Brian Hyland's Irish Music

Salvete omnes! Domum in rete Magistri Lupifili advenistis.

Welcome to the web page of Brian Hyland ... mild-mannered gladiator by day ...

... energetic Irish musician by night. If you were expecting ANOTHER Brian Hyland, be advised that this is a Yellow Polka Dot Bikini free zone!

For twenty-five years, Brian Hyland has performed traditional Irish dance tunes, pub songs, sea chanteys and original songs throughout the Northeast, Ireland, Britain, Germany and Israel. Brian plays the following instruments: Anglo and English concertinas, pennywhistle, harmonica, piano and button accordions, flute, bodhran and bones.

Brian performs regularly as a solo act and with West o' Clare, the Hylands and Celtimorphosis.

In addition to his musical career, Brian is a classical scholar who has excavated at Caesarea Maritima, an archaeological dig in Israel, and won a DAAD graduate fellowship to study papyrology at the Institut für Papyrologie at the Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Germany. Brian currently works full time at Seton Catholic Central High School in Binghamton, NY as a teacher of Latin and Social Studies. In his spare time, Brian coaches cross country, track and field, and mock trial.

Discography:

Glenside Four:

“The Gypsy Rover” / “VICA” (1976): 45 rpm single.

Innisfree:

“Innisfree” (1989): Album-length cassette. Contains Brian’s original jig “Spider on the Bodhran.”

“Innisfree 2: Changes of Pace” (1991): Album-length cassette. Contains Brian’s original slow air “The Cardinal’s Song.”

“Innisfree: Live Among the Saints!” (1992): Album-length concert recording. Contains Brian’s original song “Son of Erin.”

Celtimorphosis:

“Helmira 1864 - 1865: The Andersonville of the North” (WSKG-TV, 1993): Sound track for the Emmy-nominated Civil War prison documentary.

“Celtimorphosis” (Orchard Park Recordings, 1995): Album-length CD and cassette.

“Christmas Traditions” (Orchard Park Recordings, 1996): Contributed two tracks to compilation CD and cassette: “Christmas in the New World” and “The Wexford Carol.”

“Celtic Traditions” (Orchard Park Recordings, 1997): Album-length CD and cassette. Contains Brian’s original melody “The Seneca Strathspey.”

“A Community Album” (The Chemung Valley History Museum, 1998): Contributed three tracks to the CD which accompanied the museum exhibit: “Yankee Doodle,” “The Erie Canal” and “When Johnny Comes Marching Home / The Minstrel Boy.”

“Horizons: A 1998 Instrumental Music Sampler” (Orchard Park Recordings, 1998): A compilation CD which reissued three selections from previous recordings, “The Aran Boat” from “Celtimorphosis” and “The Seneca Strathspey” and “The Sally Gardens” from “Celtic Traditions.

“An Olde World Christmas” (Orchard Park Recordings, 1998): Contributed four tracks to
compilation CD and cassette: “In the Bleak Mid-Winter,” “God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen,” “O Come, Little Children,” and “Christmas Is Coming.”

“Acoustic World” (Orchard Beat Records, 1999): Contributed two tracks to compilation CD:“Merrily Kiss the Quaker / The Blarney Pilgrim” and “Wreck of the Armada.”

West o’ Clare:

“Take One” (West o’ Clare Productions, 1996): Album-length cassette.

“Evening’s End” (1996): Single written by Brian with John Owens.

“Somewhere ... West o’ Clare, v.1. Twin Tiers Journey” (West o’ Clare Productions, 1996):
Travel video of the Irish establishments in the Twin Tiers. Sound track features cuts
from “Take One” and “Celtimorphosis” Later broadcast on WSKG-TV.

“Four Track Mind” (West o’ Clare Productions, 1997): Album-length CD and cassette. Contains Brian’s original songs “The Calamity Ceili” and “Barley Wine” plus Brian’s “The Cayuga Jig.”

“Take Two!” (West o’ Clare Productions, 1999): Album-length CD. Contains Brian’s original
song, “Glenveagh.”

"A Ceili Dance with West o' Clare" (Orchard Beat Records and West o' Clare Productions, 2001) Album-length CD of music for ceili dancing.

"Friends o' West o' Clare: Highlights from the New Year's Concert, Jan. 5, 2002" (West o' Clare Productions, 2002) Concert recorded at the Endicott Performing Arts Center, Endicott, NY.

"Once Upon a Pub" (West o' clare Productions, 2003) Live recordings at the Banshee Pub in Scranton and Coleman's Restaurant in Syracuse. Contains Brian's original songs, "The Silkie" and "Glenveagh."

The Hylands:

“Hyland’s Fling” (1999): Album-length CD. Contains Brian’s original songs “The Marching Season,” “The Cottage Floor” and “The Clinton Song.”

“A Private Audience with The Hylands” (1999). Radio show produced by WSKG-FM,
broadcast in September.

As guest artist:

“Rhythm of the Universe” (1996): Album-length CD and cassette by Rob Spence. Appears on
five tracks as a backup musician.

“Songs of Comfort and Inspiration” (1996): Album-length CD and cassette by Donal
O’Shaughnessy. Appears on five tracks as a backup musician and vocalist.

“The Unforgiving Minute--Sounds Like Dave“ (1998): Album-length CD and cassette by Dave
MacLean. Appears on two tracks as a backup musician.

“Winds of Christmas” (2000): Album-length CD and cassette featuring numerous artists from
Central New York. Appears on two tracks as a lead instrumentalist.

Experience:

Solo: 1975 -- present. Traditional Irish and American dance music and songs, sea chanteys.

Glenside Four / Trio: 1975 -- 1977. Binghamton, NY pub band. Irish songs of rebellion, drinking, work and love.

With Peggy Hyland: 1978 -- present. Traditional Irish and American songs, featuring a capella harmonies.

The Motteley Bande: 1982 -- 1984. Chicago, IL Celtic and Renaissance band. Irish, Scottish,
Welsh and Breton melodies and songs from the 14th to the 20th century.

Innisfree: 1987 -- 1992. Binghamton, NY traditional Irish and Appalachian band. Traditional melodies and songs from both sides of the Atlantic combining Celtic lyricism with Appalachian energy.

Bi-Monthly Jam Session: 1992 -- 1995. As a member of the Twin Tiers Irish Arts Branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann, Brian led the session which met at Jonathan’s Restaurant in
Endwell, NY on the first and third Sunday of every month.

The Hylands: 1992 -- present. Binghamton, NY family band. Songs in Gaelic and English representing 400 years of Irish vocal music, blended with traditional airs and dance tunes.

Celtimorphosis (with Chris Woodard): 1993 -- present. Binghamton and Ithaca, NY blend of Celtic melodies with jazz chords and rhythms.

West o’ Clare: 1994 -- present. Southern Tier “All-Star” band performing the full range of Irish music from traditional to American-Irish, with country, swing and rock thrown in for good measure. Brian frequently performs as a duo with band leader Pat Kane, or with guitarist Rob Spence.

With John Hyland: 1997 -- present. Irish music with a swing.