First Flight

I remember owning this album on vinyl during the 80s (I think). Loved it then, and now I still think it's one of my all time favourites. There are still not many albums featuring cittern or octave mandolin, and the people who first played these instruments deserve great credit for introducing it to celtic music. The playing on the album is superb, and the tunes are a joy to listen to. There are eleven tracks, and they are all equally deserving of praise, for their construction and execution. Gerald Trimble hails from Kansas, which surprised me when I found out. I thought he was from either Dublin or the west coast of Ireland, such is the authenticity of the music. Highly recommended.

Classic - Must Have For Any Celtic Music Fan. Flawless, spirited musicianship. Mihail O'Domnhail plays back up guitar on this for Gerald Trimble.

Transformed the way the medium scale 5-course cittern is played in folk and traditional, baroque and experimental music.

I wish there was more like this. The use of this instrument and the musicianship on this recording makes for an outstanding listening experience. I have bought this at a huge price compared to other music to replace a CD I had bought 27 years ago that's how much I value having this music to listen to.

This collection of Celtic traditional and contemporary melodies (Scottish, Irish, Breton) covers all the familiar types of tunes (strathspey, reel, jig, hornpipe) featuring the extraordinatry octave mandoline or cittern. The recording is exquisite and the mastery of the participating musicians is fully engaged with the proper consideration of tempo and expression so often neglected in traditional music. Gerard Trimble is an exceptional musician and it is surprising that he is not more familiar in bluegrass circles as much of what he performs and composes easily transfers to traditional American bluegrass music. The distinctly Celtic tunes remain nonetheless the key interest of this collection. I particularly loved the rendition of The Sailor's REturn/The Return to Camdentwon/The Maid Behind the Bar. This is an album worth having on a CD for those with a great stereo or car unit that captures the full realm and body of this incredible recording.