1 The Patron Saint Of Ballyvourney (string orchestra) - St. Ghobnait is known as the patron saint of Ballyvourney (Co. Cork, Ireland). A beekeeper by trade, she spent time in West Clare before fleeing from enemies to the island of Inishere (Co. Galway). She eventually settled in Ballyvourney. The escape route she followed was one she had seen in a vision.

2 Aboard The Morgan (solo guitar) - The Charles W. Morgan is an old whaling ship that was built in New Bedford in 1841. You can visit the vessel at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut. Mystic Seaport is also the place where I was first introduced to the concertina and sea music in general.

3 Roundstone Bay (concertina & string orchestra) - Roundstone is a small picturesque fishing village situated on the north west side of Galway Bay, Co. Galway, Ireland. It is one of the oldest fishing villages on the West Coast.

4 Panda Dreams (guitar & string trio) - The compass was invented in China in the 4th century BC. A needle was rubbed against lodestone (a naturally magnetic stone), and floated in water. This was originally used in Feng Shui to align the building of houses with magnetic north. The compass was then used in maritime navigation. Without the magnetic compass the great voyages of discovery could never have occurred.

5 The Day At Sea (solo Anglo concertina) - When I was young my father worked on the Fisher’s Island Ferry out of New London Connecticut. My brother and I would occasionally go with him to work in the evenings. I will always remember starry nights on Fisher’s Island Sound.

6 Joshua’s Lullaby (string orchestra w/ guitar acc.) - This is one of my first compositions and was written to honor a couple of friends having their first baby.

7 The Ponies Of Chincoteague (solo guitar) - Back in the 16th century, a Spanish vessel carrying a cargo of Bard horses shipwrecked off the shoals of Assateague island. The horses escaped from the cargo hold and swam to the safety of the shore. Today the descendants of those horses still roam the island. The Chincoteague pony has evolved over time, adapting to the harsh conditions on the island. They have a beautiful long coat in the winter months and can drink salt water.

8 Nantucket Bound (mandolin & string orchestra) - This piece was composed upon completion of a trip I took to Nantucket one summer. I was inspired to travel there after an unsuccessful attempt at reading Moby Dick.

9 At The Cliffs Of Moher (guitar, precussion & string orchestra) - Written after visiting the famous cliffs in Co. Clare, Ireland for the first time.

10 An Evening At The Inn (solo Anglo concertina) - Two wonderful old inns; Randall’s Ordinary (Stonington, CT) and the Daniel Packer Inn (Mystic, CT), were the inspirations for this solo concertina piece. Both inns are rich in early American and New England maritime history.

11 The Eastern Shore (string orchestra) - Each modulation in this string piece begins a new movement which represents New London, Mystic, and Stonington respectively, with a return to New London in the end. My place of upbringing in general, this area is still very dear to me.


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