Episode 87-Revisited Fairy Forts and Changelings
Irish Music Stories Podcast
As magical new Irish music podcasts emerge, as dark forces swirl around the world, and as much of the northern hemisphere enters into shorter, colder days, the Irish Music Stories re-investigates lore and mystery surrounding Irish fairies. With care and caution—and with young co-producer Nigel—fiddle players Tara Connaghan and Martin Hayes, singer Emily Smith, and storyteller Máirtín de Cógáin help explore songs and stories about the Sí. ________________________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to recent underwriters: Harish Babu Arunachalam,...
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Episode 86-King of the Bees (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For this final (sixth) installment #6 she talks about the heartbreak and beauty of mortality, and (not so silly) naked rulers, and why there are no kings in the bee world. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project,...
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Episode 85: Red Rose and White Lotus (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #4 she talks of kings and royal roses, and spiritual leaders and mud-born lotus plants; and how it takes a team and timing for plants—and for humans—to transform. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this...
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Episode 84: William of Orange (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #4 she breaks down one movement of her Flute Duel (with talk of cadenzas, Nuevo Tango influences, and butterfly flight patterns). She also shares stories about the ancient monarch butterfly’s namesake and its Mexican guardians. _________________ For playlists,...
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Episode 83-Copper Over Navy (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #3, she highlights the Blue Dress motif, one of the recurring melodies on Perfect Maze. And she tells the story of weathering updates and tragedies of primates and men with a few different hues. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion...
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Episode 82-Aristotle in Spring (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #2, she examines her Sweetest Blooms Suite and considers some of the dramatic Spring blossoms in Aristotle’s day. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to
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Episode 81-Mapping the Perfect Maze (IMS Sidequest)
Irish Music Stories Podcast
In this six-episode “Sidequest” series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her “Perfect Maze” album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). In keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #1 host Shannon Heaton talks about finding her way through a tangle of old files (and political news) by writing stories. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to
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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...
info_outlineHow do Scottish and Irish music intersect? How are they distinct? And why do so many trendy tunes come from Scotland? Host Shannon Heaton talks with Aaron Jones, Ed Pearlman, Natalie Haas and Hanneke Cassel to learn what it means to be a traditional Scottish musician today—in Scotland, and in the States. Warning: this episode contains very few mentions of haggis… or kilts.
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Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to Sharon Murphy, Mike Lagana, Brian Edmiston, Michael Craine, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Joe Garrett, and Gerry Corr 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 31
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “Medium Man,” from Happy Daze
Artist: Battlefield Band
Tune: “Hector the Hero Medley,” from 2015 Worlds Competition
Artist: Inveraray District Pipe Band
Tune: “Lady Carmichael,” from Thunderstruck
Artist: Gordon Duncan
Tune: “A Modal Groove,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Strathspey,” from Celtic Mouth Music
Artist: John Macdonald
Tune: “Bb intro,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Song: “Lon-Dubh,” (the Blackbird), from Lon-Dubh
Artist: Julie Fowlis
Tune: “The Anniversary Reel,” from Out for the Night
Artist: Battlefield Band
Song: “Star o’ the Bar,” from Four on the Floor
Artist: Old Blind Dogs, feat. Aaron Jones vocals
Tune: “Nonna Pina / Space Ghettos,” from Free One
Artist: Kinnaris Quintet
Tune: “The Burrian,” from Arc Light
Artist: Lau
Tune: “Scraping the Barrel,” from The Arms Daughter’s Dealer
Artist: Shooglenifty
Tune: “G Meditation,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Sabai Sabai,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Open to the Elements,” from Between Wind and Water
Artist: String Sisters
Tune: “Cuffe’s,” from On the Edge
Artist: Ed Pearlman and Neil Pearlman
Tune: “Triumph Theme,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “The 24th Guards Brigade At Anzio,” from Happy Daze
Artist: Battlefield Band
Tune: “Cathkin Braes,” from Another Gem
Artist: Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain
Tune: “Run to Fly,” from Run to Fly
Artist: Alba’s Edge
Tune: “Travel Theme,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Leather Britches,” from Aereo-Plain
Artist: John Hartford
Tune: “After Hours Theme,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Song: “Will Ye Go Lassie, Go,” (AKA Wild Mountain Thyme), from Wild Mountain Thyme
Artist: The McPeake Family
Track: “Scottish Reel Rhythm Demo,” from Instructional Video
Artist: Hanneke Cassel
Tune: “Mutey Big Build,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Song: “The Low Hum,” from California Calling
Artist: Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards
Tune: “Crabbit Shona,” from The Red House – The Heritage of the Scottish Fiddle
Artist: Chris Duncan, Catherine Strutt & Julian Thompson
Tunes: “Jig Runrig, The Ramnee Ceilidh,” from Highlander’s Farewell
Artists: Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas
Tune: “Adelaide / Keeping up with Christine,” from Ports of Call
Artist: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
Tune: “Ron Burgundy Tribute: The Glass Case of Emotion/Sweet Grandmother's Spatula,” from Silver
Artist: Hanneke Cassel
Tune: Jenny Dang the Weaver,” from Jam at PDB c/o Isabelle
Artist: Students and Faculty
Tune: "Miller of Drone," from Tall Tales
Artist: The McKassons
Tune: “Black Bread,” from Journey Begun
Artist: Athena Tergis & Laura Risk
Tune: “Hometown Lullaby,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton (guitar)
Tune: “Julia Delaney,” from Jam at PDB c/o Isabelle
Artist: Students and Faculty
Tune: "Brooklyn’s Lullaby," from Lullabies for Love
Artist: Hanneke Cassel
Song: Bonny Labouring Boy, from A Different Life
Artist: Emily Smith