Focus
Beginning with America: Chamber Choir Ireland at the Pepper Canister
Last weekend, Chamber Choir Ireland began their spring/summer season, and their final year under conductor Paul Hillier, with a programme of works by American composers. Brendan Finan reviews.
Irish Classical Not So Hidden Anymore
BBC Radio 3 has recently broadcast a series exploring Irish classical music across three centuries. Brendan Finan reviews.
The Irish for Hip Hop
'Ó Bheal', a new documentary on Irish hip hop, was broadcast on TG4 earlier this month. Shannon McNamee reviews.
'The only thing I am rich in is songs': Tom Munnelly's Lifelong Journey as a Collector
TG4 recently broadcast 'Fear na n-Amhrán: Tom Munnelly', a documentary on the life and work of the great song collector who died in 2007. Lillis Ó Laoire reviews.
Enough of the Facile Narratives: Gael Linn’s Crossroads
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
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 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
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
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
Irish National Opera presented Puccini's 'La bohème' at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin on 20–26 November. Adrian Smith reviews.