Michael G. Rose

I am a pianist and composer and perform music based mainly in the Celtic and Scandinavian traditions, though other styles have been known to sneak in with some regularity. Long nights in jazz and salsa clubs have left their mark. Apparently there is also still a bit of a 'Boston accent' in my playing, though I've been living in Copenhagen for a while.



Tom Nelligan wrote in Dirty Linen, Rose's accompaniment is delicate and spare, not the foot-pounding sort that's often heard backing up Celtic music, reminding me in places of Keith Jarrett's jazz improvisations."



In addition to performing throughout Europe, I have also taught at workshops and worked as a producer, including co-producing Morten Alfred Høirup's CD, Vingården.



I'm also learning to play the mandolin in order to figure out why fiddlers complain about the difficulty of my tunes. Hopefully it doesn't have anything to do with the bowing.



I have been one half of the duo Fromseier Rose, with Ditte Fromseier Mortensen on fiddle. Our contrasting styles and temperaments blend to provide a unique take on traditional music. Contradiction, our CD, also features the great Irish singer Niamh Parsons on three tracks.



John O'Regan wrote in Irish Music Magazine, "Featuring many original compositions with its cool Nordic ambience, it isn't your normal traditional CD. Ditte and Michael created an original music style with a strong basis in Irish, Danish and American traditional music and with modern acoustic elements."



You can download more music from the Fromseier Rose website. And, of course, you can



Rachel Hair and I performed a series of concerts together for harp and piano. And, whenever we happen to be in the same town at the same time, I do some collaborative composing with Alan Doherty. Alan plays flute with the wonderful Irish band Grada.



Credits for the tracks in the myspace player



Expect the Unexpected / Terralsole - Athena Tergis & Michael G. Rose - the first tune is by John Doyle and the second was written by Athena

Winter Night's Waltz - Athena Tergis & Michael G. Rose - I wrote this melody just so I could play the harmonies

Reavy Set - Athena Tergis & Michael G. Rose - 3 trad reels by the Irish fiddler Ed Reavy

A Surprise for Anne - a solo piano piece I wrote for a friend's birhday

The Bittern / The Piper's Beast - Fromseier Rose - the first tune is by the piper Jason Twamley. I wrote the second tune for him

Proptraekker Set - Fromseier Rose - Scottish, Danish and Shetland tunes, live concert recording in Peebles, Scotland

Blantyre Explosion - Fromseier Rose - with the lovely Niamh Parsons on vocals

The Waiver's Quirky Tune - Rose & O'Raghallaigh - a trad tune with Caomhin O'Raghallaigh on fiddle

The Wind Troll's Favorite Air - Rose & O'Raghallaigh - a slow air I wrote, with Caoimhin on hardanger fiddle