Danu, McGlynn and Fusion
DANÚ are an Irish traditional music group based in Ring, Co. Waterford, made up of seven traditional musicians, hailing from counties Waterford, Dublin, Kerry and Donegal.
Named Danu after the Celtic Goddess, the group have a strong ethos of loyalty to the tradition from which their music comes and yet still bring a fresh, inspiring approach to their performances. In 2004 Danú won the BBC 2 Folk Award for "Best Group". At the same awards the song "The County Down" by Tommy Sands that Danú had recently recorded won "Best Song"A wonderfully lively group on stage, a DANÚ concert is a unique experience.
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is the lead singer, and plays flute and whistle with the band. She
sings in English and Irish, in folk and Sean Nós traditions. In "Molly Na Gcuach Ní Chuilleanain" , from the Seanchas album (2010), evidence of these traditions is present. She sings in Irish, with ornamentation starting slowly with free metre like a Sean nós song, with an accordion drone for accompaniment. After the 2nd verse, a fixed metre almost sneaks up on the listener as the guitar eases into gentle 6/8 accompaniment augmented by backing vocals. However in live performances she sometimes sings the whole song in a fixed metre with only
bodhrán for accompaniment. Indeed the singing style varies slightly from performance to performance, itself a feature of Sean Nós. The method of starting a song in a Sean Nós style and changing to contemporary folk as the song develops is very common in the songs of Danu, although Muireann never loses the ornamentation.
sings in English and Irish, in folk and Sean Nós traditions. In "Molly Na Gcuach Ní Chuilleanain" , from the Seanchas album (2010), evidence of these traditions is present. She sings in Irish, with ornamentation starting slowly with free metre like a Sean nós song, with an accordion drone for accompaniment. After the 2nd verse, a fixed metre almost sneaks up on the listener as the guitar eases into gentle 6/8 accompaniment augmented by backing vocals. However in live performances she sometimes sings the whole song in a fixed metre with only
bodhrán for accompaniment. Indeed the singing style varies slightly from performance to performance, itself a feature of Sean Nós. The method of starting a song in a Sean Nós style and changing to contemporary folk as the song develops is very common in the songs of Danu, although Muireann never loses the ornamentation.
Guitar and bouzouki are the main accompaniment instruments but the melodic instruments, flute, fiddle and accordion play their part in giving the songs colour and direction with added harmonies and counter-melodies. Danu accompaniments always develop throughout the song.
Tom Doorley is the flute-player, and often acts as the spokesman for the band on stage.
Dónal Clancy is the guitar player for the band. He was one of the original members, and after several years pursuing a career with Solas and touring with his father, balladeer Liam Clancy.
Oisín McAuley, a previous member of Stockton's Wing, plays four and five string fiddle with Danú. He has recently released a solo album of fiddle music.
Éamon Doorley plays bouzouki and fiddle, and is the younger brother of Tom Doorley. His bouzouki playing has a strong emphasis on countermelody.
Donnchadh Gough plays both bodhran and uillean pipes in Danú and Benny McCarthy plays box (button accordion).
The many instrumentals are equally interesting and incredibly vivacious. "Are you ready
yet" from "Think before you think" album is actually 4 tunes, Are You Ready Yet?/The Tailor's
Thimble/Donoghue's Reel/I'm Ready Now! Almost 5 minutes long, This is a very cleverly structured tune variation
in keys, instrument combinations, tempi and rhythmical accompaniment all add to the excitement as it continues to build throughout. Begining with open 5ths on Bouzouki under a flute solo, composed by Tom Doorley, a reel at a gentle tempo, Lots of traditional ornamentation, slightly classical trills and a touch of flutter-tongueing are evident before a faster tempo gives the first lift, aided by the addition of more rhythmic bouzouki and guitar accompaniment and bodhrán. Before the listener has a chance to lose attention, the 2nd tune in a new key, on the fiddle keeps up the interest. The harmony on the flute, sometimes parallel and sometimes counter melody, at this point is typical Danu. Time for a new tune, new key, new instrument, the box. Again the flute harmonies feature. For the last tune, again in a new key, the full group play together at
top speed as the danu sound is achieved.
Not all Danú songs are from the ancient Irish tradition. County Down is an example of a contemporary folk song written by Tommy Sands. Again there is a balance between Sean nós and folk in the singing of this song. Other examples of songs by Danú include The boys of Barr na Sráide a gentle ballad featuring finger picking guitar accompaniment and An spealadóir which as a lively 6/8 song is often performed as part of a Jig set.