Celtic

Song of the Isle: Archive of great Anglo-Celtic Songs

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Click the image to go to the main site.

I am always supportive of a fellow blogger and I think David Wood has an amazing site dedicated to the songs of the Anglo-Celtic world. It is a great archive for those who want to train vocally on the heart-hurting vocal music of the Celtic world.

Song of the Isle is the brainchild of David Wood, Music Director for WFIU Public Media, and an aspiring singer/conductor. He is more of an archivist for Celtic songs. What I like about his site is that he features both Gaelic and English songs. I dig Gaelic songs and what he is doing is remarkable. His site is focused on gathering the vocal music of the Anglo-Celtic world. What is the purpose of building this blog site? His aim is simple: To encourage the learning of traditional and modern Celtic music. David Wood currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana.

Also, follow Song of the Isle on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SongOfTheIsles

Exciting Updates and Great Bands on next Sunday’s Ourland Fest, NYC

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It is great to know what’s happening around the world in terms of Celtic music related events. What I love about blogging for Celtic music? The scene! Yes it is great to keep the scene alive. The more events we have and more people attending, will support its strength for generations to come. This is our community, our friends …our life. I got this from our New York correspondent Anita Daly.

Exciting updates on next Sunday’s Ourland Fest, NYC’s first ever day long free festival celebrating Irish culture at Lincoln Center…

 

PULITZER PRIZE, GRAMMY, TONY, OSCAR WINNERS, R&R HALL OF FAMERS Join OurLand Fest!

Sunday July 29, 2-10pm, Lincoln Center Out of Doors presents

OurLand: Celebrating Irish Culture in America!

The Music, The Bards, The Magic!

Artistic Director Joe Hurley

Presented in Partnership with The Gathering Ireland 2013

In Association with The Consulate General of Ireland

A day of Irish Music, Poetry, Literature, Theatre, Dance and more!

Just Announced!

Pulitzer Prize Winner William Kennedy! (Ironweed)

New York Dolls’ Syl SyLvain

Ireland’s only 2 Star Michelin Chef, Conrad Gallagher

Get Smart’s Barbara Feldon

Cara Seymour (Gangs of New York)

Lez Zeppelin’s Shannon Conley

JOIN

Angelica Page (“The Best Man”)

Tony Winner Michael Cerveris (“Evita”)

The Cast of Once, 2012 Best Musical

Malachy and Alfie McCourt

Flogging Molly’s Matt Hensley

Best-Selling Novelist Peter Quinn

R&R Hall of Famer Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper)

Bob Dylan’s band leader, Tony Garnier

Joe Hurley & the Gents

Irish Supergroup Cherish The Ladies

Thomas Bahler “We Are The World”  and Soul Legend Tami Lynn (Stones “Exile”)

And for the finale!!! JOE HURLEY’S ALL STAR IRISH ROCK REVUE!

http://www.roguesmarch.com/irishrevue

http://www.facebook.com/JoeHurleysAllStarIrishRockRevue

Introduced by Irish Consul General Noel Kilkenny, and Artistic Director

Joe Hurley,  “Our Land” will celebrate the artistic, literary and musical heritage of Ireland, the mark it made on America and the  cross-cultural ties that bind the two countries.  An all-day extravaganza exploring how the Irish helped to build NYC, with ‘Nothing But Their Genius’, while shining a light on Irish and Irish-Americans contribution to the American Songbook and culture, OurLand takes place at multiple spaces on the Lincoln Center campus.  We’ll move through the fair and into the night with song, dance, poets, authors, artists, street performers, exhibits, book and CD signings.

Gathering The Bards: From Galway to Rockaway 2pm, “The Bards Stage”  aka

Hearst Plaza

Weaving the art of storytelling with original works & classics, Irish-American culture in verse and song …

Pulitzer Prize Winner William Kennedy, Actors Cara Seymour, Angelica Page, Barbara Feldon Aedin Moloney, Malachy McCourt, Alfie McCourt,  Novelists Peter Quinn, Tom Kelly, John Swenson, Thomas Bahler, and Mike Farragher,  Kirk Kelly, Niamh Hyland, Colin Broderick,  David O’Leary, WB Yeats Society of NY, Gerard McNamee,  Salina Mailer, Faith Hahn, Marni Rice, Dana McCoy, Honor Molloy, John S. Hall,Trisha McCormack, IAW&A and more in a wildly eclectic and interactive parade of The Jewels of Ireland’s Bards.

