MAIREAD NESBITT – ‘HIBERNIA’

For more than a decade, Máiréad Nesbitt has enchanted millions of fans around the world as the celtic violinist and founding member of the globetrotting music phenomenon Celtic Woman.

HIBERNIA is the old Latin classical name for Ireland in Roman times meaning Wintery. The High Kings called Ireland Éire (the Irish for Ireland) meaning Land of Abundance. The Rock of Cashel is the last remaining seat of the High Kings in the province of Munster where Máiréad is from and this is the castle in the artwork. Hibernia the album is bringing these two seemingly irreconcilable worlds together in a way that has not been done before. The album is a solo violin/fiddle album with orchestra, percussion (both from percussionists & foot percussion from a group of ‘Set Dancers’) which has never been done with symphony orchestra. This form of dancing is very percussive & primal. The music & dance rhythms for the Hibernia Suite on the album is solely from the Munster area where Máiréad grew up.

The music in general on Hibernia the album ranges from beautiful slow airs, vocal, lively dance tunes to ferocious fast paced reels.

It conveys the musical journey from where Máiréad grew up to where she is today with the album consisting of suites of all original music by Máiréad, Colm Ó Foghlú, and Liam Bates from traditional to newly composed. Recorded at Windmill Lane Studios and Soundscape Studio in Ireland by Brian Masterson and mastered by John Webber at Air Studio, London, UK, Hibernia has definitely come to life!

Guesting on Hibernia are Karl Nesbitt, Mick O’Brien, Kathleen and John Nesbitt, Seán Nesbitt, Noel Eccles, Nick Bailey, The Orchestra of Ireland, leader Kenneth Rice, conducted by Liam Bates. Vocal guest is the amazing tenor, Nathan Pacheco, singing the beautiful song To Bring Them Home from Heroes of the Helen Blake, an original song by Liam Bates, depicting the heroes of a shipwreck off the coast of Ireland. Foot percussion by Gráinne Uí Chaomhánaigh, Áine Cody, Bernie Sullivan and Coleman Lydon.

Máiréad’s new solo album Hibernia was released on December 9th 2016 in the USA. The album debuted on no less than 4 Billboard Album Charts including #4 on the World Music Charts; #9 on the Classical Crossover Charts, #11 on Classical Charts & #9 on the Heatseeker Charts.

"Order my new album, 'Hibernia', and unlock an epic journey of beautiful slow airs and ferocious percussive reels!" - Máiréad Nesbitt.

ALBUM TRACKS   01. Hallowed Fire 02. The First Shea 03. Becoming 04. Séan Ó Duibhir an Ghleanna 05. The Ballydesmond Polkas 06. Belles of Tipperary / Star of Munster 07. Merrily Kiss the Quaker / Denis Murphy’s Slide 08. To Bring Them Home (from Heroes of the Helen Blake) 09. Captain 10. Bovaglies Plaid 11. The Butterfly 12. There is no Light 13. The Dusk 14. The Dark 15. The Dawn