Focus

The Irish Musical World of Rachel Baptist The Irish Musical World of Rachel Baptist Brendan Finan The fifth album in the Irish Baroque Orchestra's Irish heritage series on Linn Records focuses on the eighteenth-century singer Rachel Baptist. Brendan Finan reviews.
It's Time to Listen It's Time to Listen Don O'Mahony Composer Karen Power's new album, '...we return to ground...' is a sonic dialogue between Quiet Music Ensemble and the natural world, released on the San Francisco label Other Minds. Don O'Mahony reviews.
Kneecap's Rebellion Kneecap's Rebellion Adrian Smith 'Kneecap', the semi-fictional biopic of the Belfast Irish-language rap group, binds many threads, from competing visions of the Irish language’s future to exploring the North's shifting political landscape. Adrian Smith reviews.
A Poetic Four A Poetic Four James Camien McGuiggan Il Ritorno del Angelo – a new group featuring Barry Guy, Olesya Zdorovetska, Nick Roth and Izumi Kimura – have just released 'Spring & Asura', an album of four new improvised works. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Charting a Period of Extraordinary Change in Irish Traditional Music Charting a Period of Extraordinary Change in Irish Traditional Music Méabh Ní Fhuartháin Cork University Press has recently published a third edition of the landmark 'Companion to Irish Traditional Music' edited by Fintan Vallely. Méabh Ní Fhuartháin reviews.
Traditional Tunes as Points of Departure Traditional Tunes as Points of Departure Adrian Scahill Córas Trio – Kevin McCullagh, Paddy McKeown and Conor McAuley – have just released their debut album of experimental traditional music. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Dark Tales in a City at Play Dark Tales in a City at Play Brendan Finan Brendan Finan reviews the musical fare at the opening weekend of the 2024 Kilkenny Arts Festival, including the Carducci Quartet, Chamber Choir Ireland, Bassekou Kouyate, and Emma O'Halloran's operas 'Trade' and 'Mary Motorhead'.
An Expressive Portrait An Expressive Portrait James Camien McGuiggan Composer Greg Caffrey has just released 'Environments', an orchestral album featuring the Ulster Orchestra conducted by Sinead Hayes, guitarist Craig Ogden and pianist Daniel Browell. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Crash the Universe Crash the Universe Brendan Finan Crash Ensemble's two most recent recordings focus on works by Irish composer Sam Perkin and Canadian Bekah Simms. Brendan Finan reviews 'Children in the Universe' and 'Metamold', both released on the group's own label.
Stanford Revisited Stanford Revisited Áine Mulvey Jeremy Dibble has recently published a revised and expanded version of his major work 'Charles Villiers Stanford: Man and Musician', marking the centenary of the composer's death. Áine Mulvey reviews.

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