Wooden Flute Obsession CD’s
May 3rd, 2007 by Shardul
I would imagine that every lover of Irish traditional flute music has already forked out the paltry sum being asked for what many consider to be a unique and, as Songlines Magazine put it, “…enthralling compilation of traditional and modern Irish flute music…”. So I’m not necessarily talking to you guys and gals out there who are already in the know. No! I’m talking to the guys and gals who perhaps haven’t yet done themselves the favour of listening to the best of the best in Irish traditional flute playing.
I am of course waxing lyrical about the International Traditional Music Society’s Wooden Flute Obsession CD sets - and folks, I’m here to tell you that these compilations are simply awesome! Flute maker, player and ethnomusicologist Hammy Hamilton had this to say about WFO:
“What we get to hear is something of the current state of Irish traditional flute playing, in its international context, from widely recorded commercial virtuosos, to talented enthusiasts, many of whom were invited to record specifically for Wooden Flute Obsession, and may or may not ever record again. The era of the 78-rpm disc captured a brief moment in the history of Irish traditional music utilising the cutting edge technology of its time. The Wooden Flute Obsession series opens a similar window for us almost 100 years later.”
The International Traditional Music Society has produced three Wooden Flute Obsession double CD sets to date and a fourth is due to hit the shelves in 2008. Word on the street is that my friend Martin Doyle has recorded a piece for WFO4 — see the full list of participants details here. The flute series has been so popular that a new series called Fiddle Obsession is in the wind and the International Traditional Music Society are inviting the world to suggest participants.
“2-CD Irish flute blowout with virtually every name-brand Irish flute player on the scene” — Elderly Instruments.
“…this huge undertaking provides a galaxy of delights and a feast of surprises.” — Irish Music Magazine.
“…this is a great introduction to the world of Irish traditional flute playing and to its many stylistic facets.” — Celtic Grooves.
Check out the International Traditional Music Society website — each volume of Wooden Flute Obsession is accompanied by an index of the participating flute players with short MP3 samples. I noticed that there are only 6 copies of Volume 1 available, so anyone interested will probably have to be quick.
And as soon as more information on Volume 4 becomes available, KiwiCelt will let you know about it.
Wooden Flute Obsession:
Solo and accompanied flute performances of Traditional and Modern Irish Flute Music — non-profit fundraiser to benefit the International Traditional Music Society. The policy of ITMS is to make this information as accessible to the public as possible, consistent with the limitations of resources.
... a web site dedicated to the simple system wooden flutes (aka 'Irish' flutes) that are so much a part of Irish traditional and Celtic music, and to the excellent wooden flutes produced by the Irish flute maker 
