Ommadawn

Ommadawn is a record album written and mostly performed by Mike Oldfield. It is his third album. The cover photograph was by David Bailey.

As with Hergest Ridge and Tubular Bells, Ommadawn is another two-movement work. Here Oldfield sought out the ancient Celtic influence on English music and composed for traditional instruments such as Uilleann pipes. He also involved musicians noted for their work in folk music including Clodagh Simmonds and Paddy Moloney.

The word ommadawn appears to be related to the Gaelic word amadán meaning "fool". This results in the supposed translation of the chant at the end of the first movement, transcribed as ta me an amadán le cheoil, as "I am the fool with the music", although completely grammatically incorrect in the Irish language.

Though the actual work Ommadawn is two parts, there is a third track found on the album, a short vocal song by Mike Oldfield and William Murray called "On Horseback". In December 1975 Mike released the single "In Dulci Jubilo" with "On Horseback" as the B-side. It reached number 4 in January 1976.

Tracklist

1. Ommadawn part one – (19:23)
2. Ommadawn part two – (13:54)
3. On Horseback – (3:23)

Mike Oldfield plays

acoustic bass, acoustic guitar, banjo, bouzouki, bodhrán, classical guitar, electric bass, electric guitars, electric organs, glockenspiel, harp, mandolin, percussion, piano, spinet, steel guitar, synthesizers, twelve-string guitar and vocals.

Other performers

• Don Blakeson – trumpet
• Herbie – Northumbrian bagpipes
• The Hereford City Band – brass
• Jabula – African drums
• Pierre Moerlen – timpani
• Paddy Moloney – Uilleann pipes
• William Murray – percussion
• Sally Oldfield – vocals
• Terry Oldfield – Panpipes
• Leslie Penning – recorders
• "The Penrhos Kids" (Abigail, Briony, Ivan and Jason Griffiths) – vocals on "On Horseback"
• Clodagh Simmonds – vocals
• Bridget St John – vocals
• David Strange – cello