The Auld Triangle – “Nothing but my Genius” – at 5pm, Josie Robertson Plaza

Take a wild,magical stroll on Raglan Road with buskers, poets, painters, and dancers that will stir your soul. Behan to Beckett, Christy Moore to James Joyce, bring your voice, Alive-Alive Oh! (w/ Flogging Molly’s Matt Hensley, The Mercantillers, Marie Reilly, Seamus Kelleher, Theatre 80 Siamsa)

6pm Thousands Are Sailing -’The Sailing Stage’ aka Damrosch Park Bandshell

A Performance from the cast of ONCE, winner of eight 2012 Tony Awards incl: BEST MUSICAL!

Then it’s A Parting Glass: Celebrating  ALAN LOMAX’s work preserving

Ireland’s Musical Heritage. Lomax’s  recordings in Ireland  will be honored with Round Robin-style Irish-Americana performances led by Lomax archive director Don Fleming, Cherish the Ladies, Lianne Smith, and special friends. With the original 2-track recorder onstage used to capture these historical Irish recordings,  The 78 rpm project will also be there for new live versions of these gems!

 

At 7pm, Joe Hurley and The Gents take the stage

The New Yorker called Hurley “One of the city’s deepest pop singers, both in his vocal rangeand the level of his soulfulness… mesmerizing.” Their set will include a performance of Hurley’s CD Let the Great World Spin, created with and inspired by Colum McCann’s  Award Winning novel. The Gents feature Tony Garnier ( Dylan Bandleader) Ken Margolis, Megan Gould, Steve Goulding, special guests Flogging Molly’s Matt Hensley, Antonique Smith, Tami Lynn

8pm  Joe Hurley’s All-Star Irish Rock Revue!

A Beloved NYC institution, “that receives rave reviews every year” NEW YORK MAGAZINE.  The All Star Irish Rock Revue celebrates Ireland’s musical gifts to the world as guests diveinto “The Great Irish Songbook,” performing the timeless classics of Thin Lizzy, U2, VanMorrison, The Undertones, Pogues, Elvis Costello, Stiff Little Fingers, John Lydon & more.

Co-hosted by the critically lauded Edward Rogers- With The New York Dolls’ Sylvain Sylvain,  Willie Nile,  Michael Cerveris, Ellen Foley, Tami Lynn (Dr. John, The Stones) Hall of Famer Dennis Dunaway ,Film Star Antonique Smith , The New York Dolls’ Syl Sylvain, Lez Zeppelin’s Shannon Conley,Uk’s Stephen Frost, Tish & Snooky, Mary Lee Kortes, Sam Bisbee, Joe McGinty, Sherryl Marshall, Tricia Scotti, Blue Coupe, Jamie Noone, Al Landess, & members of Rogue’s March, The Mekons, Cracker, The Ian Hunter Band, Blue Oyster Cult. MD is Chris Flynn.

Artistic Director  Joe Hurley has sung and recorded with artists ranging from The Chieftains to Judy Collins and Shane Macgowan, Sam Shepard to Flogging Molly, Jimmy Webb to Maude Maggart. His collaboration with Irish Novelist Colum McCann, on The CD ‘Let The Great World Spin’, led to their acclaimed tours of Europe together.

Hurley, Johnny Depp and Keith Richards recently won two Audie Awards for their narration of Richards’ international Best-Seller LIFE, including the ‘AudioBook of the Year’ Award. With Rogue’s March and The Gents he’s released many heralded CDs, and his ballad ‘Amsterdam Mistress’ is featured on SONY MUSIC’s ‘Whiskey In The Jar-Essential Irish Songs’ alongside classics from The Pogues, Dubliners, and Clancy Brothers. Hurley and 75 authors entered the 2012 Guinness Book of World Records for their 24 hour live- broadcast global readings on peace, with http://www.AuthorsForPeace.org

‘OurLand’ is an outgrowth of the annual All-Star Irish Rock Revue Charity Concerts that Hurley has held at sold-out venues around New York, since 1999.

