The Curious Bards immerse us in the 18th-century popular music of Ireland and Scotland, with reels, jigs, songs and dances that circulated in the oral tradition and in print, from the airs of Turlough O’Carolan to the great collections of the period.

Impelled by an irresistible energy and underpinned by historical research, this album restores the vitality of this music that lives for the dance, for the preservation of folk memory, and for sharing with others.

The Curious Bards 
Ilektra Platiopoulou, Mezzo-soprano

ANONYMOUS
A Set of 3 Scottish Airs
The Lads of Elgin (reel)
The Highlandman kissed his mother (reel)
The Fyket (reel) (2'45)

A Set of 3 Irish Airs
Sr. Ulick Burk (reel)
The Soup of Good Drink (jig)
The High Road to Dublin (jig) (4'29)

Rakes of Westmeath (Irish tune with variations) (2'24)
Since sounding drums (Irish Air) (3'48)

Highland Battle
The March -They Mend their Pace - The Battle Begins
The Height of the Battle - The Preparation for a Retreat
The Chief is Killed - The Retreat - The Lamentation for the Chief (8'26)

A Set of 3 Airs from Ireland & Scotland
Lady Herriot Hopes (reel)
Sir Adam Ferguson's reel (or Lads of Laois)
Bonny Lads (reel) (2'50)

O'CAROLAN
A Set of 2 Irish Airs
John Nugent (jig)
Bumper Squire Jones (jig) (4'15)

ANONYMOUS
The Duel
Rakes of Mallow (Irish tune with variations)
Reel of Tulloch (Scottish tune with variations) (5'14)

A Set of 3 Irish Airs
Mary O'Neill (jiig) - The Lads of Dunse (jig)
Port Patrick (jig) (4'46)

Kilkenny is a handsome place (Irish song) (4'01)

A Set of 3 Airs from Ireland & Scotland
Raddire en Ougnish - Marquis of Huntly's strathspey
Mr Jo Reid's reel (4'33)
King of the Blind (4'42)

A Set of 3 Scottish Airs
Miss Loraine of Kirkharles (reel)
Fight about the Fire side (reel)
Lochailis away to France (reel) (3'12)

Lady Anne Bothwell's lament (Scottish song) (5'14)