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Island Mist
Bob's second album 'Island Mist' was released in March 2001.
Here's what the Nelson Mail said about it:
Island Mist, by Bob Bickerton
Judging by his most recent sold-out concert, Bob Bickerton's Celtic music has a big following in Nelson. Now you can take it home on his Island Mist CD, a collection of 13 traditional tunes and Bickerton originals.
This is truly a Nelson product, engineered by Bickerton at his BB Sound studio in Todds Valley, with the likes of Tom and Pete Rainey and Kate Sherwood backing up Bob's multi-instrumental talent.
The music is as good as you would hear from Ireland's best, and while Bickerton is a highly competent songwriter, the age-old and traditional music on this collection is outstanding.
Track four, Eleanor Plunket by 17th century harpist Turlough O'Carolan, is one of the most beautiful pieces of music written by anyone, at any time.
Thanks to Bickerton for reminding us that Celtic music is much more than Riverdance and prematurely middle-aged crooners in cable-knit sweaters.
Nelson Mail April 2001
Here are the cover notes from the album:
O'Neill's March
Traditional, Arranged Bob Bickerton (2m 56s)
A set of marches that I first remember hearing on an old recording of Seán Ó Riada and Ceoltóirí Cualann.
Mist Covered Jigs
The Mist Covered Mountain/Freehan's/Leslie's March
Traditional, Arranged Bob Bickerton (3m 41s)
The first and last tunes here were picked up by osmosis over the years whilst the middle tune was learnt from Roy McCormick.
Bonny Harvest Moon
Words John Barr, Music Bob Bickerton, Arranged Bob Bickerton (3m 58s)
Guest musicians: Pete Rainey - Viola, Backing Vocals, Tom Rainey - Acoustic Bass and Keyboards.
Scottish immigrant John Barr published his book of songs and poetry in Otago in 1860, a very early publication date in New Zealand terms. Bonny Harvest Moon is a celebration of peace and the land.
Of all the seasons in the year, I love the autumn best,
Ere winter comes with giant strength and Flora gangs to rest,
When scented breezes fill the air, when distant echoes croon,
And o'er the hill peeps lazily the bonny harvest moon.
I love to hear the gentle breeze that rustles 'mang the corn,
When Ceres comes with graceful step, and spreads her crooked horn,
When golden waves sweep o'er the fields, when thistles shed their down,
And o'er the hill peeps lazily the bonny harvest moon.
I love to hear the reaper's song, to me 'tis greater far,
Than all the songs that e'er were sung in praise of cruel war,
When brother sheds his brother's blood, when despots grasp the crown,
And burning villages obscure the bonny harvest moon.
Oh may sweet peace with gentle sway reign o'er Otago shores,
May beauty smile in all her halls and plenty fill her stores,
May still her boast be honest men and as each year gangs round,
May grateful hearts rejoice to see the bonny harvest moon.
Eleanor Plunket
Turlough O'Carolan, Arranged Bob Bickerton (3m 53s)
Guest musicians: Pete Rainey - Viola, Kate Sherwood - Cello
Itinerant seventeenth century harper Turlough O'Carolan travelled the Irish countryside composing and performing for various patrons in return for friendship and board. Given the nature of this tune, I can only imagine Eleanor Plunket was a very beautiful woman.
The Piper's Despair
The Piper's Despair/The Bird In The Bush/The Boyne Hunt
Traditional, Arranged Bob Bickerton and Alex Davidson (3m 02s)
A set of reels I have enjoyed playing with Alex Davidson of late.
The Flickering Flame
Music Bob Bickerton, Arranged Bob Bickerton (3m 41s)
Guest musician: Kate Sherwood - Cello
The world would be a poorer place without its many diverse cultures. This tune was inspired by the strength of people who preserve their cultural identity, even under very difficult circumstances.
The Close Shave
The Close Shave/Strike The Gay Harp
Words and Music Bob Bickerton/Traditional, Arranged Bob Bickerton (3m 57s)
Guest musicians: Liz Merton - Fiddle, Pete Rainey - Viola and Backing Vocals
There are many songs in the tradition about the sailor being waylaid by a beautiful young woman. Here's a New Zealand version of the song set in the gold mining era of the late nineteenth century.
