Reception
The ''Brendan Voyage Suite'' is regarded in Ireland as a groundbreaking, crossover work of cultural significance. Composed by Shawn Davey in 1980, it is the first daring musical meeting between an Irish solo uilleann piper and a classical symphony orchestra. This confrontation of two separate traditions develops into a triumphant collaboration telling the story of explorer Tim Severin's daring and epic voyage across the Atlantic in a leather boat, a replica medieval voyage which proved that it was possible that the 6th century Irish Saint, Brendan may have reached America before Columbus or the Norsemen. The voice of the medieval boat is represented by the uilleann pipes of Liam O'Flynn, the seaworld of the Atlantic by the symphony orchestra. ''Gramophone'', reviewing ''The Brendan Voyage'' in 1985, wrote that "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." and describes it as "this very well made record". Danny Saunders, writing for '' The Living Tradition'', comments "I suspect that the fame of this album together with the length of time since its first release will mean that everyone that wanted this work will already own it. If you are lucky enough to be coming to ''The Brendan Voyage'' for the first time, having read the label, you are in for a treat." The Irish public broadcasterTracks
# Introduction # The Brendan Theme # Jig: Water under the Keel # Journey to the Faroes # The Cliffs of Mykines # Mykines Sound # Journey to Iceland # The Gale # Labrador # NewfoundlandReferences
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