Rhode Island’s L’Esperance Mandolin Ensemble is proud to announce the release of our new CD: Uisge Beatha — Water of Life. Uisge Beatha features song from Celtic and British folk traditions.

Uisge Beatha is available at Noll Guitar at 25 Macklin Street in Cranston, RI and Wakefield Music at 58 Main St, Wakefield, RI or just click the Paypal button to the right and we’ll send you a CD by USPS.

For centuries composers have incorporated folk tunes into their own music. Byrd and Beethoven, Vivaldi and Dvorak, Grieg and Grainger, and contemporary composers like Steven Antonelli, Michael Mayerfeld Bell, and Jim Dalton, who appear on this CD, have drawn from traditional melodies for inspiration for their music. With Uisge Beatha, L’Esperance Mandolin Ensemble celebrates that intersection between traditional and classical music. For us, making music is an intoxicating joy, an opportunity to gather and create music together. And as lovers of both the energy and passion of traditional music and the rich harmonic and rhythmic potential of classical music, L’Esperance showcases music from folk revivals going back hundreds of years and into the present.

L’Esperance is always looking for new musicians. Call us or email us if you’re looking for a chance to make music with us. Josh@lesperancemandolin.com or 401-345-6930.

Water of Life — Uisge Beatha

Rocky Road to Dublin (2:50) trad., Jim Dalton

Breton Dance (2:52) trad., Steven Antonelli

Molly on the Shore (6:34) trad., Percy Grainger (1882-1961)

Uisge Beatha (6:19) Michael Mayerfeld Bell

St. Patrick’s (5:54) trad., Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Second Suite for Military Band Gustav Holst (1874-1934)

Dargason (4:02)
Song Without Words (2:10)
Song of the Blacksmith (1:13)
March (4:47)

Six English Songs Peter Warlock (1894-1930)

The Witch (1:53)
Daphne (2:13)
Strawberry Leaves (:51)
Tickle My Toe (1:10)
Sweet Youth (2:08)
A Toy (1:46)

Three Dances From Henry VIII Edward German (1862-1936)

Morris Dance (2:40)
Shepherd’s Dance (3:17)

Torch Dance (2:37)