"The now near chaotic political scene in Ireland has cast doubt on how, when, and which government representatives will now participate in the annual Saint Patrick's Day exodus to the US and the White House.
Even the Irish prime ministers annual trip to greet the president with a traditional bowl of shamrocks is in doubt after Brian Cowen announced that the Irish general election will take place just six days beforehand.
Irish ministers traditionally travel around the world during Saint Patrick's week showcasing Ireland as a tourism hot spot (and also as an attractive place to do business). It's an opportunity to highlight the nation that other countries claim to envy.
However, with the climate of political upheaval and with the Irish election date set for March 11, it's unlikely that a new government will be in place to streamline the transition in time."
Monday, January 24, 2011
Colm Mac Con Iomaire
"WHAT is it about the Irish that lets them wander the world, charming the socks off everyone (other than the English)? The rest of us sip their stout, enjoy their music and are enchanted by their accent, stories and humour.
Take Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Best known as a member of The Frames, the fiddler/composer could saunter on to the stage at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre - apparently designed to alienate audience from performer – and make it seem like a Dublin pub.
Softly spoken and almost retiring, Mac Con Iomaire gently drew us into a world where Ireland's language is being restored to its rightful place, and where its musical tradition is not a museum piece but survives and thrives through growth and renewal. Performing solo (with loops) or with one or more members of a septet, Mac Con Iomaire mainly performed original works from his splendid album The Hare's Corner."
Take Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Best known as a member of The Frames, the fiddler/composer could saunter on to the stage at the Sutherland Entertainment Centre - apparently designed to alienate audience from performer – and make it seem like a Dublin pub.
Softly spoken and almost retiring, Mac Con Iomaire gently drew us into a world where Ireland's language is being restored to its rightful place, and where its musical tradition is not a museum piece but survives and thrives through growth and renewal. Performing solo (with loops) or with one or more members of a septet, Mac Con Iomaire mainly performed original works from his splendid album The Hare's Corner."
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Irish fiddle virtuoso plays like a hare on a G string
"IT SEEMS that a biennial feature of the Sydney Festival, echoing our rich Celtic-Gaelic heritage, is a series of concerts by an Irish fiddler of genius.
In 2007 and 2009 it was the sublime Martin Hayes. This year it is Colm Mac Con Iomaire who has not only been the fiddle and keyboard player with the Frames for more than 20 years but has been a regular with the Swell Season. Now, on the back of his excellent debut solo album, The Hare's Corner, he is bringing his band and playing five concerts around Sydney this week and next."
In 2007 and 2009 it was the sublime Martin Hayes. This year it is Colm Mac Con Iomaire who has not only been the fiddle and keyboard player with the Frames for more than 20 years but has been a regular with the Swell Season. Now, on the back of his excellent debut solo album, The Hare's Corner, he is bringing his band and playing five concerts around Sydney this week and next."
App Watch: Fiddling on the IPad
"Music app developer Smule’s latest app, Magic Fiddle, emerged out of a dare. Walking out of classical musician Lang Lang’s concert in San Francisco last April, in which the pianist played an encore with Smule’s iPad piano app, Smule co-founder Ge Wang joked with colleagues about creating a violin app that would force users to put their iPads up to their face and rest their chins on the device to make it work.
“We thought, ‘Wow, that idea is so bad, it might just work’” says Mr. Wang, looking back.
Almost seven months later in November, the company came out with Magic Fiddle, a violin app."
“We thought, ‘Wow, that idea is so bad, it might just work’” says Mr. Wang, looking back.
Almost seven months later in November, the company came out with Magic Fiddle, a violin app."
Sunday, January 16, 2011
New conservatory group looking for a few good musicians
New conservatory group looking for a few good musicians - The Prescott Daily Courier - Prescott, Arizona: "PRESCOTT - Chino Valley High School student Cheyenne Jasper, 14, quit the guitar and took up a fiddle, and now she says she is ready to fiddle her way around the county as part of Sharlot Hall Museum's new Cultural Arts History Conservatory.
'Playing the guitar was not in my best interest,' Cheyenne said during a pre-audition session. 'So I switched to the fiddle and everything just clicked. Now it is a big part of my life.'
Kent Gugler, a music teacher at Heritage Middle School in Chino Valley and the director of the Heritage Middle School String Band, is leading the 12 students selected to form the band. The conservatory is for student musicians ages 10-18 years old."
'Playing the guitar was not in my best interest,' Cheyenne said during a pre-audition session. 'So I switched to the fiddle and everything just clicked. Now it is a big part of my life.'
