Criticism

Big Book, Small Back Room Ciaran Carson Reading the Companion to Irish Traditional Music, Ciaran Carson reflects on the many ways traditional music has changed in recent decades, but also how much it has stayed the same.
Ályth McCormack and Tríona Marshall, Red & Gold Paul O'Connor Is the mixture of traditions brought together on Ályth McCormack and Tríona Marshall's 'Red & Gold' album as sparkling and radiant as its cover and title propose?
Lives Defined in Death Stephen Graham Stephen Graham attends the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group's premiere of Seán Clancy's Findetotenlieder and performances of Barry, Grisey and Weir.
Madonna and the Post-Fordist Novelty Complex Stephen Graham Madonna's new single seen in light of the tendency she has displayed throughout her career for obsessive pursuit of the new.
Tigran Hamasyan Patrick Groenland Patrick Groenland talks to the young virtuoso pianist shortly before a performance in the John Field Room at the NCH
The Teetotallers in Concert Paul O'Connor Paul O'Connor on the joys of live music as delivered by Martin Hayes, Kevin Crawford and John Doyle.
The Internet Single and the Evolution of the Music Industry Stephen Graham Stephen Graham discusses the phenomenon of internet releases, and listens to three recent internet singles.
Judging by the Covers Paul O'Connor Paul O’Connor sees creative expression as well as missed opportunities in some recent traditional music album covers.
Jazz's Focus on Ethnicity Patrick Groenland Patrick Groenland listens to five recent releases by Tigran Hamasyan, The Unusual History of Ether, Sinikka Langeland, Keith Jarrett and Graham Reynolds.
Without a Core Tradition Stephen Graham Three recent recordings of twentieth and twenty-first century Irish orchestral composition reveal a persistent ambition to fuse an Irish musical heritage with European styles of composition.