NEW CMC CD & SEMINAR
The Contemporary Music Centre has released Contemporary Music from Ireland Volume Six, showcasing works composed over the last five years by eleven Irish composers, including Linda Buckley, Ian Wilson, Ed Bennett, Siobhán Cleary and Seóirse Bodley. For a complementary copy, email khennessy [at] cmc.ie. CMC is also holding a seminar (8 November/10:30am – 1:30pm) for visual artists, film-makers and composers on music in film and art and working with composers in Ireland. Visit www.cmc.ie

CRUINNIÚ @ GLÓR
For those trying to make a full-time or part-time living from the traditional arts, Cruinniú, a two-day gathering at Glór in Ennis, Co. Clare takes place on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th of November. The emphasis is on providing an insight into what it takes to succeed professionally in the traditional arts. Speakers include Garry West, co-founder of Compass Records, Nashville; Paddy Glackin of RTÉ; Siobhan Long of the Irish Times; Liz Doherty of the Arts Council; plus Ronan Browne, Dermot McLaughlin and Tom Sherlock. Talk topics include: international touring opportunities; funding sources in Ireland; traditional arts and the media; and getting your money back from recordings. Cruinniú is taking place during the Ennis Trad Festival which runs from 9-13 November. For further details or to book a place at Cruinniú, tel 065-6843103.

A MONTH OF SUNDAYS
‘A Month of Sundays’ is a collaboration between the Model Arts and Niland Gallery in Sligo and DJ and filmmaker Donal Dineen. The Model has invited Dineen to take up residence each Sunday in November and present on stage his Small Hours Picture Show. This will include live performances from musical acts selected by Dineen. 5th November: Jape, David Kitt / 12th: Si Schroeder, James Yorkston & the Athletes (see picture)/ 19th: Windings, Saso, Somadrone / 26th: Chequerboard, Cane 141, Lisa Hannigan. Visit www.modelart.ie

FIELD DAY MUSIC
November sees the launch of Field Day Music, a major new series of books devoted to classical music in Ireland. Series Editors Séamas de Barra and Patrick Zuk are the authors of the first two books – biographies of composers Aloys Fleischmann and Raymond Deane; both books are illustrated with musical examples and include catalogues of works and discographies. Available in bookstores now or direct from www.fielddaybooks.com

BAILIÚCHÁN BHAIRBRE
Bailiúchán Bhairbre is a new 12-part radio series for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta that debuts the private tape collection of Bairbre Quinn née Conneely (1935-1987). Bairbre’s family ran a guesthouse called Conneely’s in Cill Mhuirbhigh on the Aran Islands. The programmes feature some as yet unnamed musicians and singers who holidayed there, and presenter Deirdre Ní Chonghaile (Bairbre’s niece) hopes listeners will be able to identify them. The series will air on Sunday mornings at 10:30am from November 26th.

LIVING MUSIC 2007
Details of the RTÉ Living Music Festival 2007 have been announced. Taking place on 16–18 February next year, it focuses on the music of American composer John Adams. Under the artistic direction of Irish composer Ronan Guilfoyle, there will be a strong jazz element to the festival with performances by Irish and international jazz ensembles.
Visit www.rte.ie/livingmusic

NOVA WIN
Nova, RTÉ lyric fm’s new-music show presented by Bernard Clarke, has won a bronze medal in the Best Music Special category in the 2006 New York Festival Radio Programming and Promotion competition for its programme on Brian Eno, Before and After Science: The World of Brian Eno. Nova is broadcast on Sunday nights at 8-10pm.

FIRST IRISH JAZZ DEGREES
The first Irish degrees in jazz performance were awarded on 23 October by Newpark. While Newpark Music Centre has offered studies up to diploma level since 1996, the jazz degree – the first non-classical undergraduate music performance course in Ireland – was established in 2005 by Programme Director Ronan Guilfoyle. Ten students have been awarded the music degree, some of which have gone on to teach on the course itself. Newpark already has some of Ireland’s finest jazz performers on its staff, including Conor Guilfoyle, Tommy Halferty, Phil Ware and Greg Felton. Visit www.newparkmusic.com

LISMORAHAUN SINGERS
Following on from the documentary Sing and You Win broadcast in 2005, on Archie Simpson and the Lismorahaun Singers in County Clare, the Singers have now released a CD of their performance of Mozart’s Requiem
in that documentary – the first major recording of the work by an Irish
orchestra and choir. Available now.

WRITE FOR JMI
Interested in writing for JMI? JMI is always seeking new work. Reviews, interviews, opinion, analysis, essays or letters to the editor, JMI is open to all musical genres. Email editor [at] thejmi.com