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_outlineWhat’s up with stage banter? And why all the joking around between tunes in a session? Explore 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.
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: Sharon Murphy, Bill Wolfe, John Kerr, Chris Murphy, Lynn Hayes, Meg and Harry Ferguson, Jack McCreless, Marco Battaglia, Joe Martin, Tom Frederick, Suezen Brown, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Emil Hauptmann, John Ploch, Rick Rubin, Gerry Corr, Jon Duvick, Randy Krajniak, Joel DeLashmit, Susan Walsh, and Jon Duvick.
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
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Books Mentioned in IMS Episode 48
Bradburd, Rus. Paddy on the Hardwood. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2006.
Carson, Ciaran. Last Night’s Fun. New York: North Point Press, 1996.
Heaney, Seamus. “Digging.” Death of a Naturalist. London & Boston: Faber and Faber, 1966.
Music Heard on IMS Episode 48
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “Pound the Floor,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Redican's Jig / The Merry Old Woman Jig / The Chapel Bell” from bohola
Artist: bohola
Tune: “Behind The Bush In Parkhanna/Battle Of Aughrim,” from Swimming Against The Falls/SnámhIin Aghaidh Easa
Artist: Joey Abarta
Tune: “Little Bird Lullaby,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Abbey Reel,” from Kitchen Session
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Chimes,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “The House On the Hill,” from Triptych
Artists: Laura Risk, Kieran Jordan & Paddy League
Recitation: “First You Must Learn the Grip,” from Forty Years of Irish Piping
Artist: Seamus Ennis
Tune: “Mutey Big Build,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Bird in the Bush,” (with Beatboxing), from Live at Johnny D’s
Artists: Isaac Alderson & Sam Amidon
Tune: “Dans Loudieg,” from Première
Artists: Kornog
Tune: “War Hent Kerrigouarc'h/ Sheriffmuir,” from Première
Artists: Kornog
Tune: “Barbra Streisand's Trip to Saginaw / Michael Connell’s,” from On the Offbeat
Artist: Liz Carroll
Tune: “John’s Theme,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Heartstrings Theme,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Modal Travel Theme,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Polkas Medley: John Collins’ Fancy / Eileen’s Polka / Ned Kelly’s Polka,” from The Burren Backroom Series, Vol. 1 (Live)
Artist: Sliabh Notes
Tune: “Kerry Reel,” from fiddler comp
Artist: Padraig O'Keefe
Tune: “Meaning of Life,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Tonn Cliodhna,” from FYH
Artists: Caoimhin O Raghallaigh & Brendan Begley
Tune: “Over The Moor To Maggie/Dowd's Number Nine,” Ómós Do Joe Cooley
Frankie Gavin, Paul Brock, and Charlie Lennon
Tune: “Rockabye by Firelight,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Pretty Girls of Mayo, the Steeplechase,” (AKA ‘Reel Cork, Like!’) from From Cork with Love
Artist: The Máirtín de Cógáin Project
Tune: Celtic Grooves,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Stage Banter: “How To Make Proper Tea!” from From Cork with Love
Artist: Máirtín de Cógáin Live
Tune: “Ballyea,” from Hangin' at the Crossroads
Artist: The Céilí Bandits