Award-Winning Fiddler & Story-Teller Aindrias de Staic

The Galway-born gypsi-lke Irish fiddler Aindrias de Staic has recently toured the U.S. with his show "Around The World on 80 Quid." While in an Irish town, he met up with some real Romanian gypsies ... read the rest of the story on youtomb.mit.edu with photos snapped by a cellphone user. On this YouTube video Aindrias is playing up the part of the gypsi fiddler at the Glor music festival in Ennis (Ireland) in 2008.

Irish Idol Liam Geddes

Liam Geddes, a 17 year-old native of Ballina, in County Mayo, Ireland, made his American debut concert at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield (MA) in October 2008. View and listen to Liam singing "Sometimes" at the Eurovision on YouTube.

Liam was a finalist in the Eurovision Song Contest and also in The X Factor, the European version of American Idol. In the 2007 show, Liam was the highest placed Irish contender and the youngest in the competition.

Vintage Irish Music Video

What could be more traditional than an old Irish tune sung in the traditional language of Ireland! Enjoy an old Irish song while you watch this 1929 video (black & white with sound, 6.7 minutes) of a blind Irish folk singer named Pat, as he sings "The Brown Blackthorn" in Gaelic at the request of his "mates" "Yes, arrah, I will," says he. (a QuickTime video - download QuickTime, a free multimedia player from Apple, if you don't already have it installed on your computer) The video is from the News Film Libray at the University of South Carolina

In an historic 1980 donation, the University of South Carolina was selected by 20th Century Fox Film Corporation to receive a portion of the Fox Movietone News Collection. This gift of internationally important, irreplaceable, and unique newsreel footage was the starting point for what has become one of the most significant academically housed newsfilm libraries in the United States. [excerpt from The News Film Library's home page, where you can view more cips from their collection such as these]

TRADITIONAL IRISH TUNES

Traditional Irish Music Links

• IrishSetDancing.ning.com
  A great new website to listen to traditional Irish tunes is on the Irish set dancing social networking home page. Leave the page open in the background to enjoy continuous music.
• Traditional Irish Music on the Comhaltas - Ireland
  Select your music and press the play button (arrow). Also on this website, acces the Comhaltas Ireland traditional Irish music videos ~ all free! Leave the page open in the background to select another tune as you prowl the web (right-click on a link to choose to open a new tab or browser window or choose File / New from the browser menu.)
• Tim Rabb's Sights and Sounds Exhibits of Irish Music festivals are a treasure trove of photos (Tim is a professional photographer) and audio including music being played and lectures / workshops given while the photo was being taken.
• Irish Song Lyrics
  Ireland First! website- Irish song lyric archive. A collection of 391 Irish interest song lyric
  
• Ceolas
  A collection of Celtic tunes and information on Irish music such as how to listen on your computer
  Songbook
  The tunes and lyrics of dozens of traditional Irish songs. [The website hasn't been updated in years, but the old tunes didn't change.]
  
• The Holy Ground [midi file]
  The tune to the song made popular in Cobh, Ireland. or go here to sing along with the music. For more such songs (words and music) visit contemplator.com

Popular Irish Music

I love this song by American Steve Earle (vocals, guitar, and songwriter) and Irish Sharon Shannon (accordian) performing

Galway Girl Live at the Kennedy Centr Gala for Irish Music (2001).

An NPR Music article, Steve Earle: Kinder and Gentler? talks about where Steve Earle is now in his singing and song writing as well as his personal life.

Listen to the NPR interview and hear a performance (February 2008).

Arts Editor reports in an April 2001 article about Sharon Shannon, Irish accordionist, "the twenty-one button accordion traditionally belongs in the tough but nimble hands of little old Irishmen in tweed." It continues

At 32, (at the time of the article) Shannon performs with the same unjaded joy she felt as a child. For her, the accordion is simply an extension of self—an instrument of tradition and experiment, emotion and virtuosity. She is beloved in Ireland as much for her spirit as her unquestionable artistry. ... Shannon's talent lies in her ability to stay true to traditional folk melodies while pushing the boundaries of the genre.

