FolkWorld Issue 37 11/2008
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Paddy Moloney ++
John Martyn ++
Lynn Morris ++
Gordon Lightfoot ++
Ronnie Drew ++
Bernad Overton ++
Hector Zazou ++
Paddy Canny ++
Vincent Broderick ++
Harris Wulfson ++
Cliff Hall ++
Artie Traum ++
Muzsikas ++
Glasgow ++
Thames ++
Turlough O'Carolan ++
Fiddler's Green ++
David Rovics ++
Stephan Said ++
Up and Coming ++
Christmas Surprise The shelves in the FolkWorld office are jam-packed; like it or not, we have to get rid of some CDs send in for review in the past 10 years. So are you interested in folk, roots and world music from Austria to Wales and Australia to the US? Competition closed! |
Paddy Moloney @ FolkWorld: members.shaw.ca en.wikipedia.org |
Paddy Moloney, * 01.08.1938, Donnycarney, Dublin, Ireland. When he was six, Paddy's mother bought him a tin whistle, and by the age of eight he started to learn the uilleann pipes from the great pipe master Leo Rowsome (-> FW#21, #26). Paddy often played with other musicians around Dublin and he even had a skiffle band at one point. In the late 1950s he met Seán Ó Riada (-> FW#28) and joined his folk orchestra Ceoltóirí Chualann. In 1962, Paddy brought Seán Potts, Martin Fay, Peadar Mercier, Mick Tubridy and Dave Fallon together to do a one time album called "The Chieftains" for Garech de Brún's Claddagh Records. From 1968 to 1975 he became a producer for the Claddagh label and supervised the recording of 45 albums in folk, traditional, classical, poetry and spoken word recordings. Then he and the Chieftains hit the road and went professional. Paddy never looked back, he led and developed the band into one of Ireland's most famous musical ambassadors. He is the primary composer and arranger of much of the Chieftains' music, and has also composed the scores for feature films such as "Barry Lyndon" and "Far and Away" (-> FW#37). For his work with the Chieftains and spreading Irish music throughout the world, Paddy Moloney was awarded an honorary doctorate degree of music from Trinity College Dublin.
John Martyn, * 11.09.1948, New Malden, Surrey, England. John Martyn (born Iain David McGeachy) is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Mentored by Hamish Imlach, Martyn's professional musical career began when he was seventeen, playing a blend of blues and folk that resulted in a unique style that made him a key figure in the London folk scene during the mid-1960s. By 1970 Martyn had developed a wholly original and idiosyncratic sound:
www.johnmartyn.com |
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Lynn Morris, * 08.10.1948, Lamesa, Texas, USA. Lynn Morris grew up in a small West Texas farming community. She began playing the banjo, and became the first person to twice win the coveted National Banjo Championship in Winfield, Kansas. She proceeded to build a remarkably varied and exciting career, performing full time throughout North America and Europe, as well as touring US military outposts. Lynn was the first woman elected to the board of directors of the International Bluegrass Music Association. Lynn has been voted IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year three times and seven times Traditional Female Vocalist for the Society for Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America.
Gordon Lighfoot @ FolkWorld: FW #28 |
Gordon Lightfoot, * 17.11.1938, Orillia, Ontario, Canada.
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot, Jr., is a Canadian singer and songwriter.
As a teenager, he was influenced by 19th-century master American songwriter Stephen Foster,
later by the folk music of Pete Seeger and The Weavers, Ian and Sylvia Tyson, and others.
He came to prominence in the 1960s/70s with songs such as "Early Morning Rain",
"If You Could Read My Mind", "Sundown" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".
Mixing Canadian and universal themes, Lightfoot became one of the first Canadian singers to achieve
real stardom in his own country without having to move to the United States.
His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Peter, Paul and Mary,
Judy Collins, Richie Havens and The Kingston Trio.
Bob Dylan called Lightfoot one of his favourite songwriters,
when he would hear a Gordon Lightfoot song he wished "it would last forever."
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Ronnie underwent six months' treatment for throat cancer two years ago; his wife of more than 40 years, Deirdre, died last year. In February members of U2 joined fellow Irish musicians Sinead O'Connor, Shane MacGowan, Christy Moore and others to record a tribute song called 'The Ballad of Ronnie Drew'. All profits went to the Irish Cancer Society. Speaking at the time of the recording, U2's Bono said: "Ronnie is like the King of Ireland, and we are his subjects."
