July/August 2008

The Telephone Reel

The Telephone Reel

The Telephone Reel

In his latest column, Ciaran Carson considers the mix that makes the session

Published on 1 July 2008

Ciaran Carson (1948–2019) was a poet, prose writer, translator and flute-player. He was the author of Last Night’s Fun – A Book about Irish Traditional Music, The Pocket Guide to Traditional Irish Music, The Star Factory, and the poetry collections The Irish for No, Belfast Confetti and First Language: Poems. He was Professor of Poetry at Queen’s University Belfast. Between 2008 and 2010 Ciaran wrote a series of linked columns for the Journal of Music, beginning with 'The Bag of Spuds' and ending with 'The Raw Bar'.

The Bohemian Life

The Bohemian Life

The Bohemian Life

Bernadette Greevy reads a new book on nineteenth-century Irish-born composer, Michael Balfe.

Published on 1 July 2008

Bernadette Greevy (1940–2008) was an international classical singer who performed on all five continents with great success and was Founder/Artistic Director of the Anna Livia Dublin International Opera Festival.

Ireland's Dance with Music – Interview with Riverdance composer Bill Whelan

Ireland's Dance with Music – Interview with Riverdance composer Bill Whelan

Ireland's Dance with Music – Interview with Riverdance composer Bill Whelan

Published on 1 July 2008

Toner Quinn is Editor of the Journal of Music. His new book, What Ireland Can Teach the World About Music, is available here. Toner will be giving a lecture exploring some of the ideas in the book on Saturday 11 May 2024 at 3pm at Farmleigh House in Dublin. For booking, visit https://bit.ly/3x2yCL8.

Finding New Musical Passages

Finding New Musical Passages

Finding New Musical Passages

In a new series of columns, Peter Rosser writes on changes in the music scene in Northern Ireland

Published on 1 July 2008

Peter Rosser (1970–2014) was a composer, writer and music lecturer.

He was born in London and moved to Belfast in 1990, where he studied composition at the University of Ulster and was awarded a DPhil in 1997. His music has been performed at the Spitalfields Festival in London, the Belfast Festival at Queen’s and by the Crash Ensemble in Dublin.

In 2011 the Arts Council acknowledged his contribution to the arts in Northern Ireland through a Major Individual Artist Award. He used this award to write his Second String Quartet, which was premiered in 2012 by the JACK Quartet at the opening concert at Belfast's new Metropolitan Arts Centre (The MAC).

Peter Rosser also wrote extensively on a wide range of music genres, with essays published in The Journal of Music, The Wire, Perspectives of New Music and the Crescent Journal. 

He died following an illness on 24 November 2014, aged 44.

CD Review: Ceol agus Foinn – Music and Songs from the Willie Clancy Summer School

CD Review: Ceol agus Foinn – Music and Songs from the Willie Clancy Summer School

CD Review: Ceol agus Foinn – Music and Songs from the Willie Clancy Summer School

Ceol agus Foinn: Music and Songs from the Willie Clancy Summer SchoolRTÉ 280CDReleased to coincide with the thirty-fifth anniversary of the Willie Clancy Summer School, this generous double CD also celebrates Raidió na Gaeltachta’s...

Published on 1 July 2008

Adrian Scahill is a lecturer in traditional music at Maynooth University.

CD Review: Geraldine Bradley

CD Review: Geraldine Bradley

CD Review: Geraldine Bradley

From the Rising Spring – Cloch Fhuaráin / Coolnacran Records 001

Published on 1 July 2008

Ciarán Ó Con Cheanainn (1981–2009) was a traditional singer from Saile Thúna, An Spidéal, in the Conamara Gaeltacht. He won Corn Uí Riada, the premier prize for sean-nós singing, at the Oireachtas in November 2008, the youngest ever singer to do so. He lectured in Modern Irish in UCD.

Live Reviews: Phill Niblock

Live Reviews: Phill Niblock

Crash Ensemble, Trio Scordatura, Susan Stenger (flute)Temple Bar Galleries, Dublin23 April 2008This concert of music by Phill Niblock – the ‘forgotten minimalist’ – had the feel of a ‘happening’, spread out over the four...

Published on 1 July 2008

Seán Ó Máille is a freelance critic, photographer and full-time secondary teacher in Dublin.

Editorial: For Every Irish Musician

Editorial: For Every Irish Musician

Music education and the musical country

Published on 1 July 2008

Toner Quinn is Editor of the Journal of Music. His new book, What Ireland Can Teach the World About Music, is available here. Toner will be giving a lecture exploring some of the ideas in the book on Saturday 11 May 2024 at 3pm at Farmleigh House in Dublin. For booking, visit https://bit.ly/3x2yCL8.