PAS Presents: Irish Music From the Heart

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Description

Performing Arts Society, Redding Presents:
Irish Music From the Heart

This concert was performed and recorded at All Saints Episcopal Church,
Redding, California on August 8, 2025

About the Artists
Nathan and Alisha met in 2020 at the California Old Time Fiddlers Association in Redding. They connected through a shared fascination for Irish music. Nathan then started an Irish traditional band called Valley Quest; Alisha was the star fiddler. After years of friendship, in 2023 they married. The Townleys continue to pursue their love of music as they also share the beauty of their marriage and faith. Nathan is a composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. While his primary instrument is piano, Nathan also has a deep passion for collecting and mastering obscure instruments such as the Irish bouzouki, harmonium, melodica, bodhrán and, his favorite, the penny whistle. Alisha has played the fiddle since before she could speak! Her mother, Melissa Troberg, taught Alisha and her sister when they were toddlers. Now Alisha works as a fiddle instructor and studio musician in the Redding and Red Bluff areas. She is very competent in Irish, Old Time, and Texas Style fiddle. In addition to this, Alisha can transfer her fiddling abilities to the cello!

0:00:15 Lament for the Death of the Second Wife Liz Carroll

0:02:06 Smith’s Reel & Frank’s Reel Traditional

0:11:45 The Barndance Set Traditional

0:16:08 Be Thou My Vision Traditional
An ancient Irish prayer turned into song. We don’t know how old the text is. It could be anywhere from 600 to 1400 years old. The text was translated into English in 1905 by Elizabeth Byrne then put into verse by Eleanor Hull in 1912.

0:21:55 Donnybrook Fair Traditional

0:27:20 Jesus At the Helm Nathan Townley
An Irish jig sung by Nathan. This is his testimony of who Jesus is to him. He uses the imagery of a ship at sea going through a storm to tell the story.

0:33:02 Cooley’s Reel Traditional

0:35:35 The Long Note Traditional

0:41:49 Spootsikerry Traditional Scottish

0:44:50 Caroline’s Dream Traditional
This Irish harp tune has been attributed by some to blind Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan (1670–1738), although Donal O'Sullivan (1958) says that it was actually composed by William Connellan, "on the authority of the old harpers." O'Sullivan states that it was a favorite of O'Carolan's and that he may have added his own adaptations.

0:49:56 The Last March John Morris Rankin (1959-2000)
This is a very beautiful Cape Breton tune written by John Morris Rankin. It is said that this tune was discovered after he had passed away on a recording of one his old keyboards.

0:56:22 When Tulips Were Blooming Original by Alisha Townley

0:59:21 Oshea’s Song Original by Nathan Townley

01:05:30 Wind Walker Original by Nathan Townley

01:10:10 No Sweeter Love Original by Nathan Townley
Nathan wrote the words of this worship song and set it to the tune of a beautiful Irish air called “Mo Ghile Mear” which means “My Gallant Hero.”

01:15:07 Odette's Jig Original by Alisha Townley