Here's the song again in the movie PS I Love You.

IRISH PODCASTS AND RADIO SHOWS
Unique Irish music not often found this side of the Atlantic

Bostonl Irish Radio Programs

When you can't be there in person, the radio, a podcast, or a CD will do.

• WGBH 89.7 FM
  Boston's Brian O'Donohue hosts a Saturday radio broadcast of Celtic music that you can also hear live on WGBH.org/celtic.

  

  Listen to Boston's "Celtic Sojurn" 24 hours a day bringing you traditional and contemporary music from around the Celtic world hosted by native Irishman Brian O'Donovan. The live weekly radio show may be heard Saturdays from noon to 3pm on WGBH 89.7.

• WROL AM 950
  From Quincy, WROL broadcasts a weekend full of Celtic music. Saturdays from 10AM thru 7PM it's "The Irish Hit Parade". Sundays from 1-5PM enjoy the "Feast of Irish Music" with Seamus Mulligan followed by "Sunday Irish" with Bill Porter from 5-7PM.

• WNTN BOSTON 1550 AM
  CCE Boston Radio Program. Larry and Sean Reynolds co-host a traditional Irish Music program every Saturday throughout the year on WNTN, 1550 AM from 12:00-1:30 pm. Tune in and hear not only fine traditional music, but news of events of interest to CCE and the greater Boston Irish community. For live on-line listening and latest programming details log on to http://www.soundoferinradio.com

For a list of other radio stations in Boston see December Communications' website (an advertising company).

Live Radio and Podcasts from Ireland

• Clare FM from Ennis in County Clare - click on "Listen Live"
• Midwest Irish Radio from County Mayo - click on "Listen Live"
• ListenLIve - Ireland - a list of radio stations from Ireland streaming live on the Internet
• Irish and Celtic Music Podcast
  Bi-monthly podcast of independent Irish music & Celtic music featured in the Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. RSS Feed: http://www.celticmp3s.com/podcast. iTunes Average Rating ***** "One of the best Podcasts out there ... Marc Gunn does an excellent job of compiling an eclectic mix of traditional and non-traditional music. Each Podcast is packed full of more music and not a lot of talk. His show notes provide good links and info about the artists. An incredible find and a must subscription!" [iTunes]
  
  For a sample of this podcast, click the "Listen" button. The mp3 file should open in your default program for listening to mp3 music files (e.g.: QuickTime). You may need to click the right-facing triangle to play the sample file.
  
  
• LiveIreland.com
  Live Irish radio and TV broadcasts and podcasts from Dublin, Ireland
  
  
• The Contemporary Music Center Ireland
  "nurturing the composition and performance of new Irish music"
  
  
• RTE Radio1 Late Session Live
  (Wednesdays live)
  
  
• RTÉ Radio1 Listing of music programs
  Daily radio schedule. Send yourself an email as a reminder of when to listen.
  
  
• RTÉ Radio main page linking to

  RTÉ Radio 1

  RTÉ 2fm

  RTÉ lyric fm

  RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

• Comhaltas music
  Traditional Irish music available for download on the CCE website with links to*
  • Audio
  • Video ~ weekly ComhaltasLive (archive) programmes
  • Photography ~ about Irish tradilltional music
  • Sheet Music ~ the collection is growing
  • Treoir ~ traditional Irish music magazine
• Listing of radio shows
  Select your favorite or find a new favorite show
  
• Late Session
  The Late Session is a program which brings the best in Irish traditional and folk music to radio listeners each week.
  
  
• Ceili House http://www.rte.ie/radio1/ceilihouse/
  Céilí House is one of RTÉ Radio's most popular programmes of traditional Irish music and song. You can join in the enjoyment every Saturday night as presenter Kieran Hanrahan and producer Peter Browne travel the length and breadth of Ireland and beyond, in search of a good session to bring each week to the many loyal listeners. [Requires Real Player installed on your computer - You can download it by following the link: Free Real Player]
  
  
• Clare FM has news, sports, recipes and more. Download podcasts to your computer from Clare FM's Traditional Music Shows Archive. Listen to Clare FM's Podcasts ~ this is a "how to" using iTunes.
  
