The River City Brass Band, a professional brass band from Pittsburgh, teamed up with Carnegie Mellon University’s Pipes and Drums Band and three Irish dancers to perform an entire concert dedicated to Celtic music on Saturday in Greensburg.
The concert is called Celtic Connections, and performances will continue at various venues around Western Pennsylvania. The next show is Friday at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown’s Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center.
The performance in Greensburg was at the Palace Theatre, a historic theater that opened in 1926. It fell into disrepair before being restored in the 1990s. Now, it offers a peek into the past, boasting a marble staircase, opera boxes, and ornate details throughout.
The concert itself was fantastic. Despite the band being made up of only brass instruments, they still managed to have a refreshing sound with each song. They played classics such as “Dance Above the Rainbow,” “Highland Cathedral,” and “The Emerald Isle.”
But they also played more well known songs with Celtic influences, such as “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Rocky Top,” and even music from the movie How to Train Your Dragon. It was a setlist that fans of all types of folk music could enjoy.
The conductor, James Gourlay, was incredibly entertaining. Not only did he do a great job of directing the band, but he made many jokes throughout the concert.
The three Irish dancers, Melissa Barton, Emalee Eakin, and Emily Manack, were amazing performers. They danced to slower, waltz-like songs and also faster jigs. Fans easily could get lost in the rhythm of their footwork and their sheer speed.
The best part of the concert was the performance by the outstanding CMU Pipes and Drums Band. They perfectly performed many classic bagpipe tunes, such as “Amazing Grace” and “The Irish Washerwoman,” but also lesser-known songs such as “Going Home,” which was created by the lead guitarist of the Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler.
Many of the songs they played were performed in conjunction with the brass band. The mix of the brass and bagpipe parts brought a new sound to bagpipe music, and they complemented each other perfectly.
Overall, this concert was phenomenal. Any fans of Irish or Scottish music should consider attending this concert and witnessing the truly incredible performance. The final concert is on March 19, at Bethel Park High School.
