fellow sean-nos singers?

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 04:48 AM

Daithi Sproule lives in the US but I don't remember where. Better known as a guitarist, so he usually accompanies his singing but I daresay he could sing without the guitar too! has a good repetoire of Donegal songs

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Dineen Grow
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 01:25 PM

Dia dhuit a Bill!

I am part of the group working on the Fitchburg Days Festival to be held May 21-23.   On Saturday, we are putting together a variety of half-hour programs that highlight various aspects of the Irish culture.   We've invited musicians, an archaeologist, an artist in Celtic calligraphy, some lecturers, a harpist...etc., to share their talents with us.   I didn't think any true Irish festival could be complete without representation from the sean-nós tradition! So, I was glad to discover this list.

Thanks for your help. Hope to see you again soon!

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Folkiedave
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 04:10 PM

If anyone wants a good book on it then Hugh Shields" Narrative Singing in Ireland" covers the subject. Not so many around these days and I sold the only one I had recently. Pay around £20.00 / £30.00.

I do have some Joe Heaney Records on Vinyl.

Dave
www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 03:37 PM

Dineen a chara! I didn't think it could be you but wondered who else in Madison would be doing such a thing, I was going to email you once the Guest responded with more info! How about some details for the rest of us, like where and when? and for whom and what sort of festival?

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Dineen Grow
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 03:07 PM

Thanks everyone!    I will be seeing John at the Immersion Weekend, so I'll check with him.   Sile would have been my first choice, but she will already be busy at the festival, I'm afraid.    Anyway, thanks very much.   I very much appreciate it.

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 01:20 PM

forgot to Mention, Gaelic Immersion Weekend run by Conradh na Gaeilge Craobh Curtin (Milwaukee) is the weekend of April 23. AIne is doing a workshop on Sean nos singing on Saturday, you can contact her there, and talk to John Gleeson as well. info here

http://members.busynet.net/0557/deireadh.htm

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 12:45 PM

also for your festival some Americans who sing sean-nós (in Irish) include Julie Henigan and Virginia Blankenhorn. They have sung at the fest John Gleeson organised, so do ask him for contacts

and yes, Lilis O Laoire is one to get if possible! there are also a few singers in the Boston, Mass vicinity

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 10:20 AM

here's John's email, [e-mail]

you also probably know of Sile Sigley in Madison and her group Navan?

they do a mix of singing from all Celtic traditions, including Irish Sean Nos.

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 10:06 AM

I have Aine's phone somewhere, but you could connect with her through the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago, or contact John Gleeson at UW Milwaukee Celtic Center. Sean Nos Weekend every February, the second annual one held this year, a great event. John is the man to be in touch with. One of his students, Brian Hart is also a singer to consider, studying in Limerick now, but a student of Aine's, and a fine young singer.

really John Gleeson is the man to contact.

Lilis O'Laire is out in California, but also would be a great singer to get for a festival, though May is pretty short notice.

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 09:58 AM

try Aine Meenaghan in Chicago, the real thing.
there are

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 09:30 AM

Does anyone know anyone near the Madison, Wisconsin area who is a sean-nós singer?    We are looking for someone for a festival we are hosting in May.   

Go raibh mile maith agaibh.

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: GUEST,Louise Walsh
Date: 31 Mar 04 - 03:47 PM

Dear Fellow Singers

There is a singers circle in New York for all Sean-nos singers we meet the last Wednesday of every month in THe Bull McCabe's on 51st Street. We usually start around 8.15pm till approx 10.00pm and we have had approximately 15-20 singers at the last session.

Anyone interested in more info contact me at [e-mail]

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 18 Dec 98 - 12:58 PM

refreshing this to answer a request for discussion of sean-nos posted by Ana, Dec. 18, 1998, her thread titled 'sean nos'.

alice in montana

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 04 Apr 98 - 02:45 PM

Dave, mm, Aine, and all, this is one of those times for me on the Mudcat forum when I would really like to be able to meet the other people involved in the discussion topic.
Dave, I am going to try to find a copy of your wife's recording. If I can't, do you have one that you could copy on a cassette tape? I would send you the blank tape or pay what you need to copy it. If you have an email address, please leave a message at my website. I typed it in above, but here it is again to make it easier to find.
http://www.mcn.net/~acflynn/index.html

