Irish Music Stories Podcast

Most of the Irish traditional jigs and reels I play have associations, information, history, and sentiments bundled into them. Even these dance tunes that have no words carry so much. And everybody who plays these tunes bears and shares more than just a few notes and rhythms. In this episode, flute player and piper Emer Mayock, harp player Andrea Kiupel-Grona, and banjo/harmonica player Don Meade share Rose in the Heather and Maid of Selma lore. __________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to IrishMusicStories.org. ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Ken Doyle, Chris Armstrong, Gerry Corr, Jonathan Duvick, Sean Carroll, Isobel McMahon, Ian Bittle, Finian McCluskey, Kieran Jordan, John Ploch, Brian Benscoter, Chris Murphy, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, David Vaughan, Suezen Brown, and Paul DeCamp.

Irish Music Stories is the show about traditional music and the bigger stories behind it, like how important, ancient songs and little short folk ditties lodge in the heart, not the ears… or the eyes. In this episode, fiddle player Séamus Connolly shares early experiences of playing and collecting Irish music, and also recent challenges and insights. Also woven into the show are a few thoughts from Louis de Paor about tradition and innovation, and how the structure of old ballads and poems can resonate today. __________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to IrishMusicStories.org. ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Ian Bittle, Finian McCluskey, John Ploch, Brian Benscoter, Chris Murphy, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, David Vaughan, Suezen Brown, Paul DeCamp, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Ken Doyle, Chris Armstrong, Gerry Corr, Jonathan Duvick, Sean Carrol

Learn how and why Shannon Heaton creates the Irish Music Stories podcast, as Matt Heaton turns the mic around in the sunroom studio. Tune into this Old-Time radio (half) hour celebration of community, DIY ingenuity, and weighted blankets. And learn about the future of IMS! For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to IrishMusicStories.org. * * * * Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Jeremy Hurley, Bob Suchor, Tom Frederick, John Ploch, Ian Bittle, Finian McCluskey, Sean Carroll, Jonathan Duvick, Chris Armstrong, Ken Doyle, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Suezen Brown, Paul DeCamp, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, and Gerry Corr.

Setbacks and surprises are inevitable. Weather and illness—and all sorts of other plan disrupters—are not always foreseeable or controllable. But when disappointment and disruption descends, we can regulate our reactions. Here’s a short follow up to last month’s episode about wellness and balance, including a spoiler about the big marathon (so if you missed Episode 56, check that out before you listen to this one!) __________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to IrishMusicStories.org. ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Bob Suchor, Mark Haynes, Linda Gore, John Ploch, Brian Benscoter, Ian Bittle, Finian McCluskey, Sean Carroll, Jonathan Duvick, Gerry Corr, Chris Armstrong, Ken Doyle, Rick Rubin, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast,  Suezen Brown, Paul DeCamp, Emil Hauptmann, Randy Krajniak, Joel DeLashmit, David Vaughan, Susan Walsh, and Loren Bookbinder.

For many Irish musicians, it can be a tricky and essential game to stay active and find balance between artistic, intellectual, social, and physical pursuits. In this episode, Aubrey Atwater, Evangelos Stowell, and Pa Sheehan share tales from the trails,  the barn, the pitch, and the gym to help “work out” some of the Irish music insights that can come to those who sweat. ___________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to IrishMusicStories.org. ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Steve Wilson, Tom Frederick, Art Costa, Bob Suchor, Chris & the Murphy family, John Ploch, Susan Walsh, Ian Bittle, David Vaughan, Paul DeCamp, The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, Paul DeCamp, Suezen Brown, Brian Benscoter, Finian McCluskey, Jonathan Duvick, Joel DeLashmit, Gerry Corr, Chris Armstrong, Ken Doyle, and Rick Rubin.

