Cormorant's Fancy
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, United States | SELF
Music
Press
“…At a little over an hour for the 13 tracks, it might appear long (you know, being brought up on vinyl, I really like 45- minute-long recordings!), but with the strong performances, the variety in the track selection, the well-written liner notes and the overall excellent quality of recording, the album flies by. I’m left with the lingering enjoyment of Beth’s unaccompanied singing on 'The Sad Courting' and Diviney’s haunting low whistle on 'Kilkelly, Ireland.' "
- Jamie O'Brien, - Irish Edition, Jan. 10, 2010
It begins softly, gently, even tenderly. But An Evening at the Fairfield Inn with Cormorant's Fancy is not to be taken lightly!
The album begins with "The Old Copperplate," but the subdued sound is only the barest hint of the full Cormorant's Fancy experience. No small band, this, the CD features the talents of seven devoted musicians. However, rather than hitting their listeners with a full blast of sound from the onset, they restrain that natural tendency in favor of a delicate arrangement that tosses melody and harmony lines back and forth among the group as they shift into "The Connachtman's Rambles" and "The Lark on the Strand."
The band is Dan Diviney on whistles and bodhran, Beth Folkemer on guitar, shaker, lead and backing vocals, Joel Folkemer on acoustic bass, bodhran, shaker and backing vocals, Meg Folkemer on pennywhistle, lead and backing vocals, Stephen Folkemer on concertina, keyboards and backing vocals, Curtis Rockwell on guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, lead and backing vocals, and Andy Rosenfeld on bones, tambourine, percussion, lead and backing vocals.
The songs begin on track two with a rousing "Arthur McBride," followed closely by a sweet rendition of "Leatherwing Bat." "Haste to the Wedding" is another Irish instrumental, again building slowly as musicians join in the dance. "Do You Love an Apple" sounds the first sour note; no fault to the musicians, really, but it's just a bad song celebrating a good woman's love for a bad man. Fortunately, the pace picks up quickly with a spritely "I Wish You a Merry New Year/Banish Misfortune" set, the Scottish nautical ballad "The Bonnie Ship the Diamond" and the light-hearted, slightly bawdy "The Light Dragoon."
A pair of Scottish songs are mixed with Irish and Shetland tunes for track nine, which clocks in at 9:35 and is by far the longest cut on the album. "The Ash Grove," a warm and lovely Welsh song, follows. The album ends with a stirring, mournful recording of "The Waves of Kilkee," an Irish air, and the stately "Amhran na Leabhar (Song of the Books)."
Cormorant's Fancy is a gifted band with a knack for gorgeous arrangements. This first taste of their music has whetted my appetite for more. Let's hope they're not strangers to the studio for long.
--Tom Knapp - Ramble: a cultural arts magazine, 17 Mar. 2006
I was impressed with all the singers as they all did a fine job carrying a tune and emphasizing the lyrics where they should be emphasized.'"
--Mark Jordan, - Celtic Pennsylvania, Mar. 06, 2011
Of course, I knew I was going to like this place from the first glimpse of its old-timey fieldstone and white-porch facade. And from the sounds of the Irish band playing in the restaurant when we step off the sidewalk into the front hall to check in on a recent Friday night....I think the food’s great, too, but mostly I like sitting in the homey tavern space, listening to the familiar old Irish tunes....
--Zofia Smardz - The Washington Post, Apr. 08, 2011
Cormorant's Fancy
710 Tapeworm Rd, New Oxford, PA 17350
www.cormorantsfancy.com
Here and There: CORMORANT'S FANCY. Seven-piece, PA-based Irish band delivers 13 mostly traditional songs and tunes.
- SingOut Magazine, Spring 2010
Cormorant's Fancy has put together an outstanding collection of Celtic music. They have a tremendous collection of singers and play a wide variety of instruments. This is an excellent album for anyone who enjoys acoustic Celtic music. - OL Coach, July 25, 2009
They have produced a CD chock full of great Irish battle and love songs. There is a great deal of variety in the arrangements and tune selections…Without a doubt, a band of very talented players and singers.'"
- Tom Druckenmiller, - SingOut Magazine, Spring 2010
Discography
Here & There, 2009
An Evening at the Fairfield Inn, 2006
Listen to streaming tracks at http://www.reverbnation.com/cormorantsfancy
Download tracks on iTunes, and at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cormorantsf and
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cormorantsfancy
Please see the band's schedule at
www.reverbnation.com/cormorantsfancy
Photos
Bio
http://www.reverbnation.com/cormorantsfancy
http://www.cormorantsfancy.com
Venues and reviewers have characterized Cormorant's Fancy as "spellbinding," "with a knack for gorgeous arrangements." Their range from tenderly passionate love songs to growling soul-stirrers, and from pitch-perfect a cappella to accompanied complexity propels audiences into the living Celtic tradition. Cormorant's Fancy's compelling cross-genrational lineup unites the past, present and future, so that whether they are stirring the crowd from the festival stage, gracing the parlor, or accompanying step dancers, their music rings true.
The band's name is based on the original Irish Gaelic meaning of band member Dan Diviney’s surname as it might entitle one of Chuck Krepley's fiddle tunes. Lead singer Margaret "Meg" Folkemer is joined by parents Beth and Stephen Folkemer. They trace their roots to Counties Galway and Down, as well as Clans Donald and Wallace. Arrangements blend vocals, concertina, fiddle, penny whistle, low whistle, guitar, keyboards and bodhrån.
What will you find at a Cormorant's Fancy show? You'll experience lots of clapping, toe-tapping, and singing along. You'll laugh out loud, and feel a tear in your eye. You'll notice the audience hanging on every word of an unaccompanied ballad and cheering for a rousing anthem. You'll see Meg transformed from a love-lorn lass, to an Irish patriot in high fervor, to a grief-stricken young mother, and back to that innocent lass. You won't be surprised to see dancers in the empty spaces. You'll smile at children invited to join the band as guest percussionists on a set of jigs and reels. You'll simply have a fantastic time!
PLEASE SEE THE BAND'S SCHEDULE AT:
www.reverbnation.com/cormorantsfancy
Going back to source singers and hearing great bands means that Cormorant's Fancy influences are diverse. We love to listen many great musicians, including Paddy Tunney, John Whelan, Cara Dillon,The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, Karan Casey, Caitlin Nic Gabhann, Jimmy McBeath, Lizzie Higgins, Kevin Burke, Planxty, Joannie Madden, Liz Carroll, John Doyle, Back of the Moon, Jim Malcolm, The Bothy Band, Battlefield Band, Mary Black, Christy Moore, Heather Heywood, Gordeanna McCulloch, Andy Irvine, Craobh Rua, and The Paul McKenna Band,
Band Members
Links
