Watch for Reefs and Shoals: Niamh Parsons and "The Water is Wide"

Today's random tune is by Niamh Parsons, who performs The Water is Wide from her 2006 album Blackbirds and Thrushes. A singer of contemporary and traditional Irish music, Parsons started her solo career in Belfast in 1990. She had previously been a member of the band Killera in the 1980s with her husband. She was asked to sing for President Bill Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in Washington DC, and has made several television appearances in Ireland. The Water is Wide can also be found on the 2005 compilation album Celtic Wonder. The Water is Wide is of Scottish origin and is related to a Child ballad that chronicles the unhappy marriage of James Douglas, second marquess of Douglas. Some of its lyrics date back to the 1600s and it is a popular song that has been covered by many performers.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Get Your Drink On: Altan and "The Jug of Punch"

Irish music legends Altan perform our random tune for today. Originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987, the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo, and additional members were added through the years. They named their group after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Altan has recorded and toured with fellow countrymen The Chieftains, and other musicians such as such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. This song, The Jug of Punch, can be found on their 1993 album Island Angel, and on the various artists compilation album Celtic Wonder (2005). The song celebrates the wonders of a good drink.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

My Delight and My Comfort: Niamh Parsons and "An Páistin Fionn"

For today's random tune, Niamh Parsons presents us with An Páistin Fionn from her 2000 album In My Prime. A singer of contemporary and traditional Irish music, Parsons started her solo career in Belfast in 1990. She had previously been a member of the band Killera in the 1980s with her husband. She was asked to sing for President Bill Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in Washington DC, and has made several television appearances in Ireland. An Páistin Fionn can also be found on the 2005 compilation album Celtic Wonder. The song title means "The Fair-Haired One."

Waiting to be Plucked: Altan and "The Flowers of Magherally"

The random tune today is by an Irish musical powerhouse. The Flowers of Magherally is performed by Altan, a band originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Altan has recorded and toured with fellow countrymen The Chieftains, and other musicians such as such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. The Flowers of Magherally can be found on their 2006 release The Red Crow, and on the compilation album Celtic Wonder (2005).

Wishing for Her Man: Reeltime and "Siúil a Rún"

Today's random song is by Reeltime, an Irish quartet that brings percussive jazz guitar to traditional Irish music, with occasional touches of Texas swing and ragtime. Their 1995 debut garnered critical acclaim and Irish American News' praise as Best New Band and Best Female Vocalist for singer Mairin Fahy (who is also an All-Ireland award fiddle player. She played with the touring production of Riverdance, and joined The Chieftains on their 2007 tour, as well as creating her own show called Tara. Multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, and photographer Chris Kelly has also been part of many different compilations and has worked with many different groups. This song, Siúil a Rún, can be found on the 2005 compilation Celtic Wonder, and on Reeltime's self titled debut CD (1995).

Love in the Fields: Déanta and "The Maid That Sold Her Barley"

Today's random tune, The Maid That Sold Her Barley, is performed by the Celtic group Déanta, an Irish traditional group from Northern Ireland. Déanta formed in the late 1980s and performed until 1997, and then regrouped in 2008. In 1990 they won the Trophée Loïc Raison at the Lorient Interceltic Festival in Brittany as best band. They released three albums, and their songs reflect traditional music with occasional forays into more contemporary music. You can find The Maid That Sold Her Barley on their 1994 album Ready for the Storm and on the 2005 Green Linnet compilation album Celtic Wonder. The song lyrics can be interpreted in a bawdy way, or as a simple transaction for marriage.

Love Beyond Death: Niamh Parsons and Loose Connections with "The Briar and the Rose"

From Ireland comes today's random tune by Niamh Parsons and the Loose Connections. The Briar and the Rose is a metaphor for love and the death that can't keep two lovers apart. Niamh Parsons is a Belfast, Northern Ireland native and is a singer of contemporary and traditional Irish music, Parsons started her solo career in Belfast in 1990. She had previously been a member of the band Killera in the 1980s and joined Loose Connections, her husband's band, in 1990. She has also toured with the band Arcady and guitarist Graham Dunne. She was asked to sing for President Bill Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in Washington DC, and has made several television appearances in Ireland. The Briar and the Rose can be found on the compilation album Celtic Wonder (2005) and on the compilation album Her Infinite Variety: Celtic Women In Music & Song Vol. 1 (2007)

Delightful to View by Light of the Dawn: Déanta and "The Benedy Glen"

A nice Celtic ode is in store for you in today's random tune. The Benedy Glen is by the Celtic group Déanta, an Irish traditional group from Northern Ireland. Déanta formed in the late 1980s and performed until 1997, and then regrouped in 2008. In 1990 they won the Trophée Loïc Raison at the Lorient Interceltic Festival in Brittany as best band. They released three albums, and their songs reflect traditional music with occasional forays into more contemporary music. You can find The Benedy Glen on their 1994 album Ready for the Storm and on the 2005 Green Linnet compilation album Celtic Wonder.

The Fair-Haired One: Niamh Parsons and "An Páistin Fionn"

We follow Celtic with Celtic in our random tune today. Niamh Parsons presents us with "An Páistin Fionn" from her 2000 album In My Prime. A singer of contemporary and traditional Irish music, Parsons started her solo career in Belfast in 1990. She had previously been a member of the band Killera in the 1980s with her husband. She was asked to sing for President Bill Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in Washington DC, and has made several television appearances in Ireland. An Páistin Fionn can also be found on the 2005 compilation album Celtic Wonder. The song title means "The Fair-Haired One."