I am so grateful for Max, Susan, Dick and everyone else for creating the data base and this discussion forum. It is the most enriching experience I've found on the internet, to be able to communicate with people from all over the world who can offer advice and information on music. I have people here in my town with whom I can share both classical and folk music, but as I stated earlier, there is no one here with whom I could discuss sean-nos the way we have been on this thread. alice

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Dave Brennan
Date: 03 Apr 98 - 09:50 PM

I used to do a bit with the Sean Nos when I was younger, but since moving to Detroit I haven't heard too many that'd be interested. My wife now, you might have heard of her: Virginia Stevens. She made an LP, oh years ago now, on the Sruthan label, called Tiocaidh an Samradh. But, as I say, we'd both be put out of our misery if the blues singers around here heard us. If you ever thought of meeting somewhere though, we might be interested.

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: mm
Date: 03 Apr 98 - 06:02 PM

Claddagh Records in Cecilia Street, Dublin, is the best place in the world to get traditional Irish music. They have an email address, but I'm not sure if it's [e-mail] or [e-mail] - and I think they have a website somewhere.

Take a look at the Ceolas site, anyway - you'll find recordings of sean-nós which you can listen to if you have Real Audio plugins installed.

And finally, you should join the Gaeilge-B listserv for Irish language learners.

Adh mhór leat!

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Aine
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 06:05 PM

Alice: Mo dhearmad! My mistake! The title is "The Seven Steps To Mercy" (in Gaeilge: Seacht gCoiscéim na Trócaire - which by the way, they mispelled on the CD) I'm very sorry - Realworld is the record company name. Try a search on Green Linnet again, it might work this time with the right title :-) Le meas, Aine

Martin: I bought the tape you mentioned, Amhráin ar an Sean-Nós, in Glencolmcille when I was there a couple of years back. The first chance I had to listen to it was after being kidnapped (seriously, from a phone box outside the pub)and taken to an all night house party, where we danced, played music and sang until the sun came up. My bean a ti's house was on the other side of the glen and since I was still so "pumped" from the craic at the party, I turned down a ride home and walked back. I listened to "Amhráin ar an Sean-Nós" while I strolled through the glen and up the mountainside through the mist rising up from the valley. It was a experience I'll never forget - the hairs on the back of my neck still rise up. I would recommend this recording to everyone interested in Irish music (sung in Irish), whether it be sean-nós or not! If you can't get to a glen by the sea at dawn in Ireland, just kick back in a comfortable chair at home, close your eyes and use your imagination . . . you'll enjoy it, I guarantee. Slán go fóill, Aine

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 02:51 PM

Thanks, Martin.

Aine, I still need to track down Iarla O Lionaird's "Realworld" you recommended in your e-mail. I did a search at Green Linnet for both the name and the title and didn't get anything. Haven't tried calling them, but I'm sure my locally owned CD store can order it, (and they need the business in this small town). Thanks again for the references. alice

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 11:09 AM

Two recommendations for anyone who'd like an idea of what sean-nos singing is - and its relation to Irish traditional singing in English.

(i) "Amhrain ar an Sean-Nos" is a compilation CD drawn from the archives of RTE, the national radio station. Mostly studio recordings in the late fifties/early sixties, with some field recordings.Songs (in Irish) and singers from all over the country. Words in Irish, outlines in English and good notes.

(ii) "Hurry the Jug" is a compilation CD drawn from classic Topic label recordings of Irish traditional singers around the same period. Mostly field recordings. Almost all in English. These are the sources from which many of the later well-known singers drew inspiration and songs.

Where to get them? try "Ulstersongs" at http://members.aol.com/jmoul81075/ulstsong.htm
Tell John Moulden I sent you! I'll add him to the links page.

Each of the above is 78 mins long - so there's great value as well.

Regards

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 02 Apr 98 - 11:02 AM

Two recommendations for anyone who'd like an idea of what sean-nos singing is - and its relation to Irish traditional singing in English.

(i) "Amhrain ar an Sean-Nos" is a compilation CD drawn from the archives of RTE, the national radio station. Mostly studio recordings in the late fifties/early sixties, with some field recordings.Songs (in Irish) and singers from all over the country. Words in Irish, outlines in English and good notes.

