Thursday, December 29, 2011

Four Shillings Short concert explores eclectic music

Four Shillings Short, a Celtic/folk/world music duo, returns to Richmond on Jan. 12 as part of Indiana University East's Mindful Explorations programs.

Four Shillings Short performs traditional and original music from Ireland and Scotland, Indian Ragas, folk ballads, medieval and Renaissance instrumentals and a cappella numbers.

The husband and wife, Aodh Og O'Tuama and Christy Martin of San Diego, Calif., have been performing for 16 years. They recently released their eighth CD, "Pass It On -- Live in Boulder, Colorado." They previously performed in Richmond in 2008 and March 2011 at the West Richmond Friends Meeting.

On Jan. 12, they will perform a free concert, "Around the World in 30 Instruments," from 3:30-5 p.m. in Vivian Auditorium in Whitewater Hall. Mindful Explorations programs are provided courtesy of the William H. and Jean R. Reller Endowment.

The performance is expected to include music from Ireland, Scotland, England, Medieval and Renaissance Europe, the Americas and India using more than 30 instruments, including hammered dulcimer, mandolin, mandola, bouzouki, Medieval and Renaissance woodwinds, recorders, tinwhistles, banjo, North Indian sitar, bowed psaltery, the charango from Bolivia, bodhran, doumbek, spoons and vocals in English, Gaelic, Spanish and Sanskrit.

O'Tuama and Martin will introduce each instrument, talk about its history and follow with a demonstration in the form of a song or instrumental piece so the audience may experience traditional folk and world music.

Lee Ann Adams, a reading specialist and First-Year Seminar peer mentor coordinator at IU East, encourages anyone who loves traditional music to attend this performance

"I guarantee that you'll be tapping your toes some of the time and sitting completely still at others -- absorbed in the beautiful sounds of many instruments you've never heard before. They are both awesome musicians," Adams said in a press release. "Having heard Christy and Aodh Og twice before, I am so glad that Mindful Explorations is bringing their educational and entertaining performance to IU East and the Richmond community. I really love the way they introduce each instrument and song with a brief story that adds so much to the enjoyment of the music. You come away feeling like you've had a vacation to far-away places -- especially when you hear the sitar."

Og O'Tuama grew up in a family of poets, musicians and writers. He received his degree in music from University College Cork, Ireland, and received a fellowship from Stanford University in California in Medieval and Renaissance performance.

Martin grew up in a family of musicians and dancers. Starting at age of 15, she studied the North Indian sitar for 10 years as a student of master Sitarist Ravi Shankar. She began playing the hammered dulcimer in her 20s.

Four Shillings Short concert explores eclectic music | Palladium-Item | pal-item.com

Friday, December 9, 2011

Cherish the Ladies bring Celtic music and dance to Carlisle Theatre

Cherish the LadiesCover of Cherish the Ladies
Considering their name, which they take from the title of a traditional Irish jig, it is unsurprising that the Irish-American Celtic song and dance ensemble Cherish the Ladies is an all-female group.
Founded in 1985 in an attempt to showcase female talent in the male-dominated world of Celtic music and dance, the group has released fifteen albums, and their recording resume includes collaborations with the likes of Arlo Guthrie, Tom Chapin, Pete Seeger, and the Boston Pops.
Each member plays a variety of instruments. Band leader Joanie Madden plays the flute and tin whistle, and holds the record for the highest selling tin flute player in the world. The remaining ensemble members, hailing from Scotland, Ireland and the United States, play fiddle, bodhrán (traditional Irish drum), guitar, banjo and mandolin in addition to occasional singing, and of course no Celtic music would be complete without Irish step dancing.
The good humor and exuberance of Celtic music is a natural fit for the holiday season.

IF YOU GO
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Satuday
WHERE: Carlisle Theatre, 40 W. High St., Carlisle
COST: $40, $35, $30; $10 for students
INFO: 717-258-0666 or www.carlisletheatre.org

Cherish the Ladies bring Celtic music and dance to Carlisle Theatre | PennLive.com

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A Winter’s Night: Ensemble Galilei

On December 10, Neal Conan, host of NPR ’s Talk of the Nation, narrates A Winter’s Night: Ensemble Galilei, a festive evening of traditional music, poetry, and stories. The lineup includes Liz Carroll on fiddle, Jackie Moran on banjo and bodhran, and whistler Kathleen Keane, along with hometown players Sue Richards (Celtic harp), Ginger Hildebrand (guitar and fiddle), and Carolyn Surrick (viola da gamba).

A Winter’s Night: Ensemble Galilei | Creative Alliance | Music, Words | Urbanite Baltimore Magazine