Con Kavanagh, barman at O'Donoghues pub in central Dublin, where The Dubliners started out, said that everybody gathering at the pub this Saturday evening was talking about Ronnie. "When you mention Dublin, you mention Ronnie Drew - the two just went together," he said. "Everybody loved him."
Bernard Overton (1930-2008). Bernard Overton passed away on 14 June 2008. Forty years ago, Bernard together with the help of Finbar Furey introduced for the first time in traditional music lower keyed whistles, most notably the low D.
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Paddy Canny (1919-2008).
Paddy Canny @ FolkWorld: FW#36 |
Vincent Broderick (1920-2008).
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Harris Wulfson (+2008)
Our dear musician comrade and friend, Harris Wulfson, died suddenly.
We remember him fondly, for his sweetness with the violin and all else.
His intellect and humor were tremendous yet unassuming.
He had a great smile, endless enthusiasm, and an easy sense of irony.
And he just loved music.
Harris had a deep devotion to Yidishkayt, and also applied his talents to his many other interests, such as bluegrass, funk, rap, new and electronic music of types I am at a loss to describe. He could play le jazz hot as well as Irish tunes, Yiddish swing or Bulgarian 11/4, and imbue it all with gorgeous, fun spirit. His gifts could also be heard through mandolin, accordion, guitar, and however else he expressed his natural musicality.
Many of our New York-area fans may remember Harris as our genial guest artist and outstanding soloist on Metropolitan Klezmer shows; he also appeared as a guest Klezbian on occasion.
Harris had a special ear for music of Eastern Europe, and called certain parts of that region the Klez Belt. Anyone who has listened to our first two CDs "Yiddish For Travelers" and "Mosaic Persuasion" has heard Harris' violin stylings on several tracks where he was a featured guest.
He was also a deeply principled, dapper, occasionally yet adorably spacey mentsh who was constantly open to learning.
He has left us much too soon, but we are grateful for having known him. It is still very hard to believe he will not be here to play with us next time. May his memory continue for a blessing.
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Hector Zazou (1948-2008).
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Cliff Hall (1925-2008).
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Artie Traum (1943-2008).
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Muzsikás @ FolkWorld: www.womex.com |
WOMEX is proud to announce the winners of the 10th annual WOMEX Award for World Music. This year WOMEX has decided to present two WOMEX Awards, one to the Hungarian band Muzsikás and the other to the folk music department of the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland.
In their 35th year. Muzsikás is the group of artists who put Hungarian folk music on the international map. With their collaborations with Márta Sebestyén, and now in their work since she departed, they have been the foremost ambassadors for music from Hungary, with a special emphasis on music from Transsylvania. "Without Muzsikás, the Hungarian táncház (dancehouse) movement, the special Hungarian klezmer-revival and the bridge between Hungarian folk music and Béla Bartók's work would not exist," says Csaba Lokös, promoter of the world music stage at the Sziget Festival.
"If you want to hear Hungarian traditional music at its best then start with Muzsikás,"
says Songlines editor Simon Broughton. "They can play with the authenticity and energy of a
real village band, but also make sense of that music for an international audience in a big concert hall.
The international success of Muzsikás
not only makes the music better known, but helps it survive at source as people realise that it has a value
internationally."
Glasgow wins UNESCO City of Music Status
www.seeglasgow.com |
Almost 20 years after it held the title European Capital of Culture (1990), Glasgow has been confirmed as a UNESCO City of Music. The title sets the seal on Glasgow’s reputation for music, with the bid highlighting the city’s rich tradition of classical, pop and rock music, leading music venues and concert halls, and festivals such as Celtic Connections. The bid stated that in a typical week, an impressive 127 music events are presented in Glasgow. Additionally, music generates an estimated £75m (US$139m) to Glasgow's economy each year.
The bid to become a UNESCO City of Music was prepared by Glasgow City of Music based on the city’s:
The following cities enjoy UNESCO status:
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Following the successful bid, the Glasgow City of Music (GCUM) organisation will be created "to improve its health, maximise its performance and ensure it seizes every opportunity to advance." Within the first year of receiving the title, GCUM aims to present a major event in Glasgow to celebrate the title and the city’s music.
Glasgow joins only ten other cities as part of UNESCO’s world-wide Creative Cities Network.
The Creative Cities Network was launched by UNESCO in October 2004.
It is designed to promote the social, economic and cultural development of cities in both the developed and
the developing world.
Folk Songs of the Upper Thames
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The history web resource Folk Songs of the Upper Thames has been launched on 6 September 2008.