  
• RAIDIÓ FÁILTE 107.1fm AR FUD AN DOMHAIN
  NEW IRISH LANGUAGE RADIO STATION ON THE WEB
  
  [If you have trouble listening to RAIDIÓ FÁILTE or any of the other streaming audio, try some of the suggestions on WFMU.org or read about poscasting and listening to radio shows below.]
  
  WFMU is an independent freeform radio station broadcasting at 91.1 fm in the New York City area, at 90.1 fm in the Hudson Valley, and live on the web in RealaAudio, or in Windows Media, as well as two flavors of MP3, and all programs archived in MP3 and Realaudio.
  
  
• BBC Celtic Heartbeat witih Frank Hennessy
  Folk-roots and acoustic music from the Celtic nations and the world, with studio guests, occasional live sessions and reviews of the latest releases. Every Saturday night Frank Hennessy reviews the very best in Celtic folk music
  
  
• NEW INTERNET FOLK RADIO STATION LAUNCHED www.folkradio.co.uk
  
  Folk Radio UK is an independent internet radio station which plays a vast selection of Celtic and Traditional music of the British Isles and Ireland from both the past and present. The broadcast is commercial free and runs continuously 24 hours a day.
  
  Folk Radio UK was started by Alex Gallacher in response to the lack of airplay being given to British and Irish folk by mainstream media. The station is run with the support of listener donations.
  
  

IRISH MUSIC INSTRUCTIONS

CCÉ Boston Traditional Irish Music School

CCÉ Boston Music School
Irish music classes start again in September. Register online before classes begin on Saturday, September 6th, 2008 at Harvard University at Vanserg Hall, located at 25 Francis Street, Cambridge, MA, near the Harvard Divinity School (Telephone: 978 549-3702).

Boston's Hanafin-Cooley Branch of the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann in affiliation with the Boston College Irish Studies Program and the Harvard University Celtic Department offer classes in Irish Traditional Music on Fiddle, Flute, Whistle, Uilleann Pipes, Anglo Concertina, Button Accordion, Harp, Guitar, and Bodhrán. There are two 12-week terms during the school year with the fall term at Harvard University and the spring term at Boston College.

New this year is an audition based (dictated by proficiency and instrument) class in Ceilí Band Participation.

Classes are held for two 12-week terms during the school year with the fall term at Harvard University (Vanserg Hall) and spring term at Boston College (Gasson Hall). Classes are assigned by student level, with limited class enrollment.

The CCE Boston Music School was founded for the express purpose of preserving and cultivating the rich cultural treasure that is traditional Irish music, by providing the opportunity for students at all ages and levels to develop their skills under expert instructors.

For more information on the CCE Boston Music School, with details on classes, staff, directions, and an application, visit the CCE website or http://ccebostonmusicschool.org/ or call (978) 549-3702.

• Tin Whistle tutorial online
  Tin whistle tutorial ~ learn how to play this instrument with audio samples to play along with.

• 

  Irish Musical Instruments

About Irish Music

• Irish Music Glossary
  Irish music has a special sound made more singual by the particular instruments used. The music can be appreciated for and by itself, like listeng to a fiddle player, but more often the music makes you want to dance. Several particular types of music have been developed to accompany the various Irish dances, such a jigs, reels, hornpipes, polkas and flings. The Irish Music Glossary describes a Seisiún (sesh·'shoon, 'sesh·un) as the Irish or Gaelic word for “session.” An informal gathering of traditional Irish musicians. A jam session.
  
  
• Irish music samples of traditional Irish music of the musicians on the 2006 Irish Music Cruise. Musicians include Liam Clancy, Aoife Clancy, Donal Clancy, The Makem and Spain Brothers, Robbie O'Connell, Danny Quinn, Liam Maguire, The Noel Henry Irish Showband, David Power, Finbarr Clancy and Gabriel Donohue.
  

Music Store Links

Here is a sampling of links you can use to start downloading music from the Web.