Come gather round you diggers who work the goldfields rare,
It's of a trick was played on me which caused me to despair,
I came to town the other day my hard earned gold to trade,
'Twas there I met a pretty maid, who did my heart betray.
Her lips were red as roses, her eyes a deep sky blue,
Her hair as yellow as the gold, she stole from me and you.
She took me to a public house and there we did imbibe,
In whiskey and strong porter, and dreadful stuff besides,
It's then she asked me up to bed, to which I did agree,
But truth to tell I fell asleep, before she earned her fee.
When I awoke next morning, no trousers could I find,
But scattered all around me were women's clothes so fine.
My jacket, shoes and gold had gone, and all that's left behind,
Is a woman's dress, a yellow wig and a shaving kit, not mine.
Why did she need the wig? Why did she need to shave?
It's then the truth it struck me, in a fit of blinding rage.
My pretty maid's a man I cried, be thanks I fell asleep,
I'd rather lose a bag of gold, than face that dirty creep.
To venture in the street again, I cautiously inclined,
I had a shave, put on the wig, and wore the dress so fine,
And as I walked along the road, a digger gave a wink.
I thought of all the gold he had, so I offered him a drink.
Now you might think it sinful, oh you might think it bold,
To take advantage of the lads who struggle for the gold.
It's easy putting on a dress and drinking whiskey neat,
But leave your shaving kit behind when they are fast asleep.
Breton Tunes
Traditional, Arranged Bob Bickerton (3m 42s)
I learnt these tunes from Leon Delorenzo and Tristan Blount many years ago. I have no idea of their names but I understand they are traditional Breton tunes.
The Scarteen Hunt
Words and Music Bob Bickerton, Arranged Bob Bickerton (4m 16s)
Guest musician: Thady Ryan - Hunting Horn
The Ryan family of Scarteen, County Limerick, have been masters of the 'Black and Tan' hounds for over 300 years. They are great friends and it is an honour indeed to feature the master 'himself' on the album.
It's of a fine huntsman, young Thady by name,
He's master of hounds at the famous Scarteen.
His black and tan hounds were the best you could see,
They were feared by the fox up to the Galties.
On a cold winter's morning the earths they were stopped,
The field gathered round to take stirrup cup.
They rode past Knocklong to the Knocktoran Bog,
The finest of coverts that e'er held a fox.
The huntsman drew covert in hopes of a find,
The field were restless some distance behind,
Then came a holler, the fox he did run,
"Gone Away" shouted Thady, the hunt it was on.
Ride on, Thady, Ride on o'er the fields.
Kick on to Villain, Tom Tallo or Spring,
Your bold 'Tally Ho' will echo around,
With the cry of the black and tan hounds.
And it's down Ballycahill and through by Kilfrush,
The hounds on the scent of the sly little brush,
Around Ballyhoulihan, down by Byrne's Bog,
'Twas a beautiful sight of the hounds and the fox.
And the fox he stood still with his ears in the air,
The hounds were closer, he trembled with fear.
Oh where could he go where hounds would not tread,
Then he thought of the Lady who lived by the Dead.
So he ran down to Cullen with hounds in pursuit,
He went through the farmyard and into the house.
The geese and the hens did make such a row,
That the Lady came out for to see who's about.
Then Thady drew up with hounds and the field,
"Did you head the fox?" "We were close it seemed."
Said the lady "Young Thady you are very bold,
To cause such commotion on a morning so cold."
"If you wish you may cast your hounds all around,
But I doubt that the quarry you seek will be found."
Now Thady was raging for hounds they were checked,
He blew 'Going Home' and the field they went back.
Said the Lady to Thady "Now won't you have tea?"
Said Thady "My dear I'm bound to agree",
And after a sup his rage did subside,
And he looked at the lady with different eyes.
So it was through the fox this couple were met,
Their courtship it blossomed and soon they were wed,
And who would you guess was there by the church,
But the little red fox the lady had spared.
Marcelle's March
Music Bob Bickerton, Arranged Bob Bickerton (3m 16s)
Guest musicians: Tom Rainey - Acoustic Bass, Kate Sherwood - Cello
When good friends Marcelle and Linus Turner asked me to play harp at their wedding I was moved to write a tune especially for the occasion.
