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_outlineWhat happens when old traditional music and dance move onto modern concert stages? Do Celtic traditions get a big boost? Do they lose anything on the road to the performing arts center? Journey with host Shannon Heaton as she speaks with Jean-Michel Veillon, Matthew Olwell, Steph Geremia, Kevin Crawford, Herschel Freeman, Eileen Ivers, Mick Moloney, Brian O’Donovan, and Rory Makem about how ‘trad’ continues to change, dissolve, evolve, and inspire.
Plenty of music here, too. Full playlist below.
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Special thanks to Thomas Madden, Andy Kruspe, Danny Horton, Chris Murphy, Kathleen Biggins, Ted Coyle in honor of Lynn Cox, Gerry Corr, Brian Benscoter, and Joe Garrett for supporting this episode. for supporting this episode. And thank you to Matt Heaton for script editing and production music.
Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast!
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Music Heard on IMS Episode 26
all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated
Tune: “My Love is in America,” from dearga
Artists: Matt & Shannon Heaton
Tune: “Dans Loudieg,” from Première
Artist: Kornog
Tune: “Celtic Grooves,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Grupai Memories” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Ton DÈrobÈe,” from Première
Artist: Jean-Michel Veillon with Kornog
Tune: “D Big Build,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Scottish (Live),” from Live au Cornouaille
Artist: Bagad Kemper
Song: “Tri Martolod (Live),” from Alan Stivell
Artist: Alan Stivell
Tune: “Hometown Lullaby,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “G Meditation,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Flute Duet,” from Christmas Celtic Sojourn, 2007
Artist: Louise Mulcahey and Shannon Heaton
Tune: “The Cameronian,” from fiddler comp
Artist: Michael Coleman
Song: “Mountain Dew,” from Irish Drinking Songs
Artist: The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem
Tune: “Dark Low Jig,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Linnane Terrace,” from The Open Road
Artist: Steph Geremia
Tune: “Eanáir,” from Lúnasa
Artist: Lúnasa
Tune: “Dans An Dro,” from Première
Artist: Jamie McMenemy & Soïg Siberil with Kornog
Tune: “Slip Jig Dreams,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Riverdance Medley,” from Eurovision Song Contest
Artist: Katie McMahon with Anúna, with musicians who are mostly unattributed online (would have been Bill Whelan on keyboard with, probably, fiddler Máire Breathnach, sax player Kenneth Edge, and others)
Composers: Michael McGlynn, Bill Whelan
Tune: “Pound the Floor,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Apples in Winter,” from An Nollaig: An Irish Christmas
Artist: Eileen Ivers
Tune: “Meaning of Life,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Tune: “Trip to Birmingham,” from Cybertrad
Artist: Matthew Olwell
Tune: “Little Bird Lullaby,” from Production Music Made for Irish Music Stories
Artist: Matt Heaton
Song: “Jesuitmont,” from Première
Artist: Kornog
Song: “Anarchy In the UK/Silver Spear Mash up,” adapted from Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols
Artist: SP + SH