Toner Quinn is Editor of the Journal of Music. His new book, What Ireland Can Teach the World About Music, will be published on 1 February 2024 and is now available to pre-order. Visit https://bit.ly/3uz7rGm.
Toner Quinn
The experience of one village in the west of Ireland shows that the new Minister for Arts faces a serious challenge, to change the way we think about culture and its role in our society, writes Toner Quinn.
A new documentary explores the extraordinary story of David Gray and Ireland in the 1990s, the making of 'White Ladder', and how it became Ireland's best-selling album of all time, but is the story as simple as it seems? Toner Quinn reviews.
If we are going to tackle racism, we need to improve our conversations about culture, writes Toner Quinn.
The government's 'Ireland Performs' series, which was partly funded by Facebook, put already under pressure artists in an unacceptable position. We have got to think hard about the way we support music into the future, writes Toner Quinn.
‘Slí na mBeaglaoich’, featuring the musical travels around Ireland of father and son Breanndán and Cormac Ó Beaglaoich, is currently showing on TG4. Toner Quinn reviews.
A new feature-length documentary on the great piper Liam O'Flynn was broadcast on TG4 at the weekend. Toner Quinn reviews.
The COVID-19 pandemic means we are going to witness another radical shift in music in the digital age, writes Toner Quinn.
If artists and musicians are ever going to solve their perennial financial issues then it is time for a different approach, writes Toner Quinn.
The Midwinter Festival in Galway focused on early Beethoven this year, and brought a renowned piano-violin partnership to the west. Toner Quinn reviews.
Irish harping has been given recognition by UNESCO. It is an important moment for Irish music, writes Toner Quinn.
The inaugural TradTalk conference, a new discussion forum for traditional artists, took place last weekend (16 November). Toner Quinn reflects on some of the issues raised.
Traditional music once comforted us and reassured us, writes Toner Quinn, but not Lankum.
The Irish Memory Orchestra and 26 musicians with sight loss gave the world premiere of Dave Flynn's Vision Symphony last weekend. Toner Quinn reviews.
Last weekend, Irish National Opera gave the first ever Irish performance of an opera by Vivaldi – the story of a formidable woman subjected to ridicule and abuse. Toner Quinn reviews.
We have entered a new era in Irish music, writes Toner Quinn, in which a language based on traditional music and song is producing extraordinary work across genres, but is it getting the attention it deserves?
Lyric FM is under threat because of RTÉ's financial difficulties, but a better future for the station is possible, writes Toner Quinn.
Cherry Smyth's 'Famished' – a collection of poems focused on the famine – was performed at Kilkenny Arts Festival last week, with singer Lauren Kinsella and composer Ed Bennett. Toner Quinn reviews.
Kilkenny Arts Festival presented the Irish premiere of Ed Bennett's 'Song of the Books' last week, performed by Kate Ellis and Crash Ensemble. Toner Quinn reviews.
The achievements of Ireland's composers abroad are not getting enough attention at home.
Irish National Opera gave the world premiere of 'Least Like the Other: Searching for Rosemary Kennedy' in Galway this week, a work by composer Brian Irvine and director Netia Jones that tells the story of JFK's sister. Toner Quinn reviews.
Luminosa string orchestra recently held its inaugural concerts in Galway, the first focussing on work by female composers and the second on the theme of landscape and music. Toner Quinn reviews.
Other Voices took place in Belfast at the weekend, accompanied by a number of discussions on borders, cultural breakthroughs and the redemptive power of music, writes Toner Quinn.
Next week at the Cork Midsummer Festival, Sō Percussion will give the European premiere of Donnacha Dennehy’s ‘Broken Unison’, a co-commission between Carnegie Hall and Cork Opera House. The Journal of Music spoke to the Irish composer, who now lives in the States, about his music, his life in America and what drives his work.
The Open Ear festival of experimental and electronic music on Sherkin Island is now in its fourth year. It has a spirit of nonconformism, and provided one of the most unique moments one could imagine for a music festival, writes Toner Quinn.
The Irish label Ergodos, run by Benedict Schlepper-Connolly and Garrett Sholdice, has just released its 30th recording, an album by the Ficino Ensemble featuring works by Brahms, Ravel and Sholdice. The two label founders spoke to the Journal of Music about growing Ergodos over the past 13 years, the role of a label in the modern musical ecosystem, and the arts infrastructure that is frustrating its development.
How can we ensure that we have the infrastructure to support all Irish music into the future? Why have we not achieved this already? In an essay written to mark the twentieth anniversary of the music and arts station RTÉ Lyric FM, Toner Quinn, Editor of the Journal of Music, asks the question: what is holding us back?
Composer, singer, violinist, pianist, Peter Broderick draws on many strands for his music, his work connecting with audiences across the world. Currently living in Galway, Broderick spoke to The Journal of Music about his compositions and lyrics, his musical background in Oregon and the impact of the internet on his career.
Behind Lankum's politically aware folk is a subtle mix of influences. After a major year for the band, and ahead of a European tour, Radie Peat and Daragh Lynch speak to The Journal of Music about the punk ethos, the importance of sessions and their evolving musical interests.
Young people are not waiting for action on climate change any more – they are taking action, and history shows that music is going to play a key role in their movement, writes Toner Quinn.
Toner Quinn reviews a Music and Musings concert in Galway featuring the world premiere of Greg Caffrey's fourth string quartet.
