Saturday, November 20, 2010

Mark O'Connor fiddles with musical boundaries

Mark O'Connor fiddles with musical boundaries: "The violin world has classical virtuosos galore, a good helping of traditional fiddlers and a small but noteworthy cohort of jazz improvisers. It also boasts Mark O'Connor, who doesn't seem to recognize any of those distinctions.

At 49, the Seattle-born musician has distinguished himself not so much for his virtuosity in all those fields - though he's done that too - but for the insouciant ease with which he's moved across the usual stylistic boundaries as a composer and performer."

Martin Hayes (fiddle), Dennis Cahill (guitar), Brona Cahill (violin)

NCH, Dublin Wed 8pm 11-38 01-4170000 Stewart French (guitar), NCC/Paul Hillier
St Ann’s Church, Dublin Thurs 8pm 14 01-7005665 Cara O’Sullivan (soprano), Ciara Moroney (piano)
CIT Cork School of Music, Cork Thurs 8pm 8-20

It’s a week of contrasts. The RTÉ Concert Orchestra under David Brophy is partnering ace traditional fiddler Martin Hayes in Aontacht , a new concerto by Dave Flynn (above). Flynn straddles the worlds of classical and traditional music, and is also a guitarist and songwriter. The programme includes a set by Hayes with his regular partner, guitarist Dennis Cahill, as well as more pieces by Flynn and Arvo Pärt.
On Thursday, the National Chamber Choir under Paul Hillier premieres English composer Tarik O’Regan’s Acallam na Senórach , a concert-length setting of the middle Irish narrative, Tales of the Elders , for choir and guitar. The NCC takes the work to Belfast on November 26th, for an early evening (6.30pm) concert at the Crescent Arts Centre.

Thursday also sees the start of a Music Network tour by soprano Cara O’Sullivan and pianist Ciara Moroney. The repertoire ranges from Purcell to Aloys Fleischmann, taking in Schubert, Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini, Gounod, Verdi, Debussy, Hahn and Rodrigo along the way. See musicnetwork.ie for a full tour schedule.

Friday, November 5, 2010

4 N.C. fiddlers unite for free Mars Hill concert | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times

4 N.C. fiddlers unite for free Mars Hill concert | CITIZEN-TIMES.com | Asheville Citizen-Times: "Fiddle tunes and musical stories will rule the stage at Owen Theatre at Mars Hill College today as four accomplished North Carolina musicians hold forth.

The intimate evening concert is hosted by Madison County Arts Council director Laura Boosinger and features fiddlers Arvil Freeman, Bobby Hicks, Paul Crouch and Roger Howell with accompaniment by Candler guitarist Jerry Sutton. The concert is free and open to the public.

“We are excited to have these four legendary fiddlers presenting and comparing their styles,” said Boosinger. All four live in Western North Carolina and have unique playing styles and a wealth of accomplishments."

MASTERS OF THE FIDDLE: NOV. 6 IN POWAY

MASTERS OF THE FIDDLE: NOV. 6 IN POWAY | East County Magazine: "November 4, 2010 (Poway) - Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, two of the world's most celebrated Celtic fiddlers and the power couple of the Canadian fiddling world, return to Poway for a concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 6th.

Known for her flamboyant style and trademark step-dancing, MacMaster is the sweetheart superstar of the Cape Breton fiddle who packed the house in Poway in 2008. Leahy is part of the family group Leahy, which dazzled audiences in 2006 and 2008. Now these world-class talents (who are married) join forces in a whirlwind of fiddle-driven music, dance and song.


The foot-tapping rave-ups, step dancing, heart-wrenching ballads and masterful fiddling leave audiences breathless from the moment they hit the stage, winning critical acclaim from major newspapers across America.

Tickets cost $45 for adults and just $5 for children under 18, with purchase of an adult ticket. Senior tickets (62 and over) are $38."