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Register for The Wild Geese Today e-mail updates. Emerald History Packed in Two Jewel Cases The Irish tradition of conveying history through ballads and song comes alive, both for the eyes and ears, thanks to Derek Warfield's two-volume compact disc collection of Irish songs, ballads and music of the American Civil War and a complementary publication. A review by: KEVIN P. GORMAN The cover of "Sons of Erin" Sixty-one-year-old Derek Warfield, a Dublin-area born songwriter, musician, historian and member of the popular Irish folk quartet (now trio) The Wolfe Tones for nearly forty years, continues to share his gift for teaching Irish folk history through song with the third and fifth compact disc's of his solo career, "Sons of Erin" (Cill Dara Music, 2000) and "Clear the Way" (Kells Music, 2002), plus his 80-page complementary booklet entitled "Irish Songster of the American Civil War." Irish contributions to the American Civil War were Warfield's inspiration. The crisis across the ocean in America offered the opportunity for Erin's own to fight for a cause they, like Lincoln, considered their "last best hope" (be they with the Confederate or Union causes). By extension, Warfield argues, the Irish struggle in America during the Civil War period was a struggle for a future of freedom and democracy in Ireland. For democracy to work in Ireland, many Irish were determined to show they could play a part in making it work elsewhere, and the American conflict became their proving ground. Sing along. Read. Imagine. Learn. You can do it all with this collection. It is in that context that this fine little collection offers you all you need to be transported into the hearts and minds of the idealistic Irish in America before, during and immediately after that epochal struggle of 1861 to 1865. Warfield, in forty songs and dozens of print and multimedia pages, answers the following questions: What music and prose reflected and influenced the Irish experience in America during the Civil War period? How did the Irish find common ground between their own struggle for identity and the American struggle to determine its own future? The cover of "Clear the Way" featuring the art work of Don Troiani.. What struck me, before listening to a single tune on either of these albums, was the amount of material provided beyond the music. "Sons of Erin" is not only a twenty-track compilation of period tunes and prose set to both traditional music and fresh compositions by Warfield himself, but it also includes an enjoyable 32-page illustrated booklet, offering a thoughtful synopsis of the parallels between Irish and American history. This booklet includes an interesting observation tying Thomas Jefferson's arguments in the American Declaration of Independence to those of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland at the start of the second millennium, and to Patrick Pearse's Proclamation of the Irish Republic near the end of it (Easter 1916). "Irish Songster of the American Civil War" is an expanded version of the "Sons of Erin" booklet and includes the lyrics of two dozen additional pieces, as well as background information on each piece. Included in both the 32-page "Sons of Erin" booklet and the 80-page "Irish Songster" is additional biographical commentary on key Irish players on the American (and one Canadian) battlefield, including Fenian General John O'Neill, General Michael Corcoran of the 69th NY Volunteers and his Irish Legion, and General Charles Graham Halpine, who was better known as Miles O'Reilly, a popular balladeer and army storyteller who earned the sobriquet "The Bard of the Union." From "Irish Charles G. Halpine in Civil War America" A contemporary line drawing of Charles Halpine. Also of note in the "Irish Songster" is a reprint of the Feargal O'Hanlon Memorial Lecture presented by Warfield in January 2000 on the work of the Fenian Brotherhood in America and its daring leaders, like Fightin' Tom Sweeny, who with O'Neill would lead Free Irish forces-nearly all veterans of the Civil War-into battle against the British at Ridgeway in June 1866. "Clear the Way", with twenty tracks more, one-ups its predecessor by providing 25 screens of similar commentary and images right on the same compact disc. While a personal computer is necessary to enjoy the whole experience, the music alone captures the imagination, so go ahead and pop this disc into your Walkman or compact disc player. Still, the accompanying materials provide added depth and meaning to the listening experience. Not only do both albums entertain but when supplemented by the "Irish Songster of the American Civil War," they enlighten. Sing along. Read. Imagine. Learn. You can do it all with this collection. According to Warfield, "(t)he Irish musical and lyrical legacy of the Civil War is a rich literature, only much of the music has been lost. Ballads are the musical expression of the poor and they were not highly regarded in literary or artistic terms." Clebrune, moments before his death at the Battle of Franklin, as depicted by artist Don Troiani. Warfield addressed this challenge by penning his own music where only words remained in existence. He created tunes for "America's Irish Brigade," "Patrick Cleburne" and "The Irish American Army" on "Sons of Erin" and "The Glory of the Story of the Men who Wore the Gray" on "Clear the Way." He also appended unfinished works with further lyrics and, like Irish Civil war musician David Kincaid, re-purposed other familiar Irish tunes with lyrics taken from the period. "The famine and the aspiration to an Irish Republic and independence are everywhere in the writing and it can only be described as powerful and patriotic," says Warfield. His selection of tunes, such as "The Irish Volunteer," "Corcoran's Brigade-'We'll Fight for Uncle Sam'" and "Meagher is Leading the Irish Brigade" on "Sons of Erin" and "The Bold Fenian Men," "Ballad of General Shields" and "Battle Cry of Freedom" mirrors those sentiments. From Derek Warfield hompage Derek Warfield (2nd from the left) and friends in Civil War uniform. The music is performed exceptionally well by the gifted Warfield and his band. Warfield, whose vast repertoire of Irish folk songs and stories made him and his band-mates in the Wolfe Tones famous in Ireland and abroad, is known for his masterful command of the mandolin, and he does not disappoint here. His voice has little range, but his folksy Irish nature and ear for good stories more than make up for it. According to Warfield, "the story of the generation of An Gorta Mor, the great hunger, especially as expressed in their music and in their poetry, deserves to be more widely known…. My hope is that the Irish who sacrificed through the terrible years of the American Civil War (1861-1865) be recognized for the inspirational qualities they upheld, the noble and cherished values they aspired to, and the creative tradition of literature, poetry, music and song they loved and fostered." They're on their way. For additional Wild Geese Today editorial commentary on recent Irish Civil War music releases by Derek Warfield, David Kincaid, The Gallant Sons of Erin, or the 69th Pennsylvania Irish Volunteer Band, click on the links below Derek Warfield Irish Green and Bonnie Blue David Kincaid An Interview with David Kincaid 'The Irish Volunteer' Finds His Bard Kincaid's 'The Irish-American's Song' Worth the Wait Gallant Sons of Ireland New "No Irish Need Apply" CD Is Worthy 69th Pennsylvania Irish Volunteers Review: 'Rock of Erin' Album About the Reviewer: Kevin P. Gorman is a Senior Marketing and Strategic Programs Manager with a global telecommunications provider. He graduated in 1986 from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a BA in History and Political Science. A native of Buffalo and a fifth-generation Irish-American, Gorman and his family are residents of Fairport, New York. A long-time reenactor and member of the Buffalo, N.Y.-based 155th New York Volunteers, he also served as one of WGT's three correspondents at the 140th anniversary re-enactment of the Battle of Antietam. Buy a hat, shirt, mug or other great "WGT" item at Show the world you are one of "The Wild Geese" Search WWW Search TheWildGeese.com E-mail us for more information about The Wild Geese Today Click to return to The Wild Geese Today's Home Page Copyright © 2004, GAR Media. All rights reserved.