Samhain

Happy Samhain!

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

I am writing this on a windy and slightly sunny afternoon. The big night is tomorrow. I would be celebrating it by going out dress up for the occasion, watch a movie then buy a book or maybe the latter goes first, either way I will be out. The next day I will be going to my mom’s grave. She passed away this year May 15th. It’s almost six months and I would be lying if I say I am over it. No one will ever be over losing someone who mean the world to you.

I hear the birds singing more often and the rustling of the leaves as life became more relaxed. I probably lost it for the last two years. I think what kept me going was the idea that I need to blog several times a week. And it’s always the music that has been a  source of comfort. It always was and always will be. I was writing back and forth with singer/songwriter John Breen and he told me about this outreach programs he was putting his energy on, trying to help kids with special needs and making life better for them. I think that by caring for others we also care for ourselves. I like my life to be more meaningful…more attuned to kindness and less attached with material stuff and clutter of ideas that make facebook and other social sites toxic these days. When you go out there and help injured animals, make an effort to stop bullying and plant trees then I think real joy is just around the bend.

I had no idea what I would be writing about when I took this laptop out and started typing away. I always take writing as a spontaneous conversation with a visitor and you don’t know what will happen until you start typing those keys. All I know is that it is really a great release to send thoughts out there…to the big universe and spread the goodwill of music. Music is a gift and thank God for musicians we have something to ease us from the harsh treatment of life. A haven in the midst of the storm.

So what am I going to write about? I will list down my top 10 Halloween albums and I am sure you have already heard some in my radio show which is also the current podcast I posted yesterday. If you are not aware yet, I have my own radio show every Saturday afternoon German time 3 to 6 pm. And the website is www. radiohappy.eu. Please tell your friends about it and about the podcast taken from that show after.

1. Lunasa-Otherword : I love this album for the explosive melodies and fine album art. Great music to celebrate the spirit of Halloween as we welcome the otherworld right into our midst.

2. Loreena McKennitt-The Wind that Shakes the Barley: Very good relaxing tune to celebrate ti Irish spirt. And her voice is really the voice from another world.

3. Clannad-Lore: Yes, I think this is perhaps the most haunting and fantabulous of all their albums. But the new album Nadur is also fantastic to call the spirits and awaken the other side.

4.Chieftains-The Long Black Veil: Yes, music to awaken the spirits of the past and to celebrate the beautiful mystical side of Irish music. MY favorite guest vocalists are Sting and Sinead O’Connor.

5. Ceredwen-The Golden Land: The Welsh dou made one of the most fantastic and atmosphereic New Age inspired albums of the late 90s. Transporting and passionate. Something to listen to as you light bonfires.

The bands who never made it here are in my remaining top 10. So don’t worry!

Pre-Halloween Music News

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

As the world turns, the music spins. We have music news as well as up and coming. Thank goodness it’s a weekend. The week went by in a blur. What have you been doing folks? If you ask me, been busy with domestic stuff as well as renewing old ties with friends. And nothing beats the moment of having the soundtrack of your life help you recall those moments in time when everything was perfect and you thought that moment was not going to end….

First up is the upcoming concert of fiddle maestro Maurice Lennon: The time: 31 October · 21:00 – 23:30. The venue: Traditional Harcourt Sessions, Harcourt Hotel, Harcourt St Dublin 2. Here’s the specific invite for those who are interested, additional info here:

Bank Holiday Monday Special Concert !

Tickets in Advance €10 cc Bookings to 01 4783677 No Fees charge Generous Student/Sen Citz Concessions with ID on night

Adm on door on night €12 . Visit the following website for more info:

http://www.mauricelennon.com/

Coming Soon

I think this is an event not to be missed. I love his style and I am sure you want to bring your friends along for some craic after great music.

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Dornoch Castle hotel will be shaking with musical vibration and good vibes. This is going to be a fund raising headed by Scottish painter Paul Taggart.

Date:

04 November at 19:00 – Sunday, 04 March 2012 at 23:30

Venue:

Dornoch Castle Hotel

Castle Street

Dornoch, United Kingdom

Find more info in these links:

FB LINKS

RNLI – https://www.facebook.com/rnli

ESRA Dornoch Lifeboat – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dornoch-Firth-Lifeboat/118113264958560?ref=ts&sk=wall

Dornoch Castle Hotel – https://www.facebook.com/DornochCastle?sk=info

Whisky Collectors – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whisky-collector/327387785355?sk=wall

Corralach – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Corralach/278643255496013

‘Awash with the RNLI’ Paul Taggart fund-raising project – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Artist-Author-Paul-Taggart-Awash-with-the-RNLI-fund-raisers/150537801669098

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TRADITIONAL AND FOLK CONCERT for The RISE FOUNDATION

Yeah folks. Here’s another musical treat you shouldn’t miss. Lots of musicians coming over and playing for your listening pleasure.

