"Coming from a family steeped in traditional music, it’s little wonder uilleann piper Pádraic Keane is tipped to become one of the piping greats
BALLYFERRITER’S Scoil Ceoil An Earraigh was in full swing in February, with sessions bursting from every pub, snug and backroom. Accordions, fiddles, concertinas, whistles and flutes (even the odd harp) jostled for space amid sessions, few of which wound down before sunrise. Into the midst of the melee loped Pádraic Keane, his pipes tucked nonchalantly under his arm.
Few may have noticed his arrival, but once he filled the bellows and flexed his fingers, he stilled the crowd. Even those more usually resistant to the sound of the uilleann pipes admitted that here was something special. It was there, plain to hear in the sharp definition of his fingering, in the inescapable momentum of his phrasing, and in particular, in his precise execution of slow airs."
Monday, April 11, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
St. Pat arrives early in Unity
"UNITY — Unity College Centre for the Performing Arts, 42 Depot St., will present a pre-St. Patrick's Day concert by McPeake Monday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.
For generations of folk music enthusiasts, the name of the McPeake Family of Belfast, Ireland, has stood for one of the most distinctive sounds in Irish music. Francis McPeake IV, the fourth generation of this world-famous musical dynasty and one of the few authentic uilleann pipers in the world today, has put together a revived band, McPeake, which offers a fusion of original Celtic compositions and contemporary rhythms and styles.
Tickets are $15. Next up at Unity College Centre will be Prince Edward Island fiddler Richard Wood Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. ($20). For more information, call 948-7469 or visit unityme.org."
For generations of folk music enthusiasts, the name of the McPeake Family of Belfast, Ireland, has stood for one of the most distinctive sounds in Irish music. Francis McPeake IV, the fourth generation of this world-famous musical dynasty and one of the few authentic uilleann pipers in the world today, has put together a revived band, McPeake, which offers a fusion of original Celtic compositions and contemporary rhythms and styles.
Tickets are $15. Next up at Unity College Centre will be Prince Edward Island fiddler Richard Wood Thursday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. ($20). For more information, call 948-7469 or visit unityme.org."
ConTempo Quartet and Dave Flynn in concert
"THE CONTEMPO string quartet and composer and musician Dave Flynn will join forces for a concert in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church on Saturday March 12 at 8pm.
On the night Flynn will present his new work ‘Stories from the Old World’ and joining Flynn and ConTempo on-stage will be uilleann piper Mick O’Brien and sean nós singer Breandán Begley.
The concert will premiere the award winning composition String Quartet No 2 ‘The Cranning’. There will also be traditional music and two other recent compositions; String Quartet No 3 ‘The Keening’ performed by ConTempo Quartet with narration by Breandán Ó Madagáin from his book Caointe Agus Seancheolta Eile and ‘Stories from the Old World’ performed by ConTempo with Breandán Begley reading from the infamous Peig."
On the night Flynn will present his new work ‘Stories from the Old World’ and joining Flynn and ConTempo on-stage will be uilleann piper Mick O’Brien and sean nós singer Breandán Begley.
The concert will premiere the award winning composition String Quartet No 2 ‘The Cranning’. There will also be traditional music and two other recent compositions; String Quartet No 3 ‘The Keening’ performed by ConTempo Quartet with narration by Breandán Ó Madagáin from his book Caointe Agus Seancheolta Eile and ‘Stories from the Old World’ performed by ConTempo with Breandán Begley reading from the infamous Peig."
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Circle of Friends presents Celtic Band RUNA
"The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse will celebrate St. Patrick's Day early with Celtic Band RUNA, performing traditional and contemporary music, on Saturday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $20.
Members of RUNA include vocalist Shannon Lambert-Ryan of Philadelphia, Dublin-born guitarist Fionan de Barra, and Cheryl Prashkler of Canada, percussion. The band also performed with world-renowned guest musicians, Isaac Alderson on the uilleann pipes, flutes, and whistles, and Tomoko Omura on the fiddle.
The band has just completed a new album, “Stretched On Your Grave,” that will be available for the first time during this tour. They have played with Solas, Slide, and Riverdance.
The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is located at 262 Chestnut St., Franklin, and is affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible meetinghouse. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., beverages and gourmet desserts available."
Members of RUNA include vocalist Shannon Lambert-Ryan of Philadelphia, Dublin-born guitarist Fionan de Barra, and Cheryl Prashkler of Canada, percussion. The band also performed with world-renowned guest musicians, Isaac Alderson on the uilleann pipes, flutes, and whistles, and Tomoko Omura on the fiddle.
The band has just completed a new album, “Stretched On Your Grave,” that will be available for the first time during this tour. They have played with Solas, Slide, and Riverdance.
The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is located at 262 Chestnut St., Franklin, and is affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible meetinghouse. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., beverages and gourmet desserts available."
Monday, February 14, 2011
Womaddicts to sample ancestral electronica
"An epiphany in Senegal led to the formation of one of the world's more unusual bands.
IN SENEGAL in the 1990s, English musician and record producer Simon Emmerson had an epiphany that led him to form the Afro Celt Sound System.
He was producing albums for singer Baaba Maal. ''I was wide-eyed and innocent, trying to find my way into this music that I know nothing about, '' he recalls, ahead of the band's forthcoming performance at the Womadelaide Festival. ''The music of ancestral West Africa seemed to resonate [with] a very deep strata of the British Isles.
''Hearing and recording this music, I heard melodies and rhythms that were familiar.''
Advertisement: Story continues below
He tested his feeling by taking recordings back to England and playing them to Irish uilleann piper Davy Spillane."
IN SENEGAL in the 1990s, English musician and record producer Simon Emmerson had an epiphany that led him to form the Afro Celt Sound System.
He was producing albums for singer Baaba Maal. ''I was wide-eyed and innocent, trying to find my way into this music that I know nothing about, '' he recalls, ahead of the band's forthcoming performance at the Womadelaide Festival. ''The music of ancestral West Africa seemed to resonate [with] a very deep strata of the British Isles.
''Hearing and recording this music, I heard melodies and rhythms that were familiar.''
Advertisement: Story continues below
He tested his feeling by taking recordings back to England and playing them to Irish uilleann piper Davy Spillane."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)