Focus

Into Another World Where Jazz and Traditional Music Merge Into Another World Where Jazz and Traditional Music Merge Brendan Finan Composer, double bass player and traditional flute player Neil Ó Lochlainn premiered his new work 'Emain Ablach' with a 14-piece ensemble in Galway and Dublin last weekend. Brendan Finan reviews the Smock Alley performance.
If RTÉ Won’t Speak Up About Its Importance to Irish Music, Who Will? If RTÉ Won’t Speak Up About Its Importance to Irish Music, Who Will? Toner Quinn RTÉ has just published its document 'A New Direction for RTÉ', but where is the renewed vision for music, asks Toner Quinn.
Trading Irish and Welsh Tunes Trading Irish and Welsh Tunes Brendan Finan Irish fiddle player Aoife Ní Bhriain and Welsh harpist Catrin Finch have recently released their first album together, 'Double You'. Brendan Finan reviews.
Is This Contemporary Dublin? Is This Contemporary Dublin? James Camien McGuiggan John Francis Flynn's second album 'Look over the Wall, See the Sky' was released this month on the River Lea label. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Never Taking Communication for Granted Never Taking Communication for Granted James Camien McGuiggan 'The Body That Breathes', a silent concert experience directed by violinist Jane Hackett and devised with George Higgs and the Dublin Theatre of the Deaf, took place on 1 November at Unit 44 in Dublin. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Exploring the Rich Musical World of Céilí Band Competition Exploring the Rich Musical World of Céilí Band Competition Méabh Ní Fhuartháin Fiddle player Philip Duffy has recently published a substantial volume on the history of senior céilí band winners at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann from the beginnings in 1951 right up to recent times. Méabh Ní Fhuartháin reviews.
A Tribute to a Transformative Artist A Tribute to a Transformative Artist Adrian Scahill The Irish Traditional Music Archive hosted a tribute to the late great fiddle player Tommy Peoples at the National Concert Hall on 28 October. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Into the Sonic Mass Into the Sonic Mass Adrian Smith Composer Ed Bennett and cellist Kate Ellis have this month released 'Strange Waves', a new record on the Ergodos label. Adrian Smith reviews.
Different Strands of a Musical Identity Different Strands of a Musical Identity Adrian Scahill Fiddle player Sorcha Costello has recently released her debut solo record 'The Primrose Lass'. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Opening Up Music, History and Creativity Opening Up Music, History and Creativity Deirdre Gribbin Composer Benjamin Dwyer's new book, 'Music Autopsies: Essays and Interviews (1999–2022)' is a collection of sixteen essays exploring many aspects of creativity, from the impact of Ireland's historical traumas to the work of Beckett, Volans, Crumb, Ligeti and Bernstein. Deirdre Gribbin reviews.

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