(ii) "Hurry the Jug" is a compilation CD drawn from classic Topic label recordings of Irish traditional singers around the same period. Mostly field recordings. Almost all in English. These are the sources from which many of the later well-known singers drew inspiration and songs.

Where to get them? try "Ulstersongs" at http://members.aol.com/jmoul81075/ulstsong.htm
Tell John Moulden I sent you! I'll add him to the links page.

Each of the above is 78 mins long - so there's great value as well.

Regards

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 27 Mar 98 - 03:59 AM

Cliff

That's a beautifully compact set of recommendations that will give people a very good idea of what sean-nos in Irish is all about!

Regards

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Cliff McGann
Date: 26 Mar 98 - 08:42 PM

I wouldn't consider myself a Sean-Nos singer although I do sing some Irish songs. I studied Scot's Gaelic in Nova Scotia and teach it here in the Boston area but since Irish is more prominent here I have learned some songs. One of the best sources for Sean-Nos recordings is the Irish record label Clo/-Iar Chonnachta(CIC) based in Conamara. Their website is @ http://www.wombat.ie/cic/ I would suggest gaining an understanding of the different styles of Sean-Nos by obtaining recordings that are representative of those styles. Some suggestions would be Connemara singer Sea/n 'ac Dhonncha's CD An Spailpi/n Fa/nach or Donegal singer Lillis O/ Laoire's CD Bláth Gach Géag dá dTig or the CD Bruach na Carraige Báine by Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin which features sean-nós songs from Muskerry, Co. Cork (ALL Avaialbel FROM CIC). Another recording of Sean-Nos many people are not aware of is Joe Heaney's Say A Song which was recorded while he was an artist in residence at the University of Washington. Some Good stuff on it. For more info check http://www.nwfolklife.org/folklife/P_REC/Recordings.html

Good Luck, Cliff.

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Aine
Date: 24 Mar 98 - 05:25 PM

Alice: I tried to read your message in re 'books and tapes', but there was some foul-up on the Mudcat system. Please resend or send it to me at: [e-mail]

Le meas, Aine

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 24 Mar 98 - 01:58 PM

Barry, that Ossian address was very helpful! Thanks. alice

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Mar 98 - 12:33 PM

Aine, http://www.ossian.ie/index.html That's Ossian they have a good collection. Close by me (southern NH), I don't know where in the states you are, there are some very nice folks who have a good working knowledge of Sean-Nos recordings there E-Mail is ( [e-mail] ). Good Luck, Barry

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Aine
Date: 24 Mar 98 - 10:44 AM

Alice - What dialect did your Irish teacher speak? If he/she was from the North, I can give you some information on tapes/books/materials, etc.

Barry - Go raibh mile maith agat for the Ulster singers' names - some I knew, some I didn't. Can you tell me where I could get any recordings of them - here in the States or in Ireland?

- Aine

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 20 Mar 98 - 07:50 PM

Went to the Nenagh Singers Circle website, and enjoyed reading about them. I really liked this quote:
"It is imperative that people understand that we are promoting ALL singing and we do not want people to think that the Circle is biased towards one type or genre. It is only the act of singing which is important and no standards are set. Each person who performs will be afforded the same respect no matter what style they choose and regardless of their level of ability. Poetry and monologues are also welcome.

We cannot overemphasize that the circle needs good listeners as well as good singers. Everybody is welcome to attend and no pressure will be put on anyone who does not wish to sing or is a little nervous. As a matter of policy, everyone who attends will be invited to perform but there will be no undue pressure applied should anyone decline".

I love that part about circles needing good listeners as well as good singers. Reminds me of the thread on how to be heard in a rowdy bar. alice in mt.

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 20 Mar 98 - 07:44 PM

Thanks, Barry, Martin, and Marc. I think it's time to go back to the Comhaltas source and look for the book and tapes. My niece Brigid moved to Providence, RI last fall, so I will have to tell her about what is happening in Boston. I don't anticipate being able to make a trip back East, although I would like to. alice

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: MarcB
Date: 20 Mar 98 - 07:04 PM

Consider me both interested and a traditional sean nos singer(as much as a well-melted American can ever be such). Whether or not I do an old style authentically probably depends on who you ask(and I'll leave it to others to decide). I have spent more energy in the last few years finding an unaccompanied style that feels both traditional and LIKE ME, rather than worrying about whether it sounds like someone else. Only because that's what I wanted to be about, not because I have any itch with striving for truly traditional sounds as embodied by great singers.

