Episode 80-The Winning Hand
Irish Music Stories Podcast
When you’re tracing a song through six generations, and you’re digging into distinct versions of dance tunes carried by players from East Clare, you never know what card games and shipwrecks you might also uncover. This special episode—the last new story for a while—weaves together stories from John Tunney and Mary MacNamara, who grew up around generations of music in rural Ireland, with the tale of an American kid who played cards with her grandparents. * Find Paddy Tunney’s (restrung) Stone Fiddle .. and * Find Mary MacNamara’s * Listen to other episodes, and stay tuned to...
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Episode 79-Kesh v Glendart
Irish Music Stories Podcast
What is the U.S. Electoral College? And what does it have to do with The Kesh Jig and The Humours of Glendart? This election adjacent exploration of two popular jigs takes a look at the stories behind jig (and Presidential) contenders, and the process used to choose a winner. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: John Sullivan, Heather Carroll, Michael Craine, Adele Megann,...
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Episode 78-Tools of the Trad
Irish Music Stories Podcast
When you’re making an instrument, you’re forming something that can be used to design a melody. Or a musical life. This episode follows a precious flute’s unexpected journey. And flute makers Patrick Olwell and Eamonn Cotter, piper Colleen Shanks, and fiddle players Bob Childs and Pat O’Connor talk about what it’s like to carve an approach as musicians and craftspeople. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to . ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank...
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Episode 77-The Bunch of Keys
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Irish musicians, and writers, and home makers can all benefit by learning some rules and technical skills—and by allowing a little spontaneity and flexibility. But how much great technique do you need? Does that get in the way of the magic? In this episode, Nathan Gourley, Brendan Mulholland, and Sharon Murphy reflect on the alchemy of order and spontaneity: how rule following and rule breaking can make for a great journey; but how a total lack of plan can derail everything. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project,...
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Episode 76-The Power of the Local Pub
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Boston producer Brian O’Donovan made a lot of space for Irish music and culture. He was dedicated to sharing it widely. And though he presented music on formal stages and through his WGBH broadcast “A Celtic Sojourn,” casual, public Irish music sessions were ever important and enduring for him. This beloved leader lifted up traditional music. And he elevated the practice of ‘just going to the local pub’ into an act of radical community building. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to . ...
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Episode 75-Betting on the Punters
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Could traditional music sessions exist without listeners? Are the non-playing listeners in public spaces important for tune players? Here’s a brief podcast adaptation of a video response to this intriguing little question! _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to . ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, John Sigler, Randall Semagin, Ron Kral, Isaiah Hall, David Vaughan, Susan...
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Episode 74-Leaning in and Branching Out
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Communities. Forests. Families. All of these different ecosystems contain a lot of different components that weave and work together. And as people, plants, and pests carry on and creep around, rich and sometimes unlikely collaborations emerge. In this episode, with the help of Karine Polwart, Colin Farrell, and Steve Nardone, I’ll explore how friends, neighbors and families can blend; how humans and trees need and inspire one another; and how we also rely on birds, bees.. and rats. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this...
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Episode 73-Fruitful Fells Part Two
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In part one of the Fruitful Fells, we met modern and 19th century activists dedicated to making beauty available to current and future humans. In this episode, we learn how our heroes saved acres of woods and bushels of old ballads, and we follow enduring struggles in the crusade for preservation. As always, there’s plenty of beautiful music woven into these conversations with guests Mike Ryan, Alison Simcox, Douglas Heath, and Karl Alexander. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ...
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Episode 72-Fruitful Fells Part One
Irish Music Stories Podcast
There are little creatures, trees, ponds, and pedestrians all over the earth. And there are bushels of ballads about the charms of nature. And while there are ecological activists like Mike Ryan and 19th century Elizur Wright, and song collectors like Francis Child and Olive Dame Campbell who are out to enjoy and save the critters and the old songs… there are others who are less interested in preservation. This two-part story on the creation of Massachusetts’ Middlesex Fells Reservation takes a look at how trees, pedestrians, bikers, motorists, music collectors, and geese intersect. And...