Lincoln Center Out of Doors is one of the largest free performance festivals in the U.S. Over its 41-year history,Out of Doors has commissioned some 95 works from composers and choreographers and presented hundreds of major dance companies, renowned world-music artists, and legendary jazz, folk, gospel, blues and rock musicians.

It has highlighted the rich cultural diversity of New York City and partnered with dozens of community and cultural organizations. Since 2008 the festival has been produced by Lincoln Center’s director of public programming, Bill Bragin, with associate producer Jill Sternheimer.

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE and take place on the Lincoln Center campus. Visit LCOutofDoors.org for a complete schedule of events or call 212-875-5766 to request a brochure.

Lincoln Center Out of Doors 2012 is sponsored by Bloomberg and Pepsico Foundation and SofTrek Corporation.

For updates of artists, performances visit and “Like” our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/JoeHurleysOurLandFest

Follow us on Twitter: @OurLandFest

https://Facebook.com/JoeHurleymusic

Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeHurleyMusic

Web: http://www.roguesmarch.com/

MEDIA: Anita Daly, Daly Communications

212 772 0852 /anitadaly@yahoo.com

Web: http://www.roguesmarch.com/irishrevue/

CD’s at http://JoeHurley.bandcamp.com

Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Hurley

We hope to see you at the OurLand Gathering.

‘The Gathering Ireland 2013 is a year-long celebration of Ireland and all things Irish.  A once in a lifetime opportunity to come and experience all that is great about Ireland.   2013 is the year to visit Ireland or come home. Be part of it.’

www.discoverireland.com

Robots, bagpipes and Celtic music

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This entry originally appeared in The Celtic Music Magazine . I have Marc Gunn’s permission to re post it here. I think this is an interesting essay about how Celtic music found a home in the Czech Republic. I remember the first time I went online(after discovering the Internet), I met a couple of friends from over there. They are from a band called WMV Trio. After 2000, life took over  and we all drifted apart. But memories are precious and I still recall the great times we had sharing music, poetry and everyday things.

Robots, bagpipes and Celtic music

by Jeremy King

Here’s a little quiz for you. What do the following have in common? Skoda cars, robots, pistols, and Vaclav Havel. Got it? They’re all Czech. Really? Mr.Havel and Skoda cars, sure, but robots and pistols? Both are Czech words which have been completely assimilated into the English language.  Now, if I were to add to this list of things Czech ‘bagpipes’ and ‘Celtic music’ you might start to question my state of mind. Too much strong Czech beer, perhaps. Nope, not at all. Bagpipes have been used in the Czech lands since time immemorial and Celtic music, well, the pipes and Celtic music are inseparable aren’t they? Find more about Czech bagpipes here And, unlike those Czech words which have been assimilated into the English language, Celtic music hasn’t been assimilated into Czech culture; it’s always been here.

Central Europe has long been known to have nurtured the Celtic tribes which later migrated across the rest of Europe, taking their bagpipes with them, to end up in the Atlantic coastal areas of Spain, France, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and then finally, much, much later, in emigrant ships to America and Australia. Of course the music and culture and the bagpipes of the Celts changed, adapted and diversified as the tribes spread out on their millennia-long journey, taking on influences from the tribes and lands that they passed through and inhabited. So here we come back to the idea of assimilation. It’s always been a two-way thing, this cultural exchange between peoples living in close proximity. It’s something us humans do well. It’s a way of showing off, but it’s also a way of making friends. Let’s take a modern example-just think about that song by Aerosmith and RUN DMC- ‘Walk This Way’.

 

You may not like it, or you may love it. That’s not the point. The point is that it’s a great example of how two vastly different styles of music (metal and hip hop) played by musicians from very different musical scenes got together and had a load of fun creating a great piece of music. I’m sure you can think of lots more examples in Celtic music. One springs straight to mind; the Afro-Celt Sound System . There’s another example of how very different musical styles meld together and create something exhilarating.