Although a good deal of my repertoire is Irish I am probably more akin to traditional acappella English singers, ala Louie Killen, Martin Carthy, and tons of others. Am also heavily into Shantey singing so Stan Hugill has been a big influence in person and in writing.

I'll give some more thought to singers I believe in! Marc

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 20 Mar 98 - 07:27 AM

I've added the Nenagh site to the Links - under Misc. for now!

Regards

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 20 Mar 98 - 03:53 AM

Just remembered that one of the singers clubs in Ireland has a web site.

The Nenagh Singers Circle is based in a small town in Tipperary. They would include a range of styles of unaccompanied singing in Irish and English.The site includes, among other things, a list of similar clubs, with contacts and phone numbers.

Address

http://www.geocities.com/broadway/alley/4749

Still can't emulate Wolfgangs trick and make these "clickable"!

Regards

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 19 Mar 98 - 07:57 PM

Hi Alice, went looking for an old LP of mine that I can no longer find, that had some very nice singing on it , by 3 different sean-nos singers, cant remember anything about it now, except for the title "The Lambs On The Green Hills". Comhaltas, in 1977, put out a book, prepared by Seamus MacMathuna, with a tape of trad singers, tape's among the missing , still have the book, "Traditional Song & Singers". If you hit Boston, there are some great sean-nos singers here. Bridget Fitzgerald, who's performing at Celtic Roots Fest. Boston & NEFFA ("songs I learnt from Joe"), & I see from the schedule a good few Mudcaters will be there, is a great old style singer from the Gaeltacht area of Conamara, not far from Spideal, where I believe she & her sister (another geat singer) Sally Coyne, were influenced by the geat Tomas O Coisdealbha (Tom Phaidin Tom), who I think put out an LP, produced by Comhaltas, back in the late 70's, when he would've been in his mid 80's.

Alice, I'd have to agree with Martin about Mary O'Hara. I haven't heard her in ages, so I pulled out her "Songs Of Ireland" LP with her unac'd version of "Sliabh na mBan" & still didn't get to excited, to trained & parlor style for me.

Aine, some of the older Ulster style singers you might like, forgive me if you're already familiar with, Paddy Tunney, Geordie Hanna & his sister, Sarah Anne O'Neill & Eddie Sweeney.

Barry

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: alison
Date: 19 Mar 98 - 06:05 PM

Hi,

During the summer nearly all Irish towns will have a traditional music evening going in one of the pubs, so they are not hard to find.... knowing which ones are worth going to is more difficult, but the locals can usually steer you in the right direction. Co Clare on the West coast is famous for it's music. there are festivals on around the place as well.

You should have no trouble finding what you're after.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Mar 98 - 02:43 PM

Alice

The Baggot Inn and O'Donoghue's would be popular tourist haunts during the summer. The best starting point for good non-commercial Irish music in Dublin is probably Hughes' pub. Its near the city centre behind the main Courthouse! (Known as the "Four Courts"). There's always at least one session on the go, often with singing. Many of the city's traditional musicians and singers hang out there so an enquiry will soon tell you what's on!

The Goleen is a more specialist affair, held in a pub which doesn't normally have music. Its been on the go for nearly twenty years now, in a variety of venues. All unaccompanied singing - they strip-search for instruments at the door! (I jest!). Huge source of contacts, songs, styles. No Web-site, I'm afraid - though I have heard talk of it. Now that I think of it, I believe one of the singers circles around the country has just launched one - I'll check.

