Focus

The Chosen Ones Barra Ó Séaghdha The Sligo New Music Festival and Composers’ Choice.
A Foobarian Approach to Music Technology Kevin Jennings The teaching of music technology in second-level education.
The Real Alternatives Terry Moylan A review of two new piping albums.
Must Music be Accessible? Must Music be Accessible? Raymond Deane The accessibility of music is a political issue, not an aesthetic one, writes composer Raymond Deane
For Two Euros More? Diarmaid Moynihan Traditional musician Diarmaid Moynihan reports on some 'creative' attempts at publicity that his band witnessed during their recent trip to Germany.
An Interview with Fiddle-Player Frankie Gavin An Interview with Fiddle-Player Frankie Gavin Toner Quinn In 1976, Frankie Gavin, made one of the outstanding fiddle albums of the latter half of the twentieth century, Traditional Dance Music of Ireland with bouzouki player Alec Finn. Since then, through his solo and duet work, as well as performances with the group Dé Danann, he has proved to be a unique, creative talent as well as one of Ireland’s most dynamic traditional musicians. His influence on Irish traditional fiddle playing, in technique, style and repertoire, has been profound.With Dé Danann recently disbanded, the Galway fiddle-player has just released a four-CD collection of live performances, featuring Stephane Grappelli, Gary Hastings, Joe Derrane, Máirtín O’Connor and Carl Hession. Here, Toner Quinn interviews the virtuoso about his recordings through the years and his projects for the future.
Meeting Ó Riada Meeting Ó Riada Jürgen Simpson A new book on Seán Ó Ríada's life and work.
New Music: Style Crisis John McLachlan The premiere of a new work by Stephen Gardner and recent CDs of the music of Frank Corcoran, Eric Sweeney and John Gibson.
Composition and Criticism Composition and Criticism Patrick Zuk Last November, JMI published an article by composer and pianist Patrick Zuk on the ‘rather chaotic state of contemporary composition and criticism’. A response by composer Ian Wilson was published in the Jan-Feb issue. Here, Patrick Zuk offers his response to Ian Wilson’s criticisms.
Sirs William, Jack and Thomas... Sirs William, Jack and Thomas... Seoirse Bodley In an extract from a major new book, The Cork Choral Festival 1954-2004, edited by Ruth Fleischmann, Irish composer Seoirse Bodley shares his memories of the Festival’s seminar on contemporary music through the years as well as his experiences of being a festival adjudicator. This article is an edited version of a conversation between the composer and Anne Fleischmann.

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