Focus

A Festival Drawn to the Introspective A Festival Drawn to the Introspective Brendan Finan The 2024 Louth Contemporary Music Festival took place on 14–15 June and featured music by Robert Ashley, Linda Catlin Smith and Stockhausen with performances by Varispeed Collective, Neue Vocalsolisten, Rihab Azar, Zoë Conway, Inni-k and more. Brendan Finan reviews.
Exploring Identity and Solitude at the Cutting Edge Exploring Identity and Solitude at the Cutting Edge Don O'Mahony A new film exploring the making of Úna Monaghan's experimental album 'Aonaracht' was broadcast on TG4 on 5 June. Don O'Mahony reviews.
A Tribute to Charlie Lennon A Tribute to Charlie Lennon Toner Quinn Remembering the great traditional musician and composer who passed away on 8 June.
A Composer's Guide to Cataclysm A Composer's Guide to Cataclysm James Camien McGuiggan RTÉ Lyric FM recently broadcast a two-part documentary on Irish composers and climate change, presented and produced by Jonathan Grimes of the Contemporary Music Centre. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Getting to What Remains Getting to What Remains Don O'Mahony Musician and composer Shane Latimer has just released a new album, 'Residuum', on the Diatribe label. Don O'Mahony reviews.
An Ambitious Musical Exploration of Migration and the Climate Crisis An Ambitious Musical Exploration of Migration and the Climate Crisis Brendan Finan Music for Galway's 9-day Cellissimo festival, with a strong focus on the issues of migration and the climate crisis, began on 18 May. Brendan Finan reviews the opening weekend.
Making Bedfellows of Traditional Music and Experimental Theatre Making Bedfellows of Traditional Music and Experimental Theatre Don O'Mahony Accordion player Danny O'Mahony and theatre company Brokentalkers toured their show 'Bellow' earlier this year. Don O'Mahony reviews.
How Ireland Thinks About Music How Ireland Thinks About Music Toner Quinn Does Ireland have its own way of thinking about music? How might this perspective have developed? And could it explain the current dynamism in Irish musical life? In this essay, the edited text of a talk given at Farmleigh House on 11 May, Journal of Music Editor Toner Quinn explores these questions and more.
Britain's National Musical Paradox Britain's National Musical Paradox Christopher Fox BBC Radio 3 recently broadcast a six-part series, ‘The Land Without Music?’, exploring the current musical landscape in Britain. Christopher Fox reviews.
Challenging and Curious – New Music Dublin: Days 1 and 4 Challenging and Curious – New Music Dublin: Days 1 and 4 Brendan Finan New Music Dublin took place at the National Concert Hall and other venues in the city from 25 to 28 April with many world and Irish premieres. Brendan Finan reviews days 1 and 4. For a review of days 2 and 3 by James Camien McGuiggan, see the link below.

Pages