Celtic Magic with The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

FORTH WORTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA PRESENTS
CELTIC MAGIC

For the last several years the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra has celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a Irish themed program in their Pops series and this year was no exception.

Jeff Tyzik

Jeff Tyzik

This year guest conductor Jeff Tyzik, lead the orchestra through the first part of the program of Irish ditties to great enthusiasm from the audience.  The Travelling Toe was thoroughly captivated by the lush and emotional rendition of "Danny Boy"or it's true name "Irish Tune from County Derry".  The brass section was outstanding in this selection.  Mr Tyzik shared a story of how Percy Grainger found the folk song while visiting a pub in Ireland and loved it, then wrote the music and finally the orchestration. During a couple of songs several young ladies, in beautiful sparkly costumes, bounded on stage and danced traditional Irish dances - soft shoe and then hard (tap) shoe.   They were from the McTeggart School of Irish Dancing.   They were fun to watch and all performed beautifully.

After the intermission, Cathie Ryan and her band mates took the stage and more Irish music was celebrated.   Ms. Ryan, who often attends the North Texas Irish Festival, not only sang so wonderfully, she played the Irish drum and told great stories of Irish life and the songs being sung.  The band, Patsy O'Brien on guitar, Matt Mancuso on fiddle and Brian Melick, on percussion provided musical accompaniment and vocals as well.  One song in particular that The Travelling Toe enjoyed was "Johnny Be Fair" and also "The Wild Flowers" was most poignant.

All in all this music makes The Travelling Toe wish she had some Irish roots in her ancestry somewhere.  Next year plan to come to the Celtic show and be ready to celebrate all things Irish!

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional music critic and any opinions expressed foe entertainment purposes only.