Pulling Strings - Maire Breatnach & Cormac De Barra

Tarraing Téad / Pulling Strings comprises 12 tracks primarily focused on the music of the harpers. It also features an eclectic mixture of tunes arranged for harp and strings by Cormac and Máire, accompanied by Cormac's brother Fionán de Barra on guitar and bodhrán.

"This is the pair's first recording as a duo. A finely spun tribute to our rich harping tradition, from the finesse of the opener, Planxty Sudley or Carolan's Dowry, to the pinprick precision of Miss Hamilton, composed by 18th-century Kerry composer Cornelius Lyons, Pulling Strings is a celebration of the magic that can flow between harp and fiddle and viola, with ample space between the notes for the melodies to find full expression. There's a depth of interpretation here that will surely lure its share of new listeners to the music. Fionán de Barra contributes occasional subtle guitar accompaniment, but this album soars on the energy of harp and viola, richly arranged." - 4 Stars - Siobhan Long