Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
"Like a medieval fair in New Delhi, the music of Four Shillings Short is intriguing and worth investigating. Their music is a global potpourri?.(New Times, Miami FL)
"With a wide array of instruments including hammered dulcimer, tinwhistle, mandolins, North Indian Sitar, Renaissance woodwinds, percussion and vocals, Four Shillings Short bring a fascinating mix of material, spirit and wit to the stage."
(Two Way Street Coffee House, Downers Grove, IL)
"A California duo you must see to believe. The arrangements of this husband-wife team are utterly delightful, filled with traditional instruments of both Celtic and Eastern Indian cultures and the familiar sound of American folk. Four Shillings Short is a band riddled with child's play, yet rich in the wisdom of old-timers who know better than to take themselves too seriously. Their musical virtuosity makes old songs sound new and new songs sound like time-worn Celtic spells."
(City Pages, Wausau WI)
"The musical duo Four Shillings Short is nothing short of musical excellence encompassing an eclectic array of world music. The duo have carved out a musical identity all their own." (River Stages, Dubuque IA)
They "stretch the boundaries of folk music. Their music is a delight, performance style unexpected and their instrumentation is a kick." (Phil Shapiro/Bound for Glory/Ithaca, NY)
"This group captures the essence of what I enjoy about traditional folk musicians. These are excellent musicians that draw you in with great stories and jokes. The music is icing on the cake. These are entertainers in every sense of the term." (Every Other Weekly, Bellingham WA )
"The music was very rich, deep, spiritual, political, healing and much more!! It filled our souls with a much needed drink of vitaele!! We look forward to your next concert." (Rhea Sampson, Palo Alto, CA)
"All the themes of violence/peace/fear/reassurance/extinction/courage/(fun)/& love were beautifully blended in your performance at the Rose, and "I Won't Be Afraid Anymore" perfectly tied it all together." (Bruce Maxwell, Santa Rosa, CA)
"It would be easy to tell you in endless detail how delighted I was to happen to be in Border's when you started to play and how intrigued I was by your mix of an Irish core with the rest of the world (both in space and time). I could go on for days about your amazing use of the sitar and other instruments whose names I either can't spell, have completely forgotten, or have never known. But I won't. Instead I'll simply say "thank you" and plead with you to add a San Diego gig to the start of your next tour."
(Bob Cunningham, San Diego)
- various quotes
Discography
2007: Attitude and Gratitude (to be released)
2005: Icing on the Lake
2003: From Raga's to Riches
2002: Of Labour & Love
2000: Dodging Lodging
1998: The Boggy Spew
1996: Kelptic OddYaSee
Tracks available on our website
http://www.fourshillingsshort.com
Photos
Bio
The Celtic, Folk and World music duo Four Shillings
Short bring together the influences of Ireland and
India on an ever increasing array of musical
instruments including hammered dulcimer, mandolins,
Renaissance woodwinds, North Indian Sitar,
recorders, tinwhistles, banjo, guitar, percussion and vocals.
The husband and wife duo of Aodh Og O'Tuama from Cork,
Ireland and Californian Christy Martin have been touring
the US and Ireland since 1997.
In a single night, Four Shillings Short perform
Traditional Irish and Scottish songs, tunes and airs,
Indian Ragas, Folk Ballads, Old-Time songs, Medieval
and Renaissance instrumentals and a cappella numbers
Their sound has been described as "wondrously diverse",
"truly refreshing" and "alternative neo-Celtic folk of the first order".
A BRIEF HISTORY:
Since its inception in the San Francisco Bay Area,
Four Shillings Short has always had an experimental streak.
Formed in 1985 the band's roster has included many of
Northern California's Irish, Folk, Jazz and Classical
musicians. Since 1995, the current partnership of
Aodh Og O'Tuama and Christy Martin have formed
the core of Four Shillings Short.
Born in Cork, Ireland, Aodh Og O'Tuama comes from
a family of poets, writers, musicians and teachers.
He studied music at University College Cork in Ireland
and Stanford University in California. Californian
Christy Martin grew up in a family of musicians and
dancers and began studying the Sitar at age 16 with
a protégé of famed Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar.
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