Focus

Excellence But Lacking Surprise – New Music Dublin: Days 2 and 3 Excellence But Lacking Surprise – New Music Dublin: Days 2 and 3 James Camien McGuiggan 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. James Camien McGuiggan reviews days 2 and 3. For a review of days 1 and 4 by Brendan Finan see the link below.
Revealing the Thinking Behind the Music: Seán Clancy's 'Four Sections of Music Unequally Divided' Revealing the Thinking Behind the Music: Seán Clancy's 'Four Sections of Music Unequally Divided' James Camien McGuiggan Composer Seán Clancy has just released a recording of 'Four Sections of Music Unequally Divided' on the Birmingham Record Company label. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
The Coloniser’s View: Stanford's 'Shamus O'Brien' The Coloniser’s View: Stanford's 'Shamus O'Brien' Brendan Finan Retrospect Opera has recently released a recording of Charles Villers Stanford's 1896 opera 'Shamus O’Brien', telling the story of an Irish rebel. Brendan Finan reviews.
The Importance of Ensembles to the New Music Scene The Importance of Ensembles to the New Music Scene Adrian Smith The Music Current contemporary festival was held at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin last week from 2 to 6 April and featured TAK Ensemble, Dublin Sound Lab, Black Page Orchestra, Nadar Ensemble and lovemusic collective. Adrian Smith reviews.
The Return of the Bothy Band The Return of the Bothy Band Adrian Scahill TG4 has broadcast a new documentary film on the reformed 1970s group The Bothy Band including interviews and a performance in Dublin. Adrian Scahill reviews.
Bringing to Light a Forgotten Anglo-Irish Composer Bringing to Light a Forgotten Anglo-Irish Composer James Camien McGuiggan Harpsichordist, conductor and musicologist Bridget Cunningham has just released an album of work by the eighteenth-century Anglo-Irish composer Thomas Roseingrave. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Marking the Loss of Traditional Music Listening Spaces Marking the Loss of Traditional Music Listening Spaces Adrian Scahill A new film on a renowned Irish traditional music pub in Dublin, 'Brendan Gleeson’s Farewell to Hughes’s', has recently been released. Adrian Scahill reviews.
SXSW Protest is About More than Palestine SXSW Protest is About More than Palestine Toner Quinn The protest by ten Irish bands at SXSW in Austin, Texas, was about the crisis in Palestine, but it is also about more than that, writes Toner Quinn.
The Erotic and the Murderous: Irish National Opera's 'Salome' The Erotic and the Murderous: Irish National Opera's 'Salome' Adrian Smith Irish National Opera's production of Richard Strauss' 'Salome' opened on 12 March at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Adrian Smith reviews.
Catherine Martin's Prime Opportunity to Protect Irish Music Catherine Martin's Prime Opportunity to Protect Irish Music Toner Quinn Appointing a board member to RTÉ who has musical expertise is crucial to try and safeguard the Irish music scene, writes Toner Quinn.

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