Irish America
Irish America
Isabelle Emerson writes on the fascinating life of Irish tenor Michael Kelly. Michael Kelly's career started early: at the age of three he was served up on the table with the wine to sing for the entertainment of his father's guests. His powerful soprano was, perhaps surprisingly, not damaged by this unusual stage or by the succession of rather peculiar voice teachers, … [Read more...] about Mozart’s Irish Tenor
The Chieftains are the most Irish of all commercial bands and, therefore, the most universal in spirit. They embody their musical heritage with such fierce allegiance to its true origins that nothing compromises their integrity. They work with ballet companies, symphony orchestras, classical Chinese ensembles, and even hard-edged rock stars with miraculous consistency. No … [Read more...] about Music Review: Nashville Finds Its Irish Roots
In a small, dimly lit pub in a West Clare village, a group of attentive listeners gather around an elderly woman seated in a corner. The year is 1958 and some of the people gathered have travelled from as far away as Dublin City to sit in the presence of one Mrs. Crotty, who sits smiling but unmoving; except for her nimble fingers, which dance effortlessly across the keys of a … [Read more...] about Women in Irish Traditional Music
Every so often in Irish traditional music, a marvelous album comes along without much advance fanfare. The Missing Reel by fiddler Séamus McGuire and flutist John Lee, with superb support from guitarist Arty McGlynn and pianist Fiona McGuire (Séamus' sister), is just such an album. Released at the end of 1990, it has sustained its popularity among traditional music lovers in … [Read more...] about Nothing’s Missing from The Missing Reel
What exactly is it about singing sensation Daniel O'Donnell that makes people feel so passionately about him? Daniel's fans—and there are millions of them, all over the world—would absolutely live and die for him. They flock to his concerts in record numbers, and make his album and video sales reach the same lofty heights as pop icons Madonna and New Kids on the … [Read more...] about The Irish in Country | Donegal’s Danny Boy
