Episode 50-Framing the Stories
Irish Music Stories Podcast
How much power does a backdrop have? As the Irish Music Stories production team works to assemble episodes and bonus materials, Shannon explores the wooded hills of Medford, Massachusetts to find visual and organizational surrounds that look and feel like time-worn jigs, and ballads, and nights of music and dance.
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Episode 49-The Naming of Birds
Irish Music Stories Podcast
After a horrific week of social unrest in the U.S., and as Irish Music Stories begins a major overhaul, host Shannon Heaton offers a meditation on how cataloging and organizing can soothe the soul.
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Episode 48-Between the Tunes
Irish Music Stories Podcast
What’s up with stage banter? And why all the joking around between tunes in a session? Host Shannon Heaton explores the on- and offstage chat that surrounds traditional music with Máirtín de Cógáin, Paddy League, Joanie Madden, Rus Bradburd, Liz Carroll, and Jean-Michel Veillon.
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Episode 47-The Myth of Tragedy
Irish Music Stories Podcast
How do composers conjure melodies in traditional Irish and Scottish styles? Where do the tunes come from, and what do they carry? Composers Liz Carroll, Dáithí Sproule, and Katie McNally discuss creativity, resilience, and the myths behind the music.
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Episode 46-Ancient Tongues, Modern Times
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Learning just a few words in Gaelic is mannerly when visiting Ireland and Scotland. And it can be a way IN to cultural values and humor. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Séamus Ó Flatharta, Ciarán Bolger, Michael Coult, Julie Fowlis, Mary Jane Lamond, and Brian Ó hAirt help me understand connections between language and music. And how songs in Irish and Scottish Gaelic transmit emotion, carry history, and lift people up.
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Episode 45-Trad in the Classroom
Irish Music Stories Podcast
There’s no definitive Irish or Scottish music method book. A lot of seasoned practitioners learned their music in kitchens and pubs. So how do they bring that immersive, social learning approach into the classroom? The latest IMS episode features traditional musicians who share ideas about teaching and learning traditional music.
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Episode 44-Not Easy Playing Green
Irish Music Stories Podcast
The topic of sustainable travel for touring musicians has been reframed, as Covid-19 has cancelled most music live music events for an unforeseeable amount of time. But as activity kicks up again, conversations about responsible, viable, grateful travel—and conservation—remain vital. The latest IMS episode features traditional musicians who advocate for marine ecosystems, planet conscious travel, and the health bees.
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Episode 43-From the Fringe to the Fore
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Hear how the banjo came into common acceptance in Irish circles from Daniel Neely, Enda Scahill, and Martin Howley… and check in with the joys and challenges of outsider status from harpist Maeve Gilchrist, cellist Natalie Haas, and saxophone players Susan Lindsay and Isaac Alderson.
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Episode 42-The Long Arm of the Irish Tradition
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Persistent infections like Covid-19 … and social injustice.. and racism… loom large. And still, these little Irish jigs and reels are forming bridges across oceans. What happens when people fall in love with a foreign music culture and pull themselves out of their comfort zones to travel and learn to play? Learn about the perspective Irish music has offered players on five continents.
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Episode 41- Transplanting Tradition in the Land of the Trees
Irish Music Stories Podcast
What do rampant evictions, military ship collisions, and Christmas trees have to do with jigs and reels? Learn how Gaelic culture resonated in Canada’s “New Scotland,” and down in the Boston States, from singer Mary Jane Lamond and fiddle players Troy MacGillivray, Andrea Beaton, Alasdair Fraser, Katie McNally, and Lee Cremo.
info_outlineHow are traditional musicians and dancers continuing creative careers and group music events during the Covid-19 pandemic? How is social distancing affecting the jigs and reels? In this unexpected open of Season Four of Irish Music Stories, musicians from Ireland, England, Belgium, Sweden, and the U.S. address on and offline strategies… from a safe distance.
Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below.
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Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Chris Murphy, John Kerr, John Pradarelli, Sharon Murphy, Finn Agenbroad, Charlie Durfee, Mark Johnson, Will Coleman, Gary Usher, Dana Griepentrog, John Plock, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Krajniak
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
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Music Heard on IMS Episode 40
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “Haapvesi,” from January EP
Artist: Assembly
Tune: “Cat’s Meow,” from An Irish Homecoming
Artist: Cherish the Ladies
Tune: “Dark Low Jig,” from Irish Music Stories Production Music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Midnight Sojourn Intro,” from Kitchen Sessions
Artist: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Bb Shuffle,” from Kitchen Sessions
Artist: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Little Bird Lullaby,” from Irish Music Stories Production Music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Heartstrings Theme,” from Irish Music Stories Production Music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Ciuri Ciuri,” from March 14 video on Sicilian balcony
Artist: Italian Neighbors
Tune: “Mångatskrinna,” from All in Always
Artist: Laura Cortese
Tune: “Noisy Curlew,” from Dear Old Erin's Isle: Irish Traditional Music from America
Artists: Eileen Ivers, Seamus Egan
Tune: “Humours of Ballyconnell,” from JamKazam recording
Artists: Pete Strickler, Dirk Mewes, Kevin Rumery
Tune: “Griffenfelt,” from March 31, 2020 Virtual Quarantine video
Artist: Folk All-In Band... watch VIDEO HERE!
Tune: “Hometown Lullaby,” from Irish Music Stories Production Music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Pound the Floor” from Irish Music Stories Production Music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Father Kelly’s Reel,” from Tune.Supply Music
Artists: Caitlin Warbelow & Chris Ranney
Tune: “Travel Theme,” from Irish Music Stories Production Music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Oran Na Maighdean Mhara,” from Four / 4
Artists: Kirstan Allstaff
Tune: “Paddy Canny's Toast,” from A Sweetish Tune
Artist: Noctambule
Tune: “The Hunt Set Dance,” from An Irish Homecoming
Artist: Joanie Madden & Michael Holland
Tune: “Johnny Going to Ceilidh,” from demo
Artists: Flynn Cohen & Matt Heaton
Tune: “Lord McDonald’s” from Boston College Irish Fiddle Festival
Artists: assembled fiddle players
Tune: “Foggy Dew,” from MBM Performs Irish Classics
Artist: Music Box Mania
Tune: “The Blackbird,” from Cover the Buckle
Artists: Seán Clohessy, Sean Mccomiskey, And Kieran Jordan
Tune: “Ratholdran Castle,” from Trian II
Artist: Trian
Tune: “Cats Meow,” from Joanie’s Living Room
Artist: Joanie Madden