Missed an earlier news item? Visit the news archive.
August 8th – 16th, 2015
Venues across Bath will host a range of exciting events celebrating traditional music, dance and culture as part of Bath Folk Festival 2015.
The festival runs between August 8th – 16th and includes performances from breathtaking Anglo–Irish band Flook, London Irish super group CrossHarbour, Fabula Rasa from Hungary, RSVP Bhangra, Himmerland from Denmark, and many more.
(more…)
October 15th – 18th, 2015
www.facebook.com/EdReavyTradFest
Cavan Town CCÉ will host the inaugural festival to celebrate the music of Ed Reavy at a number of venues in Cavan Town and Ed’s native Maudabawn from October 15th to 18th, 2015. Born in Barnagrove Cootehill, Co. Cavan in 1898, Ed emigrated to Philadelphia in 1912 where he lived till his passing in 1988. An outstanding fiddler and composer of traditional dance tunes, he recorded for the Victor record label in 1927. It is estimated that he wrote between 400 and 500 tunes, of which 127 have been preserved in notational form. Dr. Mick Moloney, folklorist, musicologist, arts presenter and advocate, professor of music and Irish studies, recipient of the National Heritage Award from the NEA in the US, recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award from President Michael D Higgins has said of Ed Reavy in his introduction to The Collected Compositions of Ed Reavy: “No composer of traditional dance tunes in the history of Irish music has ever had his music adopted and played as widely as Ed. He devoted much of his life to the creation of a vast body of compelling, finely crafted tunes leaving an indelible imprint on the beautiful old tradition that was his first love”. His compositions include such favourites as In Memory of Coleman, named for the inspirational Sligo fiddler, The Hunters House, Maudabawn Chapel named after the church where Ed spent his childhood in Cavan and chosen by Bronx born fiddle player Eileen Ivers as one of her tunes when she successfully won the All Ireland Senior Fiddle Championship in 1984. The Lone Bush, a hornpipe written about a remarkably resilient shrub which stood outside his childhood – composition was chosen by Chicago born All Ireland Senior Fiddle titlist, Liz Carroll, when she won the Junior Championship in 1974.
(more…)
Na Casaidigh – CEFCD108
A most welcome re–release of a classic album from the family group, Na Casaidigh. Their melodious harmonies and artistic arrangements have entertained audiences at home and abroad for over three decades. ©2014(p), 1984, Gael Linn. Also on the Gael Linn label: Óró na Casaidigh–Irish Childhood Songs (CEFC D198).
Fáilteofar go mór roimh an atheisiúint seo ón sárghrúpa teaghlaigh, Na Casaidigh a bhfuil an domhan mór siúlta acu lena gcuid ceoil. ©2014(p), 1984, Gael Linn
An ceol chomh binn, blasta is a bhí sé riamh!
Freisin ar lipéad Gael Linn: Óró na Casaidigh–Irish Childhood Songs (CEFC D198).
For further information www.gael-linn.ie
www.consairtin.ie
Details have recently been released about Consairtin 2015, the second annual national concertina convention, which will take place in Ennis from April 10th – 12th, 2015. The inaugural convention was held last April and was an outstanding success with hundreds of players, students and enthusiasts gathering for a weekend that was invigorating, educational and enjoyable.
(more…)
ICTM Annual Conference, Dundalk Institute of Technology
February 28th – March 1st, 2015
The International Council for Traditional Music (ICTM) is a UNESCO NGO (non governmental organisation), and is one of the largest and most international, organisations for the study of traditional music and dance in culture. As musical cultures become increasingly transnational and translational, concurrent with changing patterns of dissemination of recorded music, ethnomusicologists are challenged to engage with music in more diverse spaces and consider how people experience their musical culture.
(more…)
At the most central crossroads in Co. Sligo, Gurteen Cross, stands the modern, yet impressive building that is Ceoláras Coleman! This building is the focus for and home to a state of the art traditional music programme! The visitors’ experience is informal, welcoming and friendly. The Centre seeks to provide visitors with a tailor–made first–hand experience of traditional Irish music including a twelve minute audio–visual presentation. The Music Shop stocks an extensive selection of music CDs, instruments, music books as well as souvenirs and books of local interest with a wider appeal including the most recent Coleman production, a DVD entitled Peter Horan – Still Beating Time.
(more…)
In 2015, the Inishowen Traditional Singers’ Circle (ITSC) is taking to the road to promote its flagship Inishowen Song Project (ISP), a collaborative digital venture with the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Freely available online are recordings of 250+ singers and 600+ songs from the Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal and visitors to the annual Singing Weekend.
By logging on, users can listen to recordings, watch videos, read and download song words. There are short notes about each singer with photographs and details of where and when they were recorded. The ISP has captured a community who have kept singing as part of their lives and the 2015 tour wishes to share this with students and anyone with an interest in traditional singing.
(more…)
www.oaim.ie
Calling all Tin Whistle enthusiasts – we now have over 70 whistle tutorials online. This equals 20 hours worth of top quality whistle tunes, tips and techniques! Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, OAIM has a course for you:
Expert Whistle Skills #3 – Mikie Smyth
Learn how to apply uilleann piping techniques to the whistle – by the end of the course you will be back–stitching, double rolling and cranning your way through the tunes.
Expert Whistle Skills #1 and #2 Thomas Johnston
Learn 26 tunes that sit just perfectly on the whistle! In each tune Thomas focuses on variation, ornamentation and phrasing. Increase your repertoire and hone in on your whistle tricks and flicks with this course.
(more…)
It was announced in January that the successor to Nicholas Carolan at the ITMA will be Grace Toland. Ms Toland is a native of Inishowen, Co Donegal, a well–known recorded traditional singer in English and Irish, and a familiar and respected figure on the traditional music scene. She has played a prominent role in sustaining and reviving traditional song in Inishowen. She holds honours qualifications in History, Archaeology, and Library & Information Studies, and her professional background includes the roles of Information Officer at Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Assistant Librarian of the School of Celtic Studies (Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), and cataloguer of various library collections. She has recently been elected an Associate of the Library Association of Ireland.
Since 2006 she has been Librarian of ITMA, where her responsibilities have included information management, collections care and user services, and international best practice. She is responsible for ITMA’s successful Inishowen Song Project microsite and her current projects include management of ITMA’s contribution to Europeana Sounds, an EU–funded project for improving public access to European audio materials.
For further information www.itma.ie
The Willis Clan is starting 2015 building on the excitement and exposure of last year from America’s Got Talent and the 5.6 million views on their YouTube audition and is looking forward to many new adventures this year. Chapter 3 album is almost completed and promises to deliver Willis Clan music on a whole new level to a mainstream audience. Live performances at their own festival – Music City Irish Fest in Nashville and fairs and festivals all across America, to an entire month in Ireland and yes, even a TV show (that will air in Ireland – details coming shortly) will give The Clan opportunity to meet their fans in person on the road. Milwaukee Irish Fest just released their exciting line–up for this year’s 35th anniversary festival and The Willis Clan is delighted to playing alongside Irish music superstars such as Lúnasa, Cherish the Ladies, We Banjo 3, Liz Carroll and many more.
(more…)