Flute player John McKenna left troves of treasures when he recorded 78 RPMS in the 1920s; Na Píobairí Uilleann in Dublin helped preserve Irish piping; and Dr. Charles Heaton inspired his grandson to play piano with just eight bars of music. Legacy can nestle between bricks, on birch trees, and on manuscript paper… and it can bloom in surprising ways. In this episode, Liam Kelly, Ivan Goff, Julie Wood Merchant, Wes Merchant,  and Matt Heaton share stories about enduring gifts, with special music from organists Charles Heaton and Renée Anne Louprette.

Irish Music Stories is the show about traditional music, and the bigger stories behind it. Episodes are often 40-50 minutes long (and 51 seconds). Here’s a shorter installment. With help from Ellery Klein I delve into collective wisdom; and I revisit a poem that I aired back in Season One. This episode is 26 minutes… and 51 seconds long. ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Chris Armstrong, Margaret Finny, Ken Doyle, Susan Walsh, David Vaughan, Lynn Hayes, Brian Benscoter, John Ploch, Ian Bittle, Finian McCluskey, Joel DeLashmit, Gerry Corr, Michael Craine, Kevin Ryall, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast,  and The Sofia, Home of B Street Theatre. For transcripts, playlists, bios, video links, and to donate to the project, please visit IrishMusicStories.org

For centuries, traditional music in Wales have endured empire, organized religion, and connections with port towns in Ireland, like Wexford and Cork. In this special IMS spotlight on Cymru, Rhodri McDonagh, Ceri Rhys Matthews, Angharad Jenkins, and Patrick Rimes explore how the Welsh language, the rhythms of industry, and the lyricism of the rural landscape have shaped the music—and the oxen traditions—of one of Ireland’s closest neighbors. _______ Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, Brian Benscoter, Ian Bittle, Finian McCluskey, Joel DeLashmit, Jonathan Duvick, Gerry Corr, Mark Haynes, John Ploch, Chris Armstrong, Ken Doyle, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Paul DeCamp, Suezen Brown, David Vaughan Support the show and learn more at https://www.irishmusicstories.org

Plants can be carefully cultivated or can spread naturally. Songs, too, can spread deliberately or accidentally. Here’s a small sampling of just a few of the song collectors who helped preserve gardens of old English, Scottish, and Irish ballads that travelled to North America. Alex Cumming and Catherine Crowe help untangle a few strands of the bountiful musical harvest of folk history and culture preserved by Francis Child,  John Lomax, Helen Creighton, Elisabeth Bristol Greenleaf, Anne & Frank Warner, and Olive Dame Campbell (whose grave I’m determined to find by the end of the episode). * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Gašper Šinkovec, Sheila Worrall, Brian Benscoter, Marc Gunn, Suezen Brown, Paul DeCamp, Paul Grajciar, Elisabeth Carter, Jen and Bob Strom, Rick Rubin, Susan Walsh, Ken Doyle, Chris Armstrong, John Ploch, Benjamin Ruth, Joel DeLashmit, Finian McCluskey, Jon Duvick, Gerry Corr, Mike Voss, and Ian Bittle. Support the show an

If you want to share music with folks outside of your home, you gotta carry your instruments and gear (unless you’re live-streaming). And if you want to share podcast episodes along with show notes and other extras, you gotta build a site to share everything. Hear a bit about how guitarist Matt Heaton, fiddle player Laura Cortese, and flute player and podcaster Shannon Heaton have created their portable supply bases. And take in a Companion Chapter, from the new Irish Music Stories site. ___________________________________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters:Nancy Kearney, Peter Lee, Tom Frederick, Brian Benscoter, Paul DeCamp, Suezen Brown, Gerry Corr, Joel DeLashmit, David Vaughan, Chris Armstrong, Irish and Celtic Music Podcast, Robert Levelle, Mark Haynes, Bob Suchor, Jon Duvick, Chris Murphy, Ken Doyle, Randy Krajniak, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, John Ploch, Charlie Durfee, and Ian Bittle. ——— Find transcripts, bios, related essays and videos, p