This is all quite a long way from the Czech Republic and Celtic music, though. When people listen to our music they are usually surprised to find out that we’re from the Czech Republic.

Poitín

For those of you whose geography is a bit fuzzy, I should say that the country has Germany and Poland on its left and right, and below it on the map you’ll find Austria and Italy.  Naturally, people quite justifiably want to know how it is that we are playing this style at all. The first thing we usually say to these inquisitive souls is that we like it, which should go without saying, really. So then they ask, but how did you get into Celtic music in the first place? And for the majority of the band it is the same answer: via Czech folk music. So here we are again. We’ve come around full circle. So what is it about Czech folk music that connects with Celtic music? Bagpipes for one thing.

But there’s more than that, of course. Czech folk music still resounds with the echoes of the music of the ancient Celtic tribes that once lived here. And some musicians aren’t content with regurgitating fossilized folk tunes. They want to move on and create something new, whilst respecting the traditions from which they have grown. Music schools in the Czech Republic have a great and well-deserved reputation. Many parents send their kids to after-school classes to learn the violin, piano, and even traditional folk dance too. My son goes twice a week to a very patient and lovely music teacher to learn the accordion- he’s going to play with us one day. And in these classes they naturally learn to play Czech folk music. Our bouzouki/banjo player Honza and guitarist Kuba both went to Folk dance and music classes – they have fond memories of attending folk festivals around Europe when they were children and where they were treated like stars. But for some, Czech folk music is just a starting point or a stepping stone to something else. Many children don’t carry on with music at all when they get older, but those who do either continue with their Czech folk music and play in wedding bands and so on, or else move on to other musical genres. And it is this last group which we’re most interested in, as a lot of these musicians seem to gravitate towards the very broad genre known as Celtic music.

Next time I’ll be looking in more detail at Celtic music and culture in the Czech Republic, from the traditional to the experimental; from bands which sing traditional Irish songs translated into Czech, to bands which have given a modern twist to traditional Czech music; bands which have gone into Celtic rock, punk and metal; I’ll also look at some Scottish and Irish dance companies based in the Czech Republic which compete in international competitions. There is a lot to discover here in one of the world’s oldest Celtic countries and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you.

Oh, and here’s a Czech robot.

About Jeremy King

Jeremy King sings and plays bodhran in the award-winning Celtic band Poitín. He is also a member of the country and bluegrass band Lignit and writes songs for doom-death-heavy-speed-gothic-celtic-pagan-metal band Mortal Destiny . Jeremy lectures at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic.

Keep up to date with news from Jeremy and Poitín on Twitter, FaceBook and ReverbNation .
Purchase Poitín’s award-winning music on CDBaby , Amazon and iTunes

Poitin and Sliotar performed together at Zach’s Pub earlier this week. It was an amazing musical event. Here is one video taken by the flutist of  ” Cheers!” Kateřina Hofmanová.

 

Cormac Breatnach with ‘Ceird An Cheoil’

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The low whistle introduced me to the world of Celtic music.

Two instruments that introduced me to Celtic music : Low whistle and uilleann pipes. After that phase everything started happening and now I am here! Every now and then, I get recommendations from friends who are professional recording artists. They would tip me saying ‘ hey this is cool, listen to this track/video”.  Just to give you an idea that I am not the only one looking for something interesting out there.

Yesterday I had a great conversation with Jeff Ksiazek of áthas about doing an interview for this site. I thank my friend, the harpist/singer  Scott Hoye for the opportunity of not just meeting some of his friends but also for this amazing video.

Cormac Breatnach is an amazing low whistle player isn’t he? Hearing him speak in musical Gaelic made me regret about my slow progress with the language. Like I said low whistle is one of the instruments that introduced me to Celtic music. Listening to this track has its rewarding moments in term of nostalgia and the enjoyment of seeing someone play with such passion.

