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,...
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Episode 70-Navigating Tech and Writing Tunes
Irish Music Stories Podcast
New inventions and technology can make life—and Irish music—more convenient, more accessible, and sweeter…. and more complicated. This episode examines a few innovations like the washing machine, the personal computer, and to the electric bicycle—though you’ll have to go to for extensive chat about recording technologies… and also . There are also plenty of Irish tunes here that mention tech and innovations. (Because whether or not you’re actually thinking about short and long clicking sounds, if you call a tune The Telegraph, it’s still a reference to what was once a...
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Episode 69-Tea, Turf, and Wooden Spoons
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Lunch routines, laundry, kid art supplies, spoons, and teacups are details of domestic life that don’t usually make it into the photo albums, or the tune titles. But they shape lives. And in the midst of the thousands of jigs and reels out there, the simple (and profound) cup of tea.. and the basket of turf are represented. Here’s a meditation on tunes with prosaic titles and the stimulating stories behind them. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, sheet music to original tunes in this episode, and to contribute to this project, please head to ....
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Episode 68-20 Years of BCMFest
Irish Music Stories Podcast
Presenting concerts can be about a lot more than throwing someone onstage. Matt Smith manages Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which has been the central venue and fountain of support for 20 years—and is now the official presenter—for Boston’s Celtic Music Festival. For Matt, it’s all about creating opportunities for something special and unique to happen. Learn about where this little festival has been, and where it’s going, with or without your Mouse Pants! _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this...
info_outlineThe role of instruments in Celtic traditions can be fickle: newer voices (like the tenor banjo) are increasingly popular on festival stages; while ancient ones (like the harp) still hang on the outskirts when it comes to modern group projects. Find out how the banjo came into common acceptance in Irish circles from Daniel Neely, Enda Scahill, and Martin Howley… and learn about joys and challenges of outsider status from harpist Maeve Gilchrist, cellist Natalie Haas, and saxophone players Susan Lindsay and Isaac Alderson.
There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below.
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 Tomoaki Hatekeyama) HERE
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Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Pat Wilcox, Soomee Han, Ken Doyle, Stephanie Reeve, Finn Agenbroad, Mark Haynes, David Vaughan, Gerry Corr, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Krajniak, Jon Duvik, and Suezen Brown.
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
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Music Heard on IMS Episode 43
Tunes: “The Big Reel Of Ballynacally/The High Hill/Flash Away The Pressing Gang,” from Sunny Spells And Scattered Showers
Artist: Solas
Tune: Professor Cherry, from Ports of Call
Artists: Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
Tune: “D Chimes,” from Irish Music Stories Production music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Taste of Gaelic,” from The Cabin Sessions
Artists: Mairi Rankin & Eric Wright
Tune: “February Bright,” from 20 Chandler Street
Artist: Maeve Gilchrist
Tune: “Zayante,” from Home Recording
Artist: Alfredo Rolando Ortiz
Tune: “G Meditation,” from Irish Music Stories Production music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Harp Glissando demonstration,” from How to play Glissandos on the Harp
Artist: Christy-Lin
Tune: “Waimea Rising,” from Vignette
Artists: Maeve Gilchrist & Viktor Krauss
Tune: “The Castlebay Scrap/Stuarts Rant,” from Play On Light
Artist: Síleas
Tune: “The Blue Dress,” from The Blue Dress
Artists: Shannon Heaton & Maeve Gilchrist
Tune: “Tom Maguire's Fancy, The Flogging Reel,” from Traditional Music On Fiddle, Banjo & Harp
Artists: Oisin Mac Diarmada, Brian Fitzgerald, Micheal O'Ruanaigh
Tune: “Following the North Star,” from Freedom Highway
Artist: Rhiannon Giddens
Tune: “The Miller Of Drone/Pauline Conneely's/Finbar Dwyer’s,” from An Traidisiún Beo
Artist: Angelina Carberry
Tune: “Medley,” from live footage from 1928 (presented by Vitaphone)
Artist: Fabulous Ingenues
Tune: “Seamus Connolly's/Brid Harpur’s,” from Traditional Music From Doolin Co. Clare
Artist: Kevin Griffin
Tune: “The Rookery,” from Music class at 2014 Milwaukee Irishfest Summer School
Artist: Martin Howley
Tune: “The New Irish Barn Dance,” from 1929 recording
Artists: The Flanagan Brothers
Tune: “Sailor on the Rock,” from Fleá Ceoil (1964 recording from Gael Linn)
Artist: Barney McKenna
Tune: “Bill Cheatum / Kitchen Girl,” from Live in Galway
Artist: We Banjo 3
Tune: Martin Wynnes #2 / Martin Wynnes #1 / The Coalminer,” from Roots of the Banjo Tree
Artist: We Banjo 3
Tune: “Splendid Isolation,” from At the Racket
Artist: At the Rocket
Tune: “Mutey Big Build,” from Irish Music Stories Production music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Siege of Ennis No. 3,” from B Side of Copley Record #9-178
Artist: Johnny Powell and his Irish band
Tune: “Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria,” from Bach: Goldberg Variations (For Saxophone Quartet)
Artist: Danish Saxophone Quartet, Christian Hougaard, Torben Snekkestad, Jørgen Ole Bove & Per Egholm
Tune: “Rhythm Is Our Business,” from 1935 Hits (Remastered)
Artist: Jimmy Lunceford and His Orchestra & Willie Smith
Tune: “Abbey Reel Meditation,” from Irish Music Stories Production music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Heartstrings Theme,” from Irish Music Stories Production music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Song: “Sixteen Jolly Ravers,” from From the Green to the Blue
Artist: The Lindsays
Tune: “Sabai Sabai,” from Irish Music Stories Production music
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Aunt Jane’s Trip to Norway,” from The Blue Dress
Artists: Shannon Heaton & Maeve Gilchrist
Tune: “Jane’s Reel,” from Simon Chrisman & Wes Corbett
Artists: Simon Chrisman & Wes Corbett
Tune: “Stah Wahs,” from banjo outtake
Artist: Matt Heaton