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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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.
info_outline
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 do new traditional Irish and Scottish tunes come together? How do composers conjure melodies? Composers Liz Carroll, Dáithí Sproule, and Katie McNally share thoughts on creativity, the tune writing process, and the myths behind the music.
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
* * * * * * *
Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Leslie Stack, Patricia P. Wilcox, Michael Craine, Mark Haynes, Emil Hauptmann, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Krajniak, Jon Duvick, Suezen Brown, John Ploch, Joel DeLashmit, Let’s Learn Irish, and Ministry of Folk
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
* * * * * * *
Visit IrishMusicStories.org
* * * * * * *
Music Heard on IMS Episode 47
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “Bold Doherty,” from An Traidisiún Beo
Artist: Angelina Carberry
Tune: “Golden Castle chimes… and Golden Castle,” from (Live in our Living Room)
Artists: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: The Dark Island,” from Encore
Artist: Celtic Fiddle Festival
Tune: “The Anniversary Reel/Out for the Night,” from Out for the Night
Artist: Battlefield Band
Tune: “Pound the Floor,” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “The Wolf / The Duck,” from On the Offbeat
Artist: Liz Carroll
Tune: “Limerick Lift Off,” from (Live in our Living Room)
Artists: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: “As The Crow Flies,” from Half Day Road
Artist: Liz Carroll
Tune: “After Hours Theme” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Wild Swans at Coole,” from Living Room Demo
Artist: George Keith
Tune: “Wild Swans at Coole,” from The Music of Ed Reavy
Artist: Liz Carroll
Tune: “Little Bird Lullaby” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Last of the Leaves,” from Half Day Road
Artist: Liz Carroll
Tune: “Liz’s New tune,” from Living Room Demo (with chords from the Lower Level)
Artists: Liz Carroll & Matt Heaton
Tune: “The Bag of Spuds,” from Notes From The Heart
Artists: Mick, Louise & Michelle Mulcahy
Tune: “October Tune,” from Living Room Demo
Artist: Dáithí Sproule
Tune: “Taylors Falls,” from The Crow in the Sun
Artist: Dáithí Sproule
Tune: “My Dearest Dear,” from Trian
Artist: Dáithí Sproule and Trian
Tune: “Acadia March,” from The Bloom of Youth
Artists: Childsplay
Tune: “D Chimes” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Planxty Charles Bunworth” from Ireland: Crossroads Of Art And Design, 1690-1840 - The Music
Artists: Liz Carroll, Liz Knowles, Catriona McKay, Kieran O'Hare
Tune: “Mutey Big Build” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Hometown Lullaby” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “8645,” from Living Room Demo
Artists: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Lady Ginsberg,” from Living Room Demo
Artist: Katie McNally & Neil Pearlman
Tune: “Jenny Dang the Weaver,” from Instructional Video
Artist: Hanneke Cassel
Tune: “John’s Theme” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Heartstrings Theme” from Production Music for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton