For some reason you are not allowed to believe that it was the indians who first discovered America: instead it must be Columbus, or Leif Ericson, or St Brendan. The Brendan legend, placing the discovery in the Sixth Century, is today a romantic one, and was originally a widespread one; whether or not it relates the truth of the matter most will agree that it would be very agreeable if it did. Tim Severin put at least the possibility of its truth to the test some years ago by essaying (successfully) the same voyage in a similar coracle to the original; and it is Severin's voyage (Ireland, Hebrides, Faroes, Iceland, the Greenland ice-pack and Newfoundland) which sparked off the radio documentary which in turn sparked off Shaun Davey's music.
The music is recorded here in its later form of a concert suite. The sound is probably unique in its basic characteristic: the combination of solo uilleann pipes (these are the Irish, arm-bellowed variety), representing the coracle itself, and a largish orchestra in which the sustained string voices predominate. For these Davey writes exceedingly well: he confesses to having been self-taught in the particular matter—highly successfully, the results declare. The sleeve also declares, ominously, the presence in the orchestra of drums and electric bass: in the event these do no harm at all, backing the music in suitable places with a gently percussive sound. Further more specifically Irish percussion backing is provided by the bodhran, the large jingle-less tambourine used with a double-ended single stick.
For all this Davey writes splendid music: simple in idiom, (expressively so), and setting the scene ideally for the particular action in hand. The terror which must at times have overtaken the participants in such a voyage is perhaps understated; the joy of it is not. The simplicity of idiom does not always extend to the solo part: Liam O'Flynn is obviously a very experienced and imaginative player of his chosen instrument. In Irish performances this music has been a great success; and this very well made record will now, happily, allow wider audiences to enjoy it too.'