Focus

Why Are We Neglecting the Female Tune Composers? Why Are We Neglecting the Female Tune Composers? Dave Flynn The FairPlé movement has highlighted a gender imbalance in traditional and folk music, and it applies to tune composers too, writes Dave Flynn.
'We think you should be a conductor': An Interview with Eimear Noone 'We think you should be a conductor': An Interview with Eimear Noone On 1 March, Eimear Noone will be recognised by Music for Galway for her work as a leading conductor and composer of video games music. In this interview, Noone speaks to The Journal of Music about her musical background in Galway, her career in the United States and the potential she sees in music in Ireland.
‘We’ve got one chance to get this right': An Interview with Anthony Long ‘We’ve got one chance to get this right': An Interview with Anthony Long In 2017, Anthony Long was appointed manager of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, following 15 years with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. After an external review of the orchestras last April, the Government announced that the NSO was to move from RTÉ to the National Concert Hall. In this interview with The Journal of Music, Long discusses how the difficulties built up for the orchestra – and the challenge of getting things back on track.
Leaving a Trail for New Composers Leaving a Trail for New Composers Tim Diovanni The fourth concert in the Female Composer Series at the National Concert Hall – programmed in partnership with Sounding the Feminists – featured music by Thea Musgrave, Sofia Gubaidulina, Jane O'Leary and Kaija Saariaho. Tim Diovanni reviews.
Trading Licks Trading Licks James Camien McGuiggan The Saturday night double-header at the Spike cello festival featured traditional musicians Liam O’Connor and Cormac Begley with Cello Ireland, and free improviser Ernst Reijseger – a night that went from Irish slow airs to musical comedy. James Camien McGuiggan reviews.
Why We Need to Transform Our Orchestras – and How We Can Do It Why We Need to Transform Our Orchestras – and How We Can Do It Brian Irvine Orchestras are leaving too many people behind and failing to deliver on their extraordinary promise, writes Brian Irvine. The way towards transformation – and to create genuinely fresh sounds – is to involve new people in new ways.
'How to organise, how to build, how to express': An Interview with Kaija Saariaho 'How to organise, how to build, how to express': An Interview with Kaija Saariaho Ahead of the performances of her work at New Music Dublin 2019, composer Kaija Saariaho speaks to The Journal of Music about the starting points for her work, writing her renowned concerto, 'Graal théâtre', and creating music with a strong identity.
Looking for a Link Among Irish Composers Looking for a Link Among Irish Composers Tim Diovanni Tim Diovanni reviews a concert of works by Stanford, Buckley and Boyle performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra – a rare and interesting mix, but did it work?
'Irish history... [is] so apt for what's happening now': An Interview with Lauren Kinsella 'Irish history... [is] so apt for what's happening now': An Interview with Lauren Kinsella Ahead of the premiere of 'Famished' with poet Cherry Smyth and composer Ed Bennett, singer and composer Lauren Kinsella speaks to The Journal of Music about improvisation, contemporary social crises and the stage as a space for conversations.
A Voice for Dark Nights A Voice for Dark Nights Anna Murray Lankum singer Radie Peat's solo performances revolve around the dark spectrum of folk music. Anna Murray reviews her recent set at Temple Bar TradFest.

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