Apple iTunes
Music, PodCasts, Books and more

EMusic.com
25 free music downloads

MP3.com
cNet's music store

Music Thyme

The Wild Mountain Thyme

Melody-1
or
Melody-2

Oh, the summer-time has come
And the trees are sweetly bloomin',
And the wild mountain thyme
Grows around the purple heather;
Will ye go, lassie, go?

Refrain:
And we'll all go together,
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather;
Will ye go, lassie, go?

I will build my love a tower
By yon pure, crystal fountain,
And it's there I will bring
All the flowers of the mountain;
Will ye go, lassie, go?
Refrain: I will range through the wilds
And the deep land so dreary
And return with the spoils
To the bower o' my dearie;
Will ye go, lassie, go?
Refrain:

If my true love will not come
I will surely find another
To pull wild mountain thyme
All around the purple heather;
Will ye go, lassie, go?
Refrain:

Oh, the autumn-time is comin'
And the leaves will soon be fallin',
And the blossoms o' the summer
Will soon wither on the mountain;
Will ye go, lassie, go?
Refrain:

A BUNCH OF THYME
Come all you maidens young and fair
All you that are blooming in your prime
And always beware
To keep your garden fair
Let no man steal away your thyme.

For thyme it is a precious thing
And thyme brings all things to my mind
Thyme with all its labours,
Along with all its joys
Thyme brings all things to an end
Once I had a bunch of thyme
I thought it never would decay
Then came a lusty sailor,
Who chanced to pass my way
And stole my bunch of thyme away.
For thyme it is a precious thing . . . .

The sailor gave to me a rose
A rose that never would decay
He gave it to me,
To keep me reminded
Of when he stole my thyme away
For thyme it is a precious thing . . . .

* I discovered this traditional Irish melody A Bunch of Thyme on this site, where it is explained that thyme stands for hope or virginity. You can find hundreds more lyrics and melodies.

IRISH MUSIC VIDEOS

• Riobard O'Dwyer, from the Beara Peninsula in Ireland, is playing a polka on the accordian for a group of friends in his home [watch the video].
  
  In addition to being an accomplished accordian player, he sings, he step dances, and is very active in researching and assisting others from the Beara Peninsula, in the southwest corner of Ireland, in their search for their Irish ancestry. More about Riobard and the Beara Peninsula on the Bere Island page. You can find links to genealogy websites on the "Irish roots" page.
• Tommy Makem, R.I.P. had a big influence on the popularity of tratitional Irish music, along with the Clancy Brothers.
  View a YouTube video performance of Tommy Makem for a sample of his story-telling and singing talent.

PODCASTING

Take advantage of PodCasting ~ Not familiar with podcasting? Learn about podcasting on the Apple site. Podcasts are free on the Apple iTunes website,where finding radio shows and audio programs is simple. Unlike streaming audio, which requires you to listen in real time, podcasting lets you control how and when you hear your favorite shows.

Once you subscribe to a podcast, iTunes automatically checks for updates and downloads new episodes to your computer. When you sync your iPod, all your podcasts come along for the ride (although you don't need an iPod to enjoy podcasts!). You get on-demand radio, delivered automatically, so you can take your podcast with you on the go using your iPod.

Don't have an iPod? You don't really need one to listen to the shows; but you do need iTunes, the free software program from Apple that lets you copy and save music files onto your comupter. Then you can listen while you work or surf. Oh! And you don't have to own a Mac either - iTunes can be downloaded to Mac or Windows machines. Download iTunes from the Apple site.

HOW TO LISTEN TO RTE RADIO SHOWS:
To listen to and/or watch audio and video files you may need a piece of software called the RealOne Player.

The free version of the RealOne Player is quite sufficient to play audio and video. If you don't already have this software, you can download it from the RealNetworks site (http://www.real.com/freeplayer/?rppr=rnwk), there are several mirror sites hosting the software, so be sure to pick the one nearest you.

Once you have downloaded the player, click on the file to set up the software on your computer. The setup should only take a minute or two.

The RealOne Player is available for PC and Macintosh.