Regards

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 19 Mar 98 - 12:24 PM

Hello Aine,
I am isolated in the mountains of Montana, where no one else has heard of sean-nos. The one Gaelic language teacher here joined the army last year and was inducted on St. Patrick's Day! He used to come to the weekly session here and sing, but now he is being trained to be a language specialist in the army. So, one reason for me to start this thread, is that I am reaching out for anyone else who is interested in this type of music. I am not confident enough to sing anything in Gaelic for anyone but myself, because I don't know the language well enough. I have been in touch thru email with people in Australia and in San Francisco and Seattle where there are workshops and teachers, but the internet right now is the only way for me to find anyone to even discuss the topic.
Aine, do you have an email address?
alice

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 19 Mar 98 - 12:09 PM

Thanks, Martin,
I have a travel book called "Music Lover's Guide to Great Britain and Ireland", and in the index I could find neither Trinity Inn, nor the Goleen Singers Club. (Are you a member of the club? Do they have a site on the web?) Thanks for the inside info. Some of the references in the travel book for trad music in Dublin were places such as Baggot's Inn and O'Donaghue's. I haven't made it over to Ireland yet, so this is a shot in the dark for me trying understand where the music is being sung in public venues.
Yes, I had thought about how a polished or "professional" sounding voice may be considered a disqualifying factor. (I still like her, even if she technically sounds too "trained" to officially fit in the category.)

alice, montana

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Aine
Date: 19 Mar 98 - 11:45 AM

Dia dhaoibh, Martin agus Alice!

I am very interested in sean nos singing also. Which dialect/regional style do the two of you sing in? My first Irish teacher was from Donegal, so I follow the Ulster path. One of my favorite sean nos CD's is Darach O'Cathain's 'Traditional Irish Unaccompanied Singing' on Shanachie Records, #34005. Have either of you heard it? I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Slan, Aine

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 19 Mar 98 - 11:05 AM

Alice

There's plenty of sean-nos singing to be heard in Ireland still. A purist would insist on it being unaccompanied singing in Irish, in an "old style". A realist would see the enormous influence that tradition has had on the way we Irish sing unaccompanied in English also! That's my excuse, anyway, for the way I sing.

As to where to start? For those who come to Dublin in particular a good starting point would be the Goleen Singers Club which is held every Friday night in Trinity Inn, Pearse Street in Dublin, except July and August (which is when most people are likely to be here, I suppose!).

During the summer, there are lots of festivals partly or completely devoted to singing and a little enquiry will turn them up. Otherwise - drop me an email!

I'll try to get back to suggesting some artists later.

Regards p.s. The "problem" with a trained, art-music voice like Mary O'Haras is probably the instinctive heavy vibrato?

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Art Thieme
Date: 18 Mar 98 - 10:48 PM

Horse Keane (James Keane) of Chicago sure fits my definition of this. "Jimmy" Keane is his son---and a fine singer too.

Joe Heany and I had a mutual admiration society before he passed away---but I never understood why he might be into my music. I am VERY American trad. But I was certainly honored. Joe was truly a giant of an artist!

ART

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 18 Mar 98 - 05:00 PM

Martin, your comment raises another question. Do you have a list of names (past and present) of old-style Irish singers that you like? Most recordings are one or two songs here and there mixed in with other music. Outside of competitions, how much sean-nos singing can be heard in Ireland today? If someone was to visit Ireland and wanted to focus on spots to hear traditional music as well as old-style singing, where would you recommend that they visit? alice

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 18 Mar 98 - 04:15 PM

Martin, you're right, most of her recorded stuff is accompanied by the harp. But, there are a few pieces that she sings in Gaelic, a cappella, with ornamentation, etc., like Sliabh na mBan. alice

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 18 Mar 98 - 03:45 PM

Joe Heaney - yes indeed. Mary O'Hara - not what is normally meant by sean-nos, by a long chalk.

Regards

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 18 Mar 98 - 11:20 AM

will this work? Let me know if it doesn't.

http://www.mcn.net/~acflynn/index.html

Subject: RE: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Jon W.
Date: 18 Mar 98 - 11:06 AM

Alice, I tried to get to your website using the URL you posted in the other thread, and it didn't work. Will you try again please?

Subject: fellow sean-nos singers?
From: Alice
Date: 18 Mar 98 - 10:59 AM

I have communicated with others on the web about sean-nos, but never thought to post a discussion thread here until I added to the thread about singing. At my website I have links to sean-nos information, some rules for sean-nos competition in America, and sean-nos singer Joe Heaney. My favorite female sean-nos singer, as I have posted in other threads, is Mary O'Hara. Anyone else interested in old style (Gaelic or English) Irish singing? Have you any favorite singers or experiences listening to/singing sean-nos style? alice in montana