Kent Gugler, a music teacher at Heritage Middle School in Chino Valley and the director of the Heritage Middle School String Band, is leading the 12 students selected to form the band. The conservatory is for student musicians ages 10-18 years old."
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Creole Stomp brings French music tradition to SIC
"Dennis Stroughmatt and Creole Stomp brings audiences the sounds many associate with Mardi Gras and New Orleans Jazz Fest, a partying dance band blending the accordion and fiddle with elements of jazz and the blues.
French speaking crowds may take something deeper from the band's concerts.
The crowd at Southeastern Illinois College will decide for themselves what to make of the band 7 p.m. Saturday on the stage of the George T. Dennis Visual and Performing Arts Center. Legence Bank is underwriting the concert that is part of the college's Cultural Arts Series."
French speaking crowds may take something deeper from the band's concerts.
The crowd at Southeastern Illinois College will decide for themselves what to make of the band 7 p.m. Saturday on the stage of the George T. Dennis Visual and Performing Arts Center. Legence Bank is underwriting the concert that is part of the college's Cultural Arts Series."
Sunday, January 9, 2011
HeraldNet.com - Life: Master Scottish fiddler plans a weekend of teaching, performing
HeraldNet.com - Life: Master Scottish fiddler plans a weekend of teaching, performing: "Scottish fiddle music's origins date back to days when music was made beside kitchen stoves and at local taverns.
In the Scottish Highlands, the music developed its own cadence, syncopation, accents and rhymes.
“The Scottish people love to cry. The music is going to express that,” local fiddler Minda Phillips said. “It's great music for dance as well.”
Scottish fiddling is at its best when dozens of violinists join together. Add a few cellos, maybe a guitar or a bass, and the blend is as fine as an aged whiskey.
One person picks up a bow to start a tune, and the rest follow. There's no sheet music. Everyone plays by ear, and the songs soar from the heart."
In the Scottish Highlands, the music developed its own cadence, syncopation, accents and rhymes.
“The Scottish people love to cry. The music is going to express that,” local fiddler Minda Phillips said. “It's great music for dance as well.”
Scottish fiddling is at its best when dozens of violinists join together. Add a few cellos, maybe a guitar or a bass, and the blend is as fine as an aged whiskey.
One person picks up a bow to start a tune, and the rest follow. There's no sheet music. Everyone plays by ear, and the songs soar from the heart."
Friday, January 7, 2011
Campbell River Mirror - Virtuoso fiddler plays house concert
Some people are born to play music. By the age of three, Ivonne Hernandez was playing violin by ear, everything from her mother’s favourite Maritime reels to her father’s Chilean folk music roots.
A child prodigy, she soon was playing guitar, piano, cello, flute, and percussion before joining Daniel Lapp’s BC Fiddle Orchestra. While still in her pre-teens, Hernandez played on the Orchestra’s Fiddleharmonic CD, and before 60,000 at a Commonwealth Games performance with the Crash Test Dummies.
Hernandez has mastered Canada’s traditional fiddle music as well as classical, klezmer, Scottish and Irish fiddling, combining all these influences in her recordings and performances.
She embodies the country’s 21st century multiculturalism, and her music reflects the new century’s marriage of cultural influences.
You can find out more about her and hear some of her music at www.ivonnehernandez.com.
She is well-known in B.C., having been born and raised in Victoria. She presently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, but will be in B.C. in January and has agreed to come all the way to Merville to participate in the popular house concert series, with a performance on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20, $10 for children, and this includes hot drinks and our famous dessert buffet.
All the money raised goes directly to the performer. Because the concert takes place in a private home, seating is limited.
For more information and to reserve tickets call 250-337-5337.
A child prodigy, she soon was playing guitar, piano, cello, flute, and percussion before joining Daniel Lapp’s BC Fiddle Orchestra. While still in her pre-teens, Hernandez played on the Orchestra’s Fiddleharmonic CD, and before 60,000 at a Commonwealth Games performance with the Crash Test Dummies.
Hernandez has mastered Canada’s traditional fiddle music as well as classical, klezmer, Scottish and Irish fiddling, combining all these influences in her recordings and performances.
She embodies the country’s 21st century multiculturalism, and her music reflects the new century’s marriage of cultural influences.
You can find out more about her and hear some of her music at www.ivonnehernandez.com.
She is well-known in B.C., having been born and raised in Victoria. She presently resides in Boston, Massachusetts, but will be in B.C. in January and has agreed to come all the way to Merville to participate in the popular house concert series, with a performance on Saturday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $20, $10 for children, and this includes hot drinks and our famous dessert buffet.
All the money raised goes directly to the performer. Because the concert takes place in a private home, seating is limited.
For more information and to reserve tickets call 250-337-5337.
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