How much power does a backdrop have? As the Irish Music Stories production team works to assemble episodes and bonus materials, Shannon explores the wooded hills of Medford, Massachusetts to find visual and organizational surrounds that look and feel like time-worn jigs, and ballads, and nights of music and dance. * * * * * * * Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Joel DeLashmit, Lynn Hayes, Paul Grajciar, Suezen Brown, Paul DeCamp, Emil Hauptmann, Randy Krajniak, Rick Rubin, Susan Walsh, Ken Doyle, Chris Armstrong, John Ploch, Jon Duvick, Gerry Corr, Brian Benscoter, and Marc Gunn. * * * * * * * * Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast! * Visit IrishMusicStories.org * * * * * * * Music Heard on IMS Episode 50 all music traditional, unless otherwise indicated Tune: “Free the Heel,” from Production Music for Irish Music StoriesArtist: Matt Heaton Tune: “Grupai Ceol Theme,” from Production Music for Irish Music StoriesArtist: Matt Heat

After a horrific week of social unrest in the U.S., and as Irish Music Stories begins a major overhaul, host Shannon Heaton offers a meditation on how cataloging and organizing can soothe the soul. There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below. And for Japanese speakers who want to get started with Irish Music Stories, the first episode has been translated fully (transcript) by Ryoko Murakami (with Tomoaki Hatekeyama) HERE  * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Enda McGreevy, Rus Bradburd, Jeremy Keith, Kevin Doyle, Roland Hebborn, Christopher Stuart, Edward Schilling, Randall Semagin, Parker Abercrombie, Marji Gibbs, Sean Carrol, Peter Smith, Mike Voss, Ian Bittle, Brian Benscoter, Marc Gunn, Gerry Corr, Suezen Brown, Paul DeCamp, Rick Rubin, Kenneth Doyle, Susan Walsh, Emil Hauptmann, Chris Armstrong, John Ploch, Jon Duvick, Randy Krajniak, Joel DeLashmit, and Susan Walsh. Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support t

Trailer for the December 2020 episode of Irish Music Stories.

What’s up with stage banter? And why all the joking around between tunes in a session? Explore the on- and offstage chat that surrounds traditional music with Máirtín de Cógáin, Paddy League, Joanie Madden, Rus Bradburd, Liz Carroll, and Jean-Michel Veillon.  There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below. And for Japanese speakers who want to get started with Irish Music Stories, the first episode has been translated fully (transcript) by Ryoko Murakami (with Tomoaki Hatekeyama) HERE  * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Sharon Murphy, Bill Wolfe, John Kerr, Chris Murphy, Lynn Hayes, Meg and Harry Ferguson, Jack McCreless, Marco Battaglia, Joe Martin, Tom Frederick, Suezen Brown, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Emil Hauptmann, John Ploch, Rick Rubin, Gerry Corr, Jon Duvick, Randy Krajniak, Joel DeLashmit, Susan Walsh, and Jon Duvick. Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast! * * * * * * * Visit IrishMusi

How do new traditional Irish and Scottish tunes come together? How do composers conjure melodies? Composers Liz Carroll, Dáithí Sproule, and Katie McNally share thoughts on creativity, the tune writing process, and the myths behind the music. There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below. And for Japanese speakers who want to get started with Irish Music Stories, the first episode has been translated fully (transcript) by Ryoko Murakami (with Tomoaki Hatekeyama) HERE  * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Leslie Stack, Patricia P. Wilcox, Michael Craine, Mark Haynes, Emil Hauptmann, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Krajniak, Jon Duvick, Suezen Brown, John Ploch, Joel DeLashmit, Let’s Learn Irish, and Ministry of Folk Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast! * * * * * * * Visit IrishMusicStories.org * * * * * * * Music Heard on IMS Episode 47all music traditional, unless othe

Learning just a few words in Gaelic is mannerly when visiting Ireland and Scotland. And it can be a way IN to cultural values and humor. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Séamus Ó Flatharta, Ciarán Bolger, Michael Coult, Julie Fowlis, Mary Jane Lamond, and Brian Ó hAirt help me understand connections between language and music. And how songs in Irish and Scottish Gaelic transmit emotion, carry history, and lift people up.  There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below. And for Japanese speakers who want to get started with Irish Music Stories, the first episode has been translated fully (transcript) by Ryoko Murakami (with Tomoaki Hatekeyama) HERE  * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Jane Knight, Tinka, Roland Hebborn, Marina Poggemann, Emil Hauptmann, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Krajniak, Jon Duvick, Suezen Brown, John Plock, Joel DeLashmit, and Gerry Corr Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to sup