More about Cormac Breatnach here: http://www.cormacbreatnach.com/

Corrina Hewat: Smooth and Jazzy

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After a few days of trivia and news about tours and album reviews, it is time to relax and listen to an artist. This is one of the things about my writing that I take delicately. Knowing an artist can sometimes be an illusive thing because you might just be talking about a certain point in an artist’s development. There are times when the challenge of getting the right material is ever present.

Harpist Corrina Hewat is an artist that tells you right away  to expect the unexpected. Just hearing the first few bars of the percussive Suntrap and Ratman told me  that I have to take aside my long-established notion that all harpists sound in a certain way. Well, her sound has that distinctive Celtic flavour but there are also elements of jazz , classical and world music. This is an artist who listens to Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares, Ella Fitzgerald, Nirvana, Earth Wind and Fire and Debussy among others. Vocally, her impressive range shines like satin sheets.  It gives you that relaxed feeling. Like night flowers, wine and the cool  breeze. Things that intoxicate the senses with promise.

Expect jazzed up traditional tunes played through her crystalline harp sound.

http://www.corrinahewat.com

http://www.myspace.com/corrinahewat

The ‘official’ Biography:

Within a few minutes of hearing her, the energy and the timing, the depth and the colour of her music will touch you. One of the leading Scottish Harp players in the world today (nominated Instrumentalist of the Year 2004 at the STMA) Corrina has toured through Europe, the Far East and Canada taking the Small Harp to a new level of excellence, combining traditional style music with contemporary attitude. She is also blessed with a stunningly earthly voice, which resonates with years of soaking up Scotland’s musical tradition, while exploring contemporary elements and jazz. She is in demand as a player, composer, arranger and teacher, and her appeal grows larger as more and more people hear and meet her. She has an astonishing ability to create and collaborate with others and this has led her to recording over 30 albums in the last twelve years. She plays a Camac Aziliz Harp (she calls it ‘Little Yellow’) and the “Big Blue” electroharp.

Corrina Hewat is co-founder & co-musical director of the extravagantic 22-piece Unusual Suspects – the folk big band dubbed The Scottish National Folk Orchestra “one of the most exciting bands I’ve ever seen” quote Mike Harding Radio 3. She is also a skilled and innovative composer and arranger, having written many large scale commissions, while also musically directing shows such as ‘Voices of the World’ 2008, ‘Songs of Conscience’ 2007, ‘Scottish Men’ 2006 and the TMSA Young Trad Tour since 2005. Corrina is a founder member of distinct bands such as Bachue, Chantan and Shine and has been involved in awarding winning and pioneering shows such as My Ain Countrie and Scottish Women.

Recent projects include a duo with Kathryn Tickell, exploring the Scottish and Northumbrian Borders traditions and vocal trio Grace, Hewat, Polwart with Karine Polwart & Annie Grace. “The world needs to hear this!”

Corrina is also developing her own one woman show for tour, incorporating a range of original and traditional music, songs and stories from her background growing up in the Scottish Highlands through to her surroundings now in the Scottish Borders. She is a stunningly versatile singer “She blends a jazz singer’s flexibility, a blues singer’s economy and a folk singer’s heart into a style that’s both natural and her very own” with an incredible range and velvety tone while also possessing a creative and powerful technique on the harp, both on the Scottish small harp and electric harp. “A range of expression and depth of technical assurance… dazzlingly nimble finger work and liberal deployment of the instrument’s big bass end”.

Corrina’s teachers in college were Sanchia Pielou and Maire Ni Chathasaigh whose tuition and style she still refers to today. She is a core tutor on the Traditional Music Degree courses at Newcastle University and the RSAMD, as well as teaching workshops and courses on harmony singing, arranging and vocal techniques.

Her recently published music book, with accompanying CD, ‘Scottish Harp’ has received critical acclaim from teachers and pupils alike. It comprises of traditional-style pieces and compositions for solo harp (Taigh Na Teud music publishers http://www.scotlandsmusic.com). Her second book is due out in 2008.

She also has six 30 minute videos available for download on for intermediate players. www.ayepod.net

DETAILS DETAILS…

Born in Edinburgh 21st December 1970
Brought up on the Black Isle, Ross and Cromarty, Highlands of Scotland