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Episode 71-Missed Manners
Irish Music Stories Podcast
The weekly Irish music session is a specific niche affair, with a particular code of conduct. Gift giving also has its own rules, at least it has in the past. As older customs like traditional Irish music and wedding anniversary gifts have moved to the new world, have things adjusted? Does modern session behavior reflect wider social trends? Etiquette experts Barry Foy and Zina Lee walk me down the aisle of session (and wedding gift) etiquette, just a year before Barry’s Field Guide to the Irish Session celebrates its silver anniversary. _________________ For playlists,...
info_outlineIs there something strange about speaking Japanese, and removing your shoes BEFORE tucking into a set of Irish reels? Host Shannon Heaton travels around Japan with Tokyo-based trad band tricolor to learn more about the Irish and Celtic music scenes in the Land of the Rising Sun… and discovers heaps of common ground, social culture, and cake. Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below.
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Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to Gerry Corr, Chris McGlone, Sally Tucker, Jeremy Keith, David Vaughan, Chris Murphy, Brian Benscoter, and Joe Garrett for underwriting this episode.
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
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Music Heard on IMS Episode 30
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “Feed the Duck a Mandarine,” from Live at 求道会館
Artist: John John Festival
Tune: “Lorient,” from キネン (kine), translation: Anniversary
Artist: tricolor
Tune: “D Big Build,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Bluebells are Blooming,” from Thousands of Flowers
Artist: Tomoyo Sugai
Tune: “Red Yellow Blue,” from キネン (kine), translation: Anniversary
Artist: tricolor
Tune: “Slip Jig Dreams,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Aghaidh Jhanuis,” from Guitarscape
Artist: Hirofumi Nakamura
Tune: “Mill Na Máidí,” from Harvest Storm
Artist: Altan
Song: “Messed Up Mind,” from After the Rain Clouds Go
Artist: Akeboshi
Tune: “Sabai Sabai,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Song: “My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from ‘Titanic’),” from Titanic (Music from the Motion Picture)
Artist: James Horner & Céline Dion
Tune: “G# Fade In and Out,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Roundabout,” from Via Portland
Artist: O'Jizo
Tune: “An Paistin Fionn,” from Gathering Cloud
Artist: Toyota Ceili Band HP
Tune: “Father O’Grady’s Trip to Bocca,” from Session at An Solas
Artist: Tokyo Session musicians
Tune: “Noisy Curley,” from Session at The Gnome
Artist: Kyoto Session musicians
Tune: “Trip to the Jacks, Where is the Cat,” from Music from Sliabh Luachra
Artist: Jackie Daly, with dialog/welcome from employees at Disney Sea Cape Cod Village
Tune: “D Major Walk Down,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Bonny Bunch Of Roses/The Ashgrove,” from Swimming Against The Falls/SnámhIin Aghaidh Easa
Artist: Joey Abarta
Tune: “Heartstrings,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Song: “Soul Cake,” from Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Vol. 16, 2014
Artist: The Broadway Cast Of "The Last Ship,” feat. Sting
Tune: “Grupai Ceol Memories,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Bb Whistle Set,” from Kitchen Recording circa 2008
Artist: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Celtic Grooves,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “さかさまの道,” (Tune translation: Another Road), from 雨つぶと風のうた Songs of Raindrops and Breeze
Artists: hatao & nami
Tune: “月をさがして,” (Tune translation: Looking for the Moon), from 雨つぶと風のうた Songs of Raindrops and Breeze
Artists: hatao & nami
Tune: “Meditation,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “ちゅうちゅう奥さんのポルカ,” (Tune translation: Mrs. Tittlemouse's Polkas) from enishi
Artist: hatao
Tune: “Dark Haired Lass/Biddy from Muckross,” from Blackwater
Artist: Altan
Tune: “Anniversary Reel,” from tricolor BIGBAND
Artist: tricolor
Track: “Tawny Owls 2,” from stereo field-recording of two male Tawny owls
Artist: Benboncan, used by attribution license