Dunny Jigs
The Dunny Jig/I Buried My Wife And Danced On Top Of Her/The Girl From The Big House
Traditional/Composed Bob Bickerton, Arranged Bob Bickerton (3m 16s)
The first tune here is a jigerism of the Dunmore Lasses reel. The other two tunes are fine piping jigs, the latter of which I learnt from Declan Masterson.
The Currachman
Island Mist/The Currachman
Words and Music Bob Bickerton, Arranged Bob Bickerton (6m 47s)
Guest musicians: Pete Rainey - Viola, Peter Walton - Melodeon
The currach is a small boat used on the Western seaboard of Europe consisting of a wooden frame covered in animal hide or in latter years. canvas coated with tar. Very practical and maneuverable they were used for fishing up until recent times. I have tried here to weave together aspects of this tradition with the tragic practice of evacuating the inhabited islands off the West Coast of Ireland and Scotland in the last century.
Where the island meets the sea, on a wild Atlantic shore,
To the sound of the breaker, to the peat fire I was born.
And as a child I'd run to the rock pools at the heads,
To watch the currachmen return from the fishing beds,
And if their heads were low, the women they'd run down,
To look the jersey o'er, to see whose son had drowned,
And the keening that I heard, I never would forget,
Until the time they keen for me, when my time I've met.
My father taught me well of the seas and fishing trade,
How to build the currach strong, how to build it safe,
How to form the hull, how to work the oar,
To stretch the canvas tight, and paint it with hot tar.
And many's a dark night, without so much a care,
I've ridden out the storm on canvas and a prayer,
And the smell of fish and tar, I never will forget,
Until the time they keen for me, when my time I've met.
Many years have passed, the island's met its fate,
Not conquered by the nor-west gale, just closed down by the state.
They've moved us all offshore, it's better so they say,
So I'm living with my daughter now in Ameri-kay.
And though the sun is warm and on golden sands I stray,
I long to feel the island mist, to taste Atlantic spray.
And in my twilight years, I dream of what's to come,
I wonder who will keen for me, now my time is done.
So now I'll start the work; the final boat I'll make,
I'll sharpen up my tools and carve the laths again.
I'll pull the canvas tight and paint it with hot tar,
And the smell will take me back to the strand on afar.
And when I die no funeral, no casket or no grave,
Just lash me down to the hull and push me to the waves,
And if the wind proves fair and the currents they prove strong,
They'll take me to that far off land, the land where I belong.
The Green Groves
The Green Groves Of Erin/The Flowers Of Redhill
Traditional, Arranged Bob Bickerton (4m 13s)
Two traditional Irish Reels with an airy start!
Bob Bickerton
Bob Bickerton moved to Dunedin, New Zealand from his native Birmingham in 1974 and developed an interest in Celtic music through the Gaelic Society Of New Zealand as well as the folk music scene. An ex-director of the Nelson School Of Music, he has been a full time professional musician for seven years and has performed extensively throughout New Zealand at festivals and in concerts.
Thanks
Thanks to Evey McAuliffe, Ceara Bickerton, David Bowater, Tristan Blount, Robbie Burton, Shane Clayton, Alex Davidson, Leon Delorenzo, Alain Fromont, Lynda Gardiner, Anna Heinz, Feargal Mac Amhlaoibh, Roy McCormick, Brendan McMahon, Declan Masterson, Liz Merton, Cillian O'Briain, Pete Rainey, Tom Rainey, Rachael Ryan, Thady Ryan, Kate Sherwood, Davy Stuart and Peter Walton.
Produced by Bob Bickerton.
Engineered and Mastered by Bob Bickerton at BB Sound, Todd's Valley, RD1, Nelson, New Zealand.
Photography: Front Cover - Marion Van Dijk/Nelson Mail, Bob's Big Band - Bruce King, other - Bob Bickerton.
Artwork: Bob Bickerton, Robbie Burton.
© Bob Bickerton 2001
All rights of the producer and the owner of the recorded work reserved.
Copies of 'Island Mist' may be ordered direct from Bob Bickerton for $35 including postage and packing.