Track Listing

1. Irish Volunteer
2. Boys That Wore the Green
3. Opinions of Paddy Magee
4. Boys of the Irish Brigade
5. Paddy's Lamentation
6. Irish Volunteer, No. 2
7. My Father's Gun
8. Meagher Is Leading the Irish Brigade
9. Free and Green
10. Harp of Old Erin & Banner of Star
11. List of Generals
12. Pat Murphy of Meagher's Brigade

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #25192 in Music
• Released on: 1998-02-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .27 pounds

Amazon.com
This is an unusual endeavor. Kincaid has collected lyrics written by or about Irish soldiers in the Union army of the American Civil War, and either recreated the music from notes or written new music in the tradition of the times. The words of the songs express love lost and missed, pride in the military prowess of the Irish soldiers, and the despair of war. Kincaid has made a simple musical accompaniment for these songs, using familiar Irish instruments such as uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes), bodhran (Irish goatskin drum), mandolin, and whistle. He sets the songs to ballads and jigs--some traditional, others original tunes that hint at tradition, but all timely and appropriate for the lyrics. He also pens one original tune of his own about a fictional Irish American captain who dies in battle--stirring, but not as direct as the old songs. This is an ambitious project, well-conceived and capable of making a lesser-known part of American history more immediate. --Louis Gibson

From the Label
Through painstaking research and musical creativity, David Kincaid brings to life THE IRISH VOLUNTEER, SONGS OF THE IRISH UNION SOLDIER 1861-1865 (RCD10395), set for release on Rykodisc February 24, 1998. Kincaid's collection delivers traditional Irish battle songs with a twist - the jigs and reels sound straight from the hills of Tipperary or Galway Bay, but these Fenians are raising their pikes and voices for Gettsyburg, not Donegal. Dedicated to the memory of the over 160,000 Irishmen who fought in Yankee Regiments against the South in the Civil War, this album celebrates the spirit and music of Irish Soldiers in America who, in battles at Antietam, Fredericksburg and a dozen other sites, gained a reputation second to none for discipline and gallantry. Although some Irish American Civil War songs have been recorded in other collections, Kincaid's THE IRISH VOLUNTEER is the only album of Civil War songs dedicated entirely to the Irish soldier and all but two of the songs are heard here for the first time since the late 1800s. This album opens the door to a fascinating time in history and comes complete with comprehensive liner notes, written by noted Civil War historian Joseph G. Bilby, while the package includes never-before-printed Civil War memorabilia. Lead singer of the twangy rock band the Brandos, David Kincaid took a break from contemporary rock music life to indulge his historical passions when he joined The 116th, a civil war re-enactment troop. He and his fellow marchers would often follow intense battle re-enactments with campfire sessions, singing the traditional songs of the Civil War soldier. Finding it strange when he was told that the Irish soldiers, a group of men raised on song and story, had no verses of their own, he scoured libraries and museums for the songs that he knew must exist, and indeed they did.

After countless hours of research in libraries across New England, Kincaid was able to discover the songs that may have been lost forever. Only one song he retrieved, "The Irish Volunteer "(Nr. 2), was found with musical notation. The others were found on broadsides, or in lyric books, with only allusions to the airs and jigs that were to be played while singing the songs. With an ear to historical details and a little bit of imagination, Kincaid composed the more obscure melodies himself and was able to finish the songs.

Customer Reviews

Marvelous!
If you love great Irish music or are interested in the history of the Civil War you are sure to enjoy this CD! I had the good fortune to see David Kincaid perform most of the songs on this CD recently and was immediately captivated by this unique and wonderful music. The melodies and musical style will be instantly familiar with anyone familiar with Celtic music. All but one of the songs on the CD are based on authentic songs that were played by the famous Irish Brigade of the Civil War. The terrific liner notes explain the context of each song and how it relates to not only the Civil War, but the Irish immigrant experience of the 19th century as well. After meeting Mr. Kincaid, it was clear that this disc was a labor of love and it shines through in the high production quality of this CD. I haven't been able to stop listening to it since I got it and I doubt you will either.

Would Get TEN Stars on a Bad Day!
Picture yourself trapped in a Civil War art gallery/frame shop for eight to ten hours a day, five to six days a week...ok, a dream come true to those of us who love the Civil War. What else goes with the ambiance of a fine gallery aside from art work and books about the War Between the States? Period music! Great, right? Most of the time, yes! However, our CD player only handles five discs, so I get to hear said CDs over and over and...well, you get the point. David Kincaid's The Irish Volunteer is one of the BEST Civil War CD's I have ever heard. From humorous to heart wrenching, he covers all the bases with excellent background instruments which compliment, not deter, from a voice that would be successful applied to any musical genre'. His heart and soul comes through this endevour, and it shines! In regard to his music, the two most frequently asked questions I hear are: "where can I get this" and (from all our Rebel friends) "When is he going to do another one...for US?" The CD and tape are money well spent, for enjoyment that will last until it wears out! (The one things that David Kincaid won't wear out is his welcome, EVER!)

Great, great album.
His selection of songs was excellent, and his treatment of the material even better. An album you will listen to again and again. Do yourself a favor, buy it!