There’s no definitive Irish or Scottish music method book. A lot of seasoned practitioners learned their music in kitchens and pubs. So how do they bring that immersive, social learning approach into the classroom? In this episode, June McCormack, Michael Rooney, Alasdair White, Caroline Keane, and Tom Delany share ideas about teaching and learning traditional music. There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below. And for Japanese speakers who want to get started with Irish Music Stories, the first episode has been translated fully (transcript) by Ryoko Murakami (with Tomoaki Hatekeyama) HERE  * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Finn Agenbroad, David Vaughan, Brian Benscoter, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Krajniak, Jon Duvick, Suezen Brown, John Ploch, Joel DeLashmit, Chris Murphy, and Joe Martin Please CLICK HERE if you can kick in to support this podcast! * * * * * * * Visit IrishMusicStories.org * * * * * * * Music Hear

The topic of sustainable travel for touring musicians has been reframed, as Covid-19 has cancelled most music live music events for an unforeseeable amount of time. But as activity kicks up again, conversations about responsible, viable, grateful travel—and conservation—remain vital. In this episode, I’ll revisit earlier chats with Liz about her environmental advocacy; Dana Lyn and Kyle Sanna about their musical show that pays tribute (and donates profits) to coral reef ecosystems; and beekeeper Ottavio Forte, whose bees I recorded for a forthcoming album of bee-themed music. And I’ll go back to 6th century Ireland, to offer some historical perspective on activism. Learn more about Sustainable Touring Arts Coalition Listen to/watch Dana Lyn & Kyle Sanna Watch Beekeeping in Belmont  There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below. And for Japanese speakers who want to get started with Irish Music Stories, the first episode has been translated fully (transcript) by Ryoko Murakami (with

The role of instruments in Celtic traditions can be fickle: newer voices (like the tenor banjo) are increasingly popular on festival stages; while ancient ones (like the harp) still hang on the outskirts when it comes to modern group projects. Find out how the banjo came into common acceptance in Irish circles from Daniel Neely, Enda Scahill, and Martin Howley… and learn about joys and challenges of outsider status from harpist Maeve Gilchrist, cellist Natalie Haas, and saxophone players Susan Lindsay and Isaac Alderson. There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below. And for Japanese speakers who want to get started with Irish Music Stories, the first episode has been translated fully (transcript) by Ryoko Murakami (with Tomoaki Hatekeyama) HERE  * * * * * * * Thanks to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Pat Wilcox, Soomee Han, Ken Doyle, Stephanie Reeve, Finn Agenbroad, Mark Haynes, David Vaughan, Gerry Corr, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Kraj

Persistent infections like Covid-19 … and social injustice.. and racism… loom large. And still, these little Irish jigs and reels are forming bridges across oceans. What happens when people fall in love with a foreign music culture and pull themselves out of their comfort zones to travel and learn to play? Learn about the perspective Irish music has offered Guillermo Del Val Rodriguez, Santiago Molina, Gregor Brinkschulte, Alasdair Fraser, Rolf Wagels, Kerstin Otten, Brent Cassidy, Andy Xuhang, Alex Navar, hatao, Geoffrey Lim, Ted Cizadlo, and Andy Linton. There’s also plenty of music in this episode. Full playlist below. * * * * * * * Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Ryne VanHorn, Dan Kaufman, Finn Agenbroad, Rex Edwards, Michael Craine, Bruce Douglas, Nancy Kearney, Paul Fackler, Art Costa, Linda Hammond, Chris Murphy, David Vaughan, Gerry Corr, Susan Walsh, Rick Rubin, Randy Krajniak, Jon Duvik, and one anonymous donor. Please CLICK HERE if you can