Episode 88-Dark Mysteries Bright Melodies
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Early 20th century musician George White painted the New York scene with dance tunes on his piccolo; and the tune bearing his name has gone on to enchant generations of Irish musicians. Well before that, a piper lured 130 children with his sweet playing (and his colorful clothes). There’s no bankruptcy of mystery or chirpy melodies in this first episode of Season 10 of Shannon Heaton’s Irish Music Stories. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to
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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,...
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