The extensive collection of more than 1,000 song lyrics has been painstakingly transcribed by local enthusiast
Chris Wildridge.
The majority of the songs in the collection were originally collected by Wiltshire-born Alfred Williams
(1877-1930).
Apart from volumes of poetry and books on the Wiltshire countryside he published the
"Folk Songs of the Upper Thames" in 1923.
As he wrote in the preface to his book, "I had no time to obtain the tunes, my chief concern being to save
the words before they had completely disappeared by reason of the death of the singers - chiefly the most aged
of the villagers, male and female."
Chris Wildridge said: "The songs Alfred Williams collected are the first to be published online in their entirety.
This is an important contribution to the traditional songs of England and I am pleased to have been instrumental
in bringing it about. These songs are everybody's songs and they deserve to be in the public domain."
Launch of O'Carolan Trail in Mohill
Turlough O'Carolan contemplator.com |
The third in a series of trails in the Irish county of Leitrim was launched in May 2008. The newly signposted O'Carolan Trail marks significant locations in counties Leitrim and Roscommon that are associated with the great harper and composer, Turlough O'Carolan. The launch was part of the Mohill O'Carolan Weekend 2008, which consisted of music, song and dance over four days in various venues throughout the Mohill area. Following the trail launch, all those attending were invited to the very first conducted tour of the new O'Carolan Trail. As the bus travelled through counties Leitrim and Roscommon, Fr. John Quinn, P.P., Gortletteragh, gave a running commentary and Janet Harbison played the music of the harper at various locations along the trail.
Sites include Coothall, where Turlough composed a piece in honour of Sir Charles
Coote; Alderford House near Ballyfarnon the home of O'Carolan's patrons,
the McDermott Roe family, and in whose honour he composed several pieces;
Kilronan Cemetery where the harper is buried; another McDermott Roe house near
Keadue, Greyfield House, where Turlough spent some of the happiest days of his
life; Letterfine, the home of Squire Reynolds, where allegedly O'Carolan composed
his first piece, Sheebeg and Sheemore.
Eventually, O'Carolan's Cottage in Drumboy near Mohill,
now a shed, and which tradition says was the house in which the harper lived
after he married Mary Maguire, a Fermanagh woman. Here they raised a large
family and kept 'open house' for musicians and performers who came from far
and near.
Rostrevor, N. Ireland 20-27 July 2008 fiddlersgreenfestival.co.uk |
The Fiddler's Green Hall of Fame Award, designed by the late and much loved Rostrevor artist, Jim Sherry, is presented annually to a person or group who has made a significant contribution to the cause of Irish music and culture. In 2008 the Fiddler's Green Festival is delighted to honour one of the finest Irish female singers, Mary Black.
2008 Mary Black 2007 Sweeney's Men 2007 The McPeakes 2006 Cathal Hayden 2005 Donal Lunny 2004 Paddy Moloney 2003 The Boys of the Lough 2002 Ronnie Drew 2001 Andy Irvine 2000 The Sands Family 1999 Finbar Furey 1998 Altan 1997 De Dannan 1996 The Dubliners 1995 Dolores Keane 1994 The Clancy Brothers 1993 Liam O'Flynn 1992 Maire Brennan 1991 Mick Moloney 1990 Joe Burke 1989 Tommy Makem 1988 David Hammond 1987 Sean Maguire |
Mary Black has long held the attention of followers of Irish music as one of the finest female vocalists in the world. Her distinguished career has spanned over 25 years, from her early days in Dublin folk clubs through ever escalating success, with seven platinum solo albums. So in 2008, which marks the 25th anniversary of Mary’s first solo album, the Fiddler's Gree Festival welcomes her to the Hall of Fame.
The Fiddler's Green Creative Arts Award was devised to celebrate the year 2000. The renowned sculptor, Carolyn Mulholland was commissioned to create a piece in bronze to celebrate Rostrevor and the creative arts.
2008 Pete Seeger 2007 Steve Cooney 2006 Ralph McTell 2005 Michael O Suilleabhain 2004 Tom Newman 2003 Liam Clancy 2002 Tony McAuley 2001 John B Vallely 2000 Seamus Heaney |
Pete Seeger, now 89, regarded as one of the most influential musicians and social
activists in the world, has received many awards in his time but when hearing of
the Irish tribute from his musician friend and Rostrevor resident Tommy Sands he
was quietly happy. 'My great grandmother came from Ireland’ he said, ‘and I have
long admired the musical tradition and widespread influences of that small but
inspirational land'.
