Focus

The Interplay of Light and Dark The Interplay of Light and Dark Adrian Scahill Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin and Ultan O’Brien's new traditional and experimental album probes the soundworld between voice, fiddle and viola. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Is It Time to Separate Irish Traditional Music from Irishness? Is It Time to Separate Irish Traditional Music from Irishness? Helen Lawlor ‘Trad Nation’, a new book by fiddle-player and scholar Tes Slominski, questions how ‘Irish’ Irish traditional music is in a postnational music scene, and makes the case for separating the genre from ethnic nationalism. Helen Lawlor reviews.
Understanding the Core Tradition Understanding the Core Tradition Toner Quinn The latest release from the traditional music label Raelach Records is its very first compilation album, featuring Noel Hill, Aoife Ní Bhriain, Pádraic Keane and Nell Ní Chróinín. Toner Quinn reviews.
No Obstacle for Erraught Online No Obstacle for Erraught Online Brendan Finan The Irish mezzo Tara Erraught performed on 15 November at Dublin Castle as part of Irish National Opera's livestream series, Mezzo Masterpieces. Brendan Finan reviews.
The Enduring Vision of Julius Eastman The Enduring Vision of Julius Eastman Adrian Smith This week, in a livestream from the National Concert Hall, Crash Ensemble performed 'Femenine' by the black American composer Julius Eastman whose career was cut tragically short. Adrian Smith reviews.
Rebuilding the Public Conversation Around Music Rebuilding the Public Conversation Around Music Toner Quinn Why is the public conversation around music important, and how do we make it stronger? Toner Quinn reflects on twenty years of publishing the Journal of Music and the changes that have taken place.
After All the Work After All the Work Andrea Cleary Self-reflection – often painful, confusing and difficult – is at the heart of singer-songwriter Ailbhe Reddy's debut album 'Personal History'. Andrea Cleary reviews.
Freefalling and Unfolding Freefalling and Unfolding Brendan Finan Composer Ed Bennett's new album 'Psychedelia' includes a number of large-scale works and features Decibel, Kate Ellis, Eliza McCarthy and Jack McNeill. Brendan Finan reviews.
How the Arts Made Their Funding Breakthrough How the Arts Made Their Funding Breakthrough Toner Quinn The government’s funding announcement for the arts in Budget 2021 was unprecedented, and there are lessons to be learned from the way in which it came about, writes Toner Quinn.
Room for the Mysterious Folk Room for the Mysterious Folk Don O'Mahony Composer and producer Neil O'Connor (formerly Somadrone) has recently released 'Ampere', a second album under the title Ordnance Survey, featuring collaborations with Dónal Lunny, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Cormac Mac Diarmada and David Murphy. Don O'Mahony reviews.

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