Amy Barrett (a), Caitríona Sherlock (a), Max O’Neill (t), The Choral Scholars of University College, Dublin, Solstice Ensemble, Desmond Earley (dir)

Signum ★★★★

There are just four short tracks on this digital EP of Irish and Scottish Gaelic songs, presented in a fusion of classical and folk idioms, in which the choir is accompanied by attractively varied instrumental combinations of the Solstice Ensemble, formed for this recording. Three pieces – the Scottish song Gur e Mo Ghille Dubh-dhonn (‘He is my brown-eyed youth’); the traditional Irish ‘Courting is a Pleasure’ and the title track are arranged by the choir’s director, while another traditional Irish song, ‘The Last Rose of Summer’ is arranged by Vincent Lynch. I would have liked the different lines in Gur e Mo Ghille Dubh-dhonn to have been a little more distinct and the choir’s tuning to have been more precise in ‘The Last Rose of Summer’. But the solos are all very appealing and the more hard-edged modern style of ‘Ireland You’re My Home’ makes a refreshing contrast to the rest of the album.

This review originally appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Choir & Organ magazine. Never miss an issue – subscribe today