Pete's grandson Tao, a wonderful singer songwriter, who has performed
with Pete for many years was the festival's special guest.
A new movie about Pete's life, "The Power of Music",
did receive its Irish premier at the Festival.
David Rovics @ FolkWorld: |
Singer-songwriter David Rovivs has written edited and eventually published a 64-page pamphlet called "Sing for your Supper: A DIY Guide to Playing Music, Writing Songs and Booking Your Own Gigs." Over the years, many people have sought advice on aspects of the craft of songwriting, finding gigs, organizing tours. David often felt bad about giving inadequate little bits of advice in the form of a couple paragraphs of an email or a short conversation. He says, Now you can all read the damn pamphlet! You can order a copy at the new PM Press.
Review probably in the next FolkWorld issue.
On 22 September, New York songwriter Stephan Smith celebrated the announcement of his decision to reclaim his Arabic name, Stephan Said, detailing his censorship before major label executives who insisted he could "never have a career in the U.S. with an Arabic name."
Stephan Smith/Said @ FolkWorld: |
The concert at Joe's Pub
debuted songs from Stephan's forthcoming album to be released in early 2009,
with an all-star orchestra including Cindy Blackman, Rob Clores, Kevin Hunter, George Mitchell, Jane Scarpantoni, Yousif Sheronick, and horn legends Lenny Pickett, Howard Johnson, Art Baron and Earl Gardner.
The show was a shout-out for cross cultural tolerance that will benefit an advocacy campaign for Iraqi refugees surrounding the album release. As part of that work,
the concert was filmed for a music video for Stephan's re-interpretation of Mohamed Abdel Wahab's 1937 classic "Aheb Aisht Al Huriya" (I Love the Life of Freedom), being made by Award winning Pakistani film maker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy and U.S. based documentarian Trish Dalton.
13-16 Nov 2008 - WILLIAM KENNEDY PIPING FESTIVAL
Armagh, Northern Ireland;
ft. Lúnasa, Liam O’Flynn & Catherine Ennis, Michael McGoldrick, At First Light, Ronan Browne, Robbie Hannan, Jimmy O’Brien Moran, Mick O’Brien, Tejedor, Anxo Lorenzo & Xosé Liz de Cea, Patrick Molard, Ivan Georgiev, Allan MacDonald,
Brian MacNamara & Tim Collins, Dråm, Beòlach, Bagad Cap Caval, Giancarlo Parisi, Luigi Lai, Caramusa, Pere Joan & Manel Martorell,
Jarlath Henderson & Ross Ainslie, Sean McKeon & Liam O’Connor, Jean Michel Veillon & Jackie Molard, Buille, Peter Browne, Dermot McLaughlin, Barnaby Brown, Na Tri Seudan, Cormac Breatnach, Tiarnán O Duinnchinn, Andy May, Brian Mullen, Brian Finnegan, Eamonn Curran & Martin Meehan
www.wkpf.org
15 Jan - 1 Feb 2009 - CELTIC CONNECTIONS
Glasgow, Scotland;
ft. artists from Aidan to Youssou
www.celticconnections.com
27-29 Mar 2009 - CHILD & FOLKLORE FESTIVAL
Clusone, Italy
www.fitp.org
22-28 Apr 2009 - folkBALTICA
Flensburg & Sønderjylland-Schleswig, Germany;
ft. focus on Denmark
www.folkbaltica.de
3-5 Jul 2009 - TFF.RUDOLSTADT
Rudolstadt, Germany;
ft. focus on Russia, the Lute, and Lower Saxony/Bremen
www.tff-rudolstadt.de
14-16 Aug 2009 - FOLKWOODS FESTIVAL
Eindhoven, Netherlands
www.folkwoods.nl
27-30 Aug 2009 - TØNDER FESTIVAL
Tønder, Denmark
www.tf.dk
More News in the German Issue! To News of Issue 36 To News of Issue 38
++ FolkWorld NewsFlash ++ |
© The Mollis - Editors of FolkWorld; Published 11/2008
All material published in FolkWorld is © The Author via FolkWorld. Storage for private use is allowed and welcome. Reviews and extracts of up to 200 words may be freely quoted and reproduced, if source and author are acknowledged. For any other reproduction please ask the Editors for permission. Although any external links from FolkWorld are chosen with greatest care, FolkWorld and its editors do not take any responsibility for the content of the linked external websites.