Time:

07 November at 20:30 – 08 November at 00:30

Venue: Harcourt Hotel, 60 Harcourt St, Dublin 2 @ 8.30 pm

Check this info out:

RISE – (Recovery in a Safe Environment)

The RISE FOUNDATION is a registered charity founded by

Singer Frances Black in 2008 focused on the family of those

in addiction (alcohol, drugs,gambling, food etc…)

For further information and new Projects underway i.e Rathlin Island Project Email http://www.risefoundation.ie

SPECIAL GUESTS and all those listed are giving their services free

and ALL proceeds to The RISE FOUNDATION.

LIMITED NO OF TICKETS AT HOTEL €12 purchased in advance

from Hotel . Tickets are already selling prior to announcement of

Concert and its advised that you collect or book yours now.

cc Bookings to 01 4783677 office hours

ADM on NIGHT €15

All proceeds to The RISE FOUNDATION.

VERY SPECIAL GUESTS TO BE ANNOUNCED in coming days will join the following

Cathy Jordan DERVISH

Seamus Begley and friends,

Niamh Ni Charra,

Triona Marshall and Alyth Mc Cormack

Martin Tourish

Brenda Castles

Roisin O’Reil,

Aoife Scott Band

CIORRAS

Aimee Farrell Courtney and many many more to be added.

Some Traditional and Sean Nos Dancers will grace the floor during the Concert !

SPECIAL GUESTS to be announced during the week

Further info from harcourtsessions@gmail.com

Hmmm… some great names in music there. I am sure this will be a night to remember.

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Check out Tim Edey and Brendan Power with Ross Couper and Tom Oakes. Amazing musicians getting together to bring you excellent music.

Time:04 November at 20:00 – 05 November at 00:00

Venue:

The Cumberland Arms

James Place Street

Newcastle, United Kingdom

More info: Duo Tim Edey and Brendan Power with Scottish/Irish fiddle and guitar duo Ross Couper and Tom Oakes

Doors at 8pm

Gig to begin at 8.30pm

Tickets are £10 in advance

£12/£10 on the door

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Now check this nice tune from the group Scottish  Manran. Can’t get enough of the music. Vocally, instrumentally and concept wise…love them!!!!

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For those who don’t have a copy of Feels Like Home by The Celtic Tenors, I encourage you to get one. You will really, really enjoy the music. If you love traditional Irish music, Celtic Thunder, The High Kings, Anuna, and Gregorian, then you will love the combination in The Celtic Tenors.

The guys are:

MATTHEW GILSENAN 

Matthew Gilsenan was born into a hard-working farming family in North Meath. Steeped in the local musical traditions and raised by parents who shared a great love for music, from the great composers to obscure Irish folk, Matthew (along with all his siblings) was born to sing.

His classical training started in the Sisters of Mercy convent in Kells, Co.Meath, aged 10, and progressed to some of the great Irish and Scottish teachers. Although he ventured into opera and classical singing, Matthew never lost his love for the music of his youth, in particular the vibrant contemporary Irish music which is his great source of inspiration.

Matthew’s busy singing life ran in parallel with his engineering career, but his desire to sing was too strong, and ten years ago he turned to singing professionally.

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JAMES NELSON 

James Nelson, from Sligo, is a BA.,B.Mus (Hons) graduate from UCD, and a student of David Harper (UK), Britta Sundberg(SWE) & Edith Forrest (IRL).

Highlights from an oratorio rep of 60 works include Golgotha (Martin) in Bern&Zurich, and L’Enfance du Christ (Berlioz) alongside Katia Ricciarelli in Rome. More than 50 roles in opera include Pinkerton (Butterfly) in Kent, Lensky (Onegin), Alfredo (Traviata), Tichon (Katya) in Portugal, Basilio (Figaro) with Raymond Leppard for Scottish Opera, and roles for Opera Ireland, Opera Theatre Co, Singapore Lyric, New Israeli, and Wexford & Buxton Festivals.

