	Irish polkas featuring Michael on accordion.	MP3 57 KB, 28 s
2	The Bonny Light Horseman	Ire	6:48	Ulster song from the Napoleonic wars, sung by Vicki.	MP3 173 KB, 88 s
3	The Butlers of Glen Avenue The Roaring Barmaid The Maids of Selma	Ire	3:06	Jigs featuring Michael on tenor banjo and Vicki on cello. It's an unusual combination, but we like it.	MP3 44 KB, 21 s
4	Máire Bruinneall	Ire	1:03	Humourous song in Irish. It would probably be even funnier if you knew the people involved. Anyway it has a nice tune.
5	A Good Roll-up	Cal	3:35	Harp tune composed in memory of our friend Allan Madden.	Transcription MP3 66 KB, 33 s
6	Dúlaman na Binne Buí Hìn Hìn Haradala A Stór a Stór a Ghrá Eilean nam Bothan	Ire Scot Ire Scot	3:28	Mouth music (vocal dance music)
7	Dynergh dhe Dus a Vretan Vyghan (Welcome to the Bretons) The Battle of Waterloo Lasses Pisses Brandy	Corn Scot Scot	6:03	March celebrating a mutiny by Cornish and Breton troops, followed by a Scottish march and reel. Features Vicki on harp.
8	The Ballad of Eureka	Aust	7:03	Song about Australia's first political uprising, sung by Michael. The flag flown at the Eureka Stockade was the fore-runner of the current Australian flag.
9	The Mystery Reels	Ire	3:14	Tunes of unknown origin.
10	The Leitrim Queen	Ire	6:08	Sad song about a girl who dies after losing a lawsuit, sung by Vicki. Really a lament for the downfall of the old Gaelic families.	MP3 170 KB, 86 s
11	The Scart Slide The Squirrel in the Tree Arriving to St. John's	Ire CpBr Newf	3:24	Slides (single jigs).	MP3 112 KB, 57 s
12	Newfoundland is a Wide Plantation	Ire	2:57	Bilingual song alternately praising and reviling British rule. Sung by Michael with spoken translation by Vicki.
13	The Golden Eagle The Poppy Leaf	Ire	3:17	Hornpipes featuring Michael on tenor banjo.
14	Fannuidh de Paor	Ire	2:42	Song in Irish by the noted harper Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin (Turlough O'Carolan).
15	The Mice are at It Again	Ire	2:02	Humourous song on the topic of pest control, probably of music hall origin.
16	The Juggling Bride The Trip to Tsawwassen Reelin Bridge	Cal	3:36	Reels composed by Michael.	Transcription
17	The Standing Stones	Scot	5:24	Our theme song, from the Orkney Islands.	MP3 185 KB, 95 s
	Total		67:29

Purchase CD

An Craoibhín Aoibhinn (The Pleasant Little Branch) Released: 2002 Catalogue number: WWSV CD 02 Engineered and produced by Verlene Schermer, Karmalu Studios, San José, California. Graphic design by Michael Robinson. Photographs by Michael Robinson, except tray card portrait by Leslie Currie. Cover photo (Demonstration orchard, Guadalupe River Park, San José, California) Description

No.	Title	Origin	Time	Description	Sound Sample
1	Sculley's Reel The King of the Fairies	US Ire	2:43	The first tune is a straightened-out version of the second, a set dance with a more irregular structure.	MP3 34 KB, 17 s
2	An Craoibhín Aoibhinn (The Pleasant Little Branch)	Ire	3:16	A beautiful song about some girls sitting under a tree deciding who to marry.	MP3 63 KB, 32 s
3	The Braes o'Mar Jenny Dang the Weaver	Scot	2:51	Strathspey and reel, with traditional style cello accompaniment.	MP3 89 KB, 46 s
4	Dunkeld Hermitage Bridge	Scot	4:22	Slow air composed by Niel Gow, played on wire-strung Gaelic harp.	MP3 125 KB, 64 s
5	My Lagan Love	Ire	4:40	Vicki has been fascinated by this unusual song since childhood. The words are by Belfast poet and artist Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil, set to a tune collected in Donegal.	MP3 96 KB, 49 s
6	Captain O'Kane	Ire	3:22	Tune by the noted harper Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin.
7	Knickers of Corduroy	Ire	2:50	A humourous song about a missing migrant farm worker. Maybe he went missing on purpose? At any rate, his clothes are way behind the times.	MP3 72 KB, 37 s
8	Arrane Ghelbey (Song of Dalbey) Castlekelly	Man Ire	3:28	Tunes played on wire-strung Gaelic harp, with baritone violin.
9	Ainnir Dheas na gCiabhfholt Donn (The Beautiful Lass with the Brown Hair)	Ire	3:45	A rather philosophical song looking back to choices made in youth, with a built-in translation by Vicki.	MP3 122 KB, 57 s
10	The Fairies' Hornpipe	Ire	2:40	A tune collected by Chicago police chief Francis O'Neill in the late 19th century.
11	Puirt-a-Beul	Scot	3:16	Traditional mouth music, mostly learned by Vicki while studying with the noted Gaelic singer Catherine-Anne MacPhee.
12	The Yellow Haired Laddie Scotch Cap	Scot	3:01	Tunes published in very early 17th and 18th century collections.	MP3 36 KB, 18 s
13	Four Little Johnnycakes	Aust	2:49	A tribute to Australian cuisine, learned by Michael in childhood.
14	Blodau'r Drain (The Flowers of the Thorn) Ffarwel Ir Marian	Wal	3:39	Waltzes from Wales
15	Are You Sleeping Maggie?	Scot	5:02	A classic "night-visiting" song that Vicki learned in her youth.
	Total		51:34

Purchase CD

Key to abbreviations
for place of origin

Ire	Ireland
Scot	Scotland
Newf	Newfoundland
CpBr	Cape Breton
Aust	Australia
Corn	Cornwall
Man	Isle of Man
Wal	Wales
US	United States
Can	Canada
Cal	California

Go to The Standing Stones home page

Go to the Standing Stones Site Map (listing of the entire contents of this website)

STANDING STONES is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as a federal service mark. Unauthorized use of this mark for performing live or recorded music, or providing music-related information over the Internet, in interstate commerce in the United States, is prohibited. For full details on the activities covered by this mark, consult the US Patent and Trademark Office database.