A Celtic Christmas 2009

Barnes & Hampton Celtic Consort
Linn Barnes: lutes, cittern, mandolin, uilleann pipes, 5 string banjo, terz guitar
Allison Hampton: Celtic harp
Joseph Cunliffe: recorders, flutes, whistles
Steve Bloom, bodhran, tambour, triangle
Robert Aubry Davis: readings

March of the Kings - Galician
Reading: Here’s to Midwinter - Robin Williamson
The Mist Covered Mountains/The Blarney Pilgrim - Irish
Lo How a Rose / Herrick’s Carol - German / English
Reading: King Arthur’s Wassail - Robert Stephen Hawker
Marcha de Lousame - Galician
Reading: A Child’s Christmas in Wales - Dylan Thomas
(with Cerridwen’s Dream by Barnes & Hampton)
Lord Ronan’s Return - Linn Barnes

INTERMISSON

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - English
Reading: Maighdean Mara - Seamus Heaney
O’Farrell’s Welcome to Limerick - Irish
Ned of the Hills - Irish
Out On the Ocean / Calliope House - Irish
Christmas Suite: Merrily On High / Sussex Carol / Silent Night
Two Jigs: Frahers’s / Garrett Barry’s - Irish

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Linn Barnes and Allison Hampton excelled as classical guitarists before making the decision to commit themselves to the study and performance of the lute. Mr. Barnes studied with Jose Tomas and John Marlow, and Ms. Hampton bears the distinction of being the first person to receive a degree with a major in lute from The American University. In addition to major appearances in the Washington area, the duo has performed throughout North America. Their European concert tours have been popular and highly acclaimed by the European press. Mr. Barnes and Ms. Hampton regularly tour France and Ireland, where they research Celtic and Irish music and perform in concert.

They have an extensive discography consisting of twenty-one recordings encompassing solo, duet and ensemble performances of music drawn from both the Celtic and American traditions. Over the years, the two have added several more instruments to their performing repertoire, including the Celtic harp, guitar, lute, mandolin, banjo, bass viol, dulcimer, and Uilleann pipes.

In his many roles as flutist, composer, educator and distinguished recording artist, Joseph Cunliffe has carved a unique and distinct niche in the music community and is featured on over 80 recordings of jazz, classical, pop and ethnic music. It is Joseph’s pleasure to celebrate nearly 20 years of music making as an integral member of the Dumbarton Celtic Christmas family. Since 1980, he has performed with guitarist Giorgia Cavallaro as the duo Flutar to international critical acclaim, performing in cities around the world and was awarded the prestigious title of “Artistic Ambassador of the United States” by USIS. In 2008, Flutar released their fourth CD “Encantada,” that highlights the duo’s innovative original arrangements of Latin and Brazilian music. As a composer, Joseph premièred his piece “Michael” dedicated to the late jazz tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker in 2008 and 2005 marked the première of his composition “Latin American Suite” for flute, guitar and orchestra. Film director and author Alejandro Cotto says it best when he wrote of Flutar as an “…inspired musical presentation that moves and electrifies all the senses…able to vibrate the whole being of whomever is listening and who in turn carry in their life, a deep emotion that lasts forever.”

Steve Bloom launched his professional drumming career in 1969. He has performed and/or recorded in over a dozen countries from the Middle East to Nigeria to Canada. He co-founded Dance Place in DC in 1980; and currently plays with Ensemble Galilei, and Mambo Combo. He began an ongoing formal apprenticeship in Afro-Cuban bata and conga drumming in 1980. The Director of a DC-based Cuban folkloric ensemble called Havana Select, Bloom returned to Cuba in January, 2000, for several weeks’ advanced studies with three other members of the group. In addition to the regimen of study, Bloom received initiation from elder bata masters Pancho Quinto and Juan “El Negro” Raymat to play “Fundamento,” or consecrated bata, in Santeria ceremonies. This represents a great honor and responsibility in the Santeria community.

Robert Aubry Davis is a Washington native and an active member of the area’s cultural community. He is host and moderator of WETA-TV/26’s Emmy Award-winning weekly arts discussion program, Around Town. Educated in literature and art history at both Duke University and American University, Mr. Davis lectures frequently in the Washington area. He is currently the program director of the folk channel “The Village” as well as a regular host on the classical channel “Symphony Hall” on Sirius/ XM radio. His international early music program “Millennium of Music” celebrates its 30th anniversary next spring.