Focus

Enough of the Facile Narratives: Gael Linn’s Crossroads Enough of the Facile Narratives: Gael Linn’s Crossroads Toner Quinn TG4 recently broadcast a new documentary marking 70 years of the Irish language and cultural organisation Gael Linn. Toner Quinn reviews.
Listen to the Community Listen to the Community Don O'Mahony In September, a three-day festival of musical improvisation and sound art, In Your Own Time and Place, took place in Cork city and featured Quiet Music Ensemble and a six-hour 'Sonic Vigil' with a range of artists. Don O’Mahony reviews.
The Remarkable Consistency of John Buckley The Remarkable Consistency of John Buckley James Camien McGuiggan The composer John Buckley has recently released 'Boireann' on the Métier label, a collection of works for flute and piano featuring Emma Coulthard, David Appleton and Emma Halnan. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
The Evolution Across a Composer’s Career The Evolution Across a Composer’s Career Brendan Finan Farpoint Recordings have recently released 'Drinking the Stars', an extensive collection of piano music by John McLachlan performed by Mary Dullea. Brendan Finan reviews.
Shane MacGowan’s Crusading Ideas on Irish Music Toner Quinn Tributes to the late Shane MacGowan emphasise his songwriting, but his vision for Irish music was much broader than that, writes Toner Quinn.
Letting a Classic Speak Letting a Classic Speak Adrian Smith Irish National Opera presented Puccini's 'La bohème' at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin on 20–26 November. Adrian Smith reviews.
In the Tradition of Terry Riley In the Tradition of Terry Riley Adrian Scahill Louth Contemporary Music Society has just released an Irish traditional music version of Terry Riley's classic 1964 minimalist work 'In C', performed by Zoë Conway, Paddy Glackin, Máirtín O’Connor, Michelle Mulcahy, Louise Mulcahy, Mick O’Brien and Dónal Lunny. Adrian Scahill reviews.
A Northern Star: What Ireland Can Learn from Huddersfield A Northern Star: What Ireland Can Learn from Huddersfield Adrian Smith The Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (17–26 November) has a particular focus on music from Ireland this year, as well as works from Lithuania, Rebecca Saunders, Laura Bowler, Angharad Davies and more. Adrian Smith reviews the opening weekend.
Into Another World Where Jazz and Traditional Music Merge Into Another World Where Jazz and Traditional Music Merge Brendan Finan Composer, double bass player and traditional flute player Neil Ó Lochlainn premiered his new work 'Emain Ablach' with a 14-piece ensemble in Galway and Dublin last weekend. Brendan Finan reviews the Smock Alley performance.
If RTÉ Won’t Speak Up About Its Importance to Irish Music, Who Will? If RTÉ Won’t Speak Up About Its Importance to Irish Music, Who Will? Toner Quinn RTÉ has just published its document 'A New Direction for RTÉ', but where is the renewed vision for music, asks Toner Quinn.

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