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_outlinePersistent 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 Guillermo Del Val Rodriguez, Santiago Molina, Gregor Brinkschulte, Alasdair Fraser, Rolf Wagels, Kerstin Otten, Brent Cassidy, Andy Xuhang, Alex Navar, hatao, Geoffrey Lim, Ted Cizadlo, and Andy Linton.
There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below.
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Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Ryne VanHorn, Dan Kaufman, Finn Agenbroad, Rex Edwards, Michael Craine, Bruce Douglas, Nancy Kearney, Paul Fackler, Art Costa, Linda Hammond, Chris Murphy, David Vaughan, Gerry Corr, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Krajniak, Jon Duvik, and one anonymous donor.
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
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Read about the Irish flute mask (mentioned in the episode) by Lisa Danforth HERE
And for Japanese speakers who want to get started with Irish Music Stories, the first episode has been translated fully (transcript) by Ryoko Murakami, with support from Tomoaki Hatekeyama HERE.
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Music Heard on IMS Episode 40
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “Migratory,” from tricolor BIGBAND
Artist: tricolor
Tune: “The Flight of the Earls (El Vuelo De Los Condes),” from Brotherhood of Stars (A Irmandade Das Estrelas)
Artist: Carlos Nuñez
Tune: “Kiss the Maid Behind the Barrel,” from Living Room recording
Artist: Guillermo Del Val Rodriguez
Tune: “The Golden Ticket,” from The Western Star
Eric Merrill
Tune: "Para Ani,” from Historia
Artist: Santiago Molina with Félix Pérez guitar
Tune: “Foliada!” from Ports of Call
Artists: Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
Tune: “G Meditation,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Heartstrings Theme,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Masters of Consequence,” from Horizon
Artist: Cara
Tune: “Bb Intro,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Little Bird Lullaby,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “44 Mill Street,” from The Blue Dress
Artist: Shannon Heaton, Maeve Gilchrist, Paddy League
Song: “Ich weiß ein fein brauns Mägdelein,” from Duo
Gudrun Walther & Jürgen Treyz
Tune/Song: “Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow”
Artist: Droichead
Tune: “Celtic Grooves,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Nocturne,” from Songs From a Secret Garden
Artist: Secret Garden
Tune: “Larry Lavin’s Choice,” from Galleon Flute Demo Video
Artist: Blayne Chastain
Tune: “Planxty Fitzgerald,” from Traditional Irish Music on pipa guitar, live at Bray Mermaid Arts Centre
Artists: Liu Fang and Michael O'Toole
Tune: “Celtic Grooves,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Triumph Theme,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
“Midnight Walker,” from Celtic Graces: A Best of Ireland
Artist: Davy Spillane
“Desvairada,” from Brazilian Choro he posted on YouTube (used with permission)
Artist: Cillian King
Tune: “月をさがして” (Looking for the Moon) from Songs of Raindrops and Breeze
Artists: hatao & nami
Tune: “Grupai Ceol Theme,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Polkas,” from Mapo FM
Artist: Seul-Ki and Ceoltoiri Korea
Song: “Runaway,” from Forgiven, Not Forgotten
Artist: The Corrs
Tune: “Belle of the South Shore,” from B&B
Artist: tricolor
Tune: “D Mutey Big Build,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Out on the Ocean,” from Live In Seattle
Artists: Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill
Tune: “Woo Dr Hythm,” from This is How we Fly
Artist: This is How we Fly
Tune: “The Banshee, Swinging on a Gate,” from Live at the Welsh Dragon
Artist: Wellington Slow Session
Tune: “Twins' Dance Party / Sylvia's & Mikey's Reels,” from Raven
Artists: John Williams & Dean Magraw