Monday, December 5, 2011

All ready for new year at Bridge

English: Ruth Moody performs in Ireby, England...Image via WikipediaTHE BRIDGE House Theatre in Warwick is already looking to the year ahead.
The varied spring musical programme ranges from a top Candian folk singer to American classical greats, plus drama both classic and modern.
Award-winning Canadian songwriter Ruth Moody starts her Garden Tour at the theatre - which includes later concerts at London’s South Bank Centre and Birmingham Symphony Hall - on January 13.
A founding member of the internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin' Jennys, she has performed around the world and made numerous critically-acclaimed albums.
The Garden, the latest solo album from the multi-instrumentalist - she plays guitar, banjo, accordion, piano, and bodhrán - has received widespread critical acclaim.
Opera Warwick’s Hansel & Gretel can be seen on January 20 and 21. The magical fairy tale opera is brought up to date and set in the Roma Gypsy community in a brand new translation featuring local schoolchildren.
A touch of Paris night life is brought to stage when Eve Loiseau when sings the songs of Edith Piaf on February 18.
The Little Sparrow's dramatic rise saw her go from Paris street urchin to a star of international renown and France’s most popular singer of the 20th century. Her life, however, was anything but ‘La vie en rose'.
As well as famous songs such as La vie en rose, and Non je ne regrette rien the show also features a narrative revisiting the key moments of Piaf’s amazing life story.
Shakespeare's comedy Merry Wives of Windsor, performed by Oddsocks, plays from February 20 to 24.
There’s a right raucous rumbustious romp going on in jolly old Windsor town as two merry wives give fun-loving Falstaff a shock he’ll never forget.
Baby Boomers, a piece of physical theatre, substitutes language for balloons, and blends mask, puppetry and extreme balloon modelling to tell stories of love, loss and regret. Scratch Built Productions & Proteus Theatre take to the stage on February 25.
Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra cross the pond on March 3. Americana features works by Benjamin Britten (An American Overture) and Dvorak (American Suite in A Major) pay tribute to the USA in this exciting celebration of classical music inspired by the States or written by American composers, including two pieces by Aaron Copland. Violinist Ruth Palmer also performs Samuel Barber’s haunting and witty Concerto for Violin.
There will be two productions during the season from Warwick School Drama.
They present Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party from February 1 to 3, and Elephant Man from March 7 to 9.
March ends with previews of Foundations Youth Theatre’s original adaptation of Alice, the classic Lewis Carroll story, on March 27 and 28.
For tickets and further information visit www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01926 776438.
All ready for new year at Bridge | Entertainment Review From the Leamington Observer

All ready for new year at Bridge | Entertainment Review From the Leamington Observer

THE BRIDGE House Theatre in Warwick is already looking to the year ahead.
The varied spring musical programme ranges from a top Candian folk singer to American classical greats, plus drama both classic and modern.
Award-winning Canadian songwriter Ruth Moody starts her Garden Tour at the theatre - which includes later concerts at London’s South Bank Centre and Birmingham Symphony Hall - on January 13.
A founding member of the internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin' Jennys, she has performed around the world and made numerous critically-acclaimed albums.
The Garden, the latest solo album from the multi-instrumentalist - she plays guitar, banjo, accordion, piano, and bodhrán - has received widespread critical acclaim.
Opera Warwick’s Hansel & Gretel can be seen on January 20 and 21. The magical fairy tale opera is brought up to date and set in the Roma Gypsy community in a brand new translation featuring local schoolchildren.
A touch of Paris night life is brought to stage when Eve Loiseau when sings the songs of Edith Piaf on February 18.
The Little Sparrow's dramatic rise saw her go from Paris street urchin to a star of international renown and France’s most popular singer of the 20th century. Her life, however, was anything but ‘La vie en rose'.
As well as famous songs such as La vie en rose, and Non je ne regrette rien the show also features a narrative revisiting the key moments of Piaf’s amazing life story.
Shakespeare's comedy Merry Wives of Windsor, performed by Oddsocks, plays from February 20 to 24.
There’s a right raucous rumbustious romp going on in jolly old Windsor town as two merry wives give fun-loving Falstaff a shock he’ll never forget.
Baby Boomers, a piece of physical theatre, substitutes language for balloons, and blends mask, puppetry and extreme balloon modelling to tell stories of love, loss and regret. Scratch Built Productions & Proteus Theatre take to the stage on February 25.
Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra cross the pond on March 3. Americana features works by Benjamin Britten (An American Overture) and Dvorak (American Suite in A Major) pay tribute to the USA in this exciting celebration of classical music inspired by the States or written by American composers, including two pieces by Aaron Copland. Violinist Ruth Palmer also performs Samuel Barber’s haunting and witty Concerto for Violin.
There will be two productions during the season from Warwick School Drama.
They present Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party from February 1 to 3, and Elephant Man from March 7 to 9.
March ends with previews of Foundations Youth Theatre’s original adaptation of Alice, the classic Lewis Carroll story, on March 27 and 28.
For tickets and further information visit www.bridgehousetheatre.co.uk or call the box office on 01926 776438.
All ready for new year at Bridge | Entertainment Review From the Leamington Observer

Friday, December 2, 2011

Chapter and verse on music-making

John SpillaneCover of John Spillane
MAKING sweet music is an art. But making the instrument that can create stirring sounds is no less a skill.

Now the skill and traditional craft of instrument making has been brought to life in a new book.

More used to seeing those who play their instruments take the acclaim, the most sought-after bodhran and uilleann pipe makers in the country have been cast into the spotlight by Limerick author Stephen Power.

Mr Power, who is also a photographer, travelled nationwide and across Europe in researching his new book, 'Traditional Notes -- A celebration of Irish Music and Musicians'.

Uilleann pipe maker Michael Vignoles, who works out of Claddagh, Galway, tells of the time involved in his industry.

"Pipe making is a slow and painstaking business and it can take many weeks, if not much longer, to produce a full set of uilleann pipes," Mr Vignoles said.

Malachy Kearns, of Roundstone, Co Galway, is the best-known bodhran maker in the country.

"He is known internationally for his work and many people would have gone to him just to have their bodhran made. He is known as Malachy Bodhran," Mr Power said.

Malachy started making bodhrans in 1976. "He trained with Peadar Mercier of the Chieftains and made the bodhran for 'Riverdance'. Christy Moore also uses his drums," Mr Power said.

Among the musicians featured in the book are John Spillane, Paul Brady, Donal Lunny, John Carty and Micheal O Suilleabhain, and traditional Irish groups such as De Dannan and Lunasa.

The book will be launched at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick tomorrow at 5.30pm.

- Barry Duggan

Chapter and verse on music-making - National News - Independent.ie