James writes a column for the “Sligo Weekender”, and is part of an ongoing building project in Nairobi (Kenya) helping give AIDS orphans a second chance at life, as well as teaching them music&performing in concerts with the kids. A debut CD is available – “Cheryl’s Children – On Top of the World”.

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DARYL SIMPSON 

Daryl Simpson, from Omagh in Northern Ireland, studied singing with tenors Peter Alexander Wilson and Nicolai Gedda, and completed his Opera Masters Degree at the Alexander Gibson Opera School in Glasgow.

Daryl joined Opera Theatre Company’s “Young Associate Artist Scheme”, performing in many recitals and broadcasts, and in Monteverdi’s Coronation of Poppea. Daryl furthered his studies at Zurich’s “Internationales Opern Studio”, where he sang Tamino (Die Zauberflute), and roles in Les Mamelles de Tirusias (Poulenc) for Oper Zurich.

As well as performing worldwide on the concert platform, Daryl is also the Musical Director of the Omagh Community Youth Choir, which was set up in the wake of the Omagh atrocity to promote peace and reconciliation through music.

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COLM ROGAN – MUSICAL DIRECTOR. 

Colm Rogan was born in County Louth into a very musical family. He began piano lessons aged 8 and succeeded quickly, earning a distinction in his final grade by age 15. From there, Colm developed a love of all kinds of music including Pop, Blues and Rock, and dedicated time to becoming proficient in other instruments including guitar, bass and drums.

Colm went on to graduate from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth with a B.Mus (Hons) degree, specialising in composition. During his time at Maynooth, Colm was active in meeting Ireland’s foremost composers and his compositions have been performed by members of the RTE Symphony Orchestra.

After completing his studies at Maynooth, Colm spent time working as a live and recording artist before taking up the position of Musical Director of the Celtic Tenors.

Colm is thrilled about his future with the Celtic Tenors and is delighted to be touring as a vital part of the team.

From November to December, they will be in the US for concerts:

USA 2011
Date Venue time
25 Nov 11 Katherine Hepburn Theater, Old Saybrook, CT. 8pm
26 Nov 11 Mayo Center for PA, Morristown, NJ. 8pm
27 Nov 11 Strand Theatre, Zelienople, PA. 7.30pm
29 Nov 11 Hiwassee College, Madisonville,TN. 7.30pm
02 Dec 11 The Clarion,Brazosport College, Lake Jackson, Texas. 7.30pm
03 Dec 11 Piney Woods Arts Center, Crockett, TX.
07 Dec 11 McCain Auditorium, Manhattan, Kansas.
08 Dec 11 Lied Center, Lincoln, Nebraska. 7.30pm
09 Dec 11 Stiefel Center, Salina, Kansas. 8pm
10 Dec 11 Lied Center, Lawrence, Kansas. 7.30pm
11 Dec 11 Budweiser Events Center, Loveland, Colorado.
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Source of info:  http://www.celtic-tenors.com/

Reflection

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 8 Comments

It has been a while since I last wrote an essay here. And I love essays. They compel you to set down and bleed your thoughts either in the computer screen or on a piece of paper. I still belong to the old school who values writing journals on paper but I love what computers can do as well.

Samhain is what is New Year to Celts. Here we put down our thoughts or even share them on  a bonfire.  And with that there’s a lot of music, food and drinks. I don’t really believe in excess. I am a person who should KNOW that since I lived my life in excess before. But now that’s changed. When you reach your thirties, you start to realize that you have responsibilities not only to yourself but to other people as well. You start to really live for others . In this sense you become strong. Because you have to. Other lives depend on you.

So I guess now that Halloween is drawing near, it is time to give thanks to the people around who changed our lives one way or the other. It is the time to show more kindness in a world that threatens our belief in free speech and human equality. May you all be blessed.

 

Anticipating Halloween(Samhain)

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

Halloween is like Christmas to me. I get exciting when the month of October arrives because that is the time when people of Celtic interests have something to do. Since I live in the Philippines Halloween has a different color here. Although people DO celebrate it, there’s very little Celtic connection to it. Most often it is associated with horror stories of just anything to scare.But it is nice though, because you have all the reason to come as you are. You can wear your Druid attire of prance in your leprechaun suit people would still cheer for you. Here is one beautiful video featuring the harp music of Alan Stivell who hails from Brittany and has a big influence in musical culture scene. Enjoy!