Celtic Music: Riverdance

Riverdance's roots go back to a much earlier Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 when Dublin also hosted the show. For that show, Bill Whelan, later to be Riverdance's main composer, and Donal Lunny, both members of the Irish traditional music group Planxty, composed a three-part suite called "Timedance." It was a baroque-influenced traditional piece where Planxty was augmented by a rock rhythm and horn section, all accompanying ballet dancers. Like the later Riverdance, "Timedance" was performed during an interval of the contest show.

The Eurovision Riverdance was produced by Moya Doherty, who along with her husband John McColgan produce and direct the larger stage show. It featured Irish Dancing Champions Jean Butler (who is from New York) and Irishman Michael Flatley who were also co-choreographers. The Eurovision Riverdance also featured the Irish choral group Anúna. Flatley, Butler and Anúna starred in the show when it opened in Dublin in 1995. Bill Whelan is the chief composer of Riverdance.

Riverdance has been recorded and released on VHS, DVD and Blu-Ray several times during its history. In 1996 it was recorded at New York City's Radio City Music Hall with Jean Butler and Colin Dunne. It was recorded again in 2001, this time from Geneva, Switzerland with Brendán de Gallaí and Joanne Doyle in the lead roles. The most recent recording was made in China at the Beijing Exhibition Center in 2010 to celebrate the show's 15th anniversary.

Riverdance has spurred worldwide interest in Celtic music and has led to the formation of Celtic Woman, Celtic Thunder and several stage shows starring Michael Flatley. Many people discover the music through these large stage productions and go on to discover Celtic musicians active in Ireland, Scotland, the United States and Canada and anywhere else in the world Celtic music can be found. Celtic music comes from the heart of its performers whether they be on a street corner, a pub, an informal gathering, a festival small or large or on a stage of any size. It is a music meant to be an exchange between performers and the audience.

Filmed in 1996 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, this version of Riverdance features Jean Butler with Colin Dunne replacing Michael Flatley. Also featured are the Riverdance Singers with soloist Katie McMahon, flamenco dancer María Pagés and fiery fiddler Eileen Ivers and her signature blue electric fiddle "Old Bluey."

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Filmed in Geneva, Switzerland, this version of Riverdance features Brendán de Gallaí, Joanne Doyle, Yolanda González Sobrado, Anthony Ferguson and Katie Maguire. Along with a different cast, there are other changes such as the inclusion of a dance duel between Irish dancers and Black American tap dancers.

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This DVD includes commentary by Jean Butler throughout the show, which consists of scenes from the original 1995 televised show, from Radio City Music Hall in 1996 and from Geneva in 2003. Since the 1995 show has never been put on DVD, this is the only way to see Michael Flatley in Riverdance in that format. The individual numbers sometimes switch rapidly from shot to shot between the three recorded versions, highlighting the different styles of the lead dancers, the costumes and sets. Others which don't are included to showcase numbers unique or new to the various versions.

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This CD presents the music of Riverdance as composed by Bill Whelan. It features the Riverdance Orchestra along with Anuna and soloist Katie McMahon, uilleann piper Davy Spillane and fiddler Eileen Ivers.

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