Toronto Irish Film Festival - March 6, 2011

Here is an event of which I knew nothing about. It sounds like a great day of Irish film in Toronto!  This news, just in from Michael Barry, co-founder of the Toronto Irish Film Festival. 

"We are knee-deep in plans for Sunday March 6th, securing wonderful Irish films for this year's festival at the new TIFF Bell Lightbox building in the city. You can find us at www.torontoirishfilmfestival.com for more information and links to our Facebook group and Twitter feed."

Michael is also the composer of, and musician on, "My Irish Heart", which is a lovely tune. The song was specifically for an upcoming documentary by Eleanor McGrath entitled "Kanata: An Irish Story" which details, through many interviews, the Irish Canadian immigrant experience. It is a wonderful film and is expected to begin its film festival circuit in the Spring of 2011. The tune is available on iTunes (where the track can be sampled and purchased) at the direct link: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/my-irish-heart-single/id414142143

The single cover for the song is shown here in the photograph.

Michael Barry

Irish Dance Class for January 31, 2011

The CCE Ottawa Branch teaches traditional Irish set and ceili dancing, at 194 Fourth Ave in the Glebe, each Monday at Blessed Sacrament Church Hall. Ceili's are held at the same location one Saturday each month. The cost for the dance classes CCE members and non members is $7.00 per night. Instruction is supportive and all levels of experience are welcome. No partner required. Bring a container of water for breaks.

The next dance that we will do is the Paris Set. There are 2 different starting links for this dance.  For Figures 1 and two go to here. This group is dancing at a fancy dinner dance and you will get an idea of the pattern. For figures 3, 4 and 5, look for the Pat Ryan workshop versions. Start here and then the others will come up. Pat is calling the dance and is dancing in the 1st top position… the picture is clear… no fancy footwork just a nice clear picture of the set. We will try do Claddagh (Figure 3) once each class night until the March ceili. Here is a version of the Claddagh with nice footwork that we can work on.  For a version without nicer footwork, go here.

Further information on CCE Ottawa is found at the following link:
http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/

Paddy Keenan in 'Dambé - The Mali Project'

Not terribly long before Paddy Keenan played here in Ottawa, he attended a film debut in Dublin. The film in question was a documentary called 'Dambé - The Mali Project' in which Paddy can be seen and heard throughout.  The mix of Irish and African music is delightful.  

The film synopsis is:
"Irish musicians Liam O'Maonlai and Paddy Keenan embark on a musical adventure to the heart of Africa, Mali. Traveling over three thousand miles, they meet and collaborate with everyone from legendary musicians (Afel Bocoum, Toumani Diabate) to nomadic herders, culminating in a unique performance at the world's most remote musical festival, the "Festival au Desert".

This extremely interesting and entertaining documentary is available online, for free at the following link:
http://www.linktv.org/programs/dambe-the-mali-project

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Craig

Leahy Music Camp 2011 - Announcement

We're pleased to announce that the dates for the 2011 Leahy Music Camp are now set!

Please plan to join all of the members of Leahy, Natalie MacMaster, and their guest instructors at Lakefield College School fromSunday, July 3rd to Thursday July 7th, 2011.

Registrations, as usual, will be done via the Music Camp website. Expect an email in the near future letting you know when registration is open.

We look forward to welcoming you to Camp!
More information:
http://www.leahymusic.com/

The Ottawa Traditional Fiddling and Folk Art Society 23rd Annual Fiddle Workshop

Join instructors Calvin Vollrath (http://www.calvinvollrath.com) and Kimberley Fraser (http://www.kimberleyfraser.com/) at the Nepean Creative Arts Centre – 35 Stafford Road, Nepean Saturday, April 30, 2011 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cost for all participants (includes lunch): $45.00.

Make your cheque or money order payable to: OTFFAS
Send your registration (all your contact details) to: Ernie Fraser 365 Roxdale Avenue, Orleans, ON, K1E 1V3. Questions? E-mail: capers@rogers.com

Learning Irish Set and Ceili Dancing from CCE Ottawa Branch

The Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCE) Ottawa Branch teaches Irish set and ceili dancing, in the basement hall of Blessed Sacrament Church, 194 Fourth Ave in the Glebe, each Monday evening. The time for Set and Ceili dancing class is 8:30-10:00pm. The cost for CCE members is $7/class ($84/semester), and $9/class ($112/semester) for non members. Instruction is supportive and all levels of experience are welcome. A partner is not mandatory, but it helps. Bring comfortable shoes, and a container of water for breaks.

Among others, two of the Set Dances currently being taught in the Monday classes are:
The Moycullen Set
The Claddagh Set

Other Set Dances which are popular at the CCE Ottawa Ceili's include:
The Kerry Set
The Antrim Square

Ceili dances which are popular at the ceilis include:
The Haymakers Jig
The Walls of Limerick
...and more!

Ceilis are held at the same location, one Saturday of most non-summer months (Ceilis include both Set and Ceili dances, door prizes, performances, cash bar, and free tea and Irish soda bread!).

Further information on CCE Ottawa is found at the following link:
http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/

Irish and Quebecois at Summit School!

Just a reminder that this is your last chance to register for Irish Fiddle with Sarah Blair, and Quebecois and French Dance tunes with Jeremiah McLane! There are many other courses that may interest you, while you are taking a break from Benedict and HIlari's class. Visit us online: www.summit-school.org, or call 802-917-1186.

Hope to see you soon,
Katie Trautz, Director

Oireachtas Gaeilge Cheanada - 1ú IÚIL (July 1) 2011.

COMÓRTAS AG CEILIÚRADH TEANGAN, CULTÚIR AGUS EALÁION DÚCHASACHA NA hÉIREANN.
(For English version, see below)

Tabharfaidh an 1ú lá de mhí Iúil 2011 ré speisialta isteach i saol na teanga agus na h-ealaíon Gaelacha lasmuigh d'Éirinn. Mar ar an lá sin tosóidh an chéad Oireachtas Cheanada riamh - comórtas trí la – agus é go léir á reáchtáil trí mheán na Gaeilge. Imeasc na n-imeachtaí beidh amhránaíocht, rince, ceol agus litríocht. Beidh na h-imeachtaí go léir oscailte do gach aois agus gach cumas mar is príomhaidhm na h-ócáide ná go mbainfimis taitneamh agus sult as agus sinn ag ceiliúradh, ag caomhnú agus ag cothú teanga cultúir agus ealaíon dúchasacha na hÉireann.

Cosúil le Oireachtas na Gaeilge in Éirinn beidh idir amhránaíocht sean-nós agus rince sean-nós. Beidh rincí seit san aireamh chomh maith le hamhránaíocht i stíleanna Gaelacha eile seachas sean-nós. Imeasc na catagóirí ceoil beidh an chláirseach, an píb uilleann agus bannaí ceoil. Sa chomórtas Gaeilge beidh an teanga labhartha (scéalaíocht, comhrá, óráid, lúibíní) agus catagóir liteartha. Is féidir le scríbhneoirí, nach Ceanadaigh iad, saothair ar ábhair Cheanadacha as Gaeilge a chur isteach. Óir go mbeidh na h-imeachtaí go léir – na comórtais, céilí, ceol, siamsa, aíonna speisialta – ag tosú ar an 1ú lá Iúil beidh siad ag comhtharlú le, agus ag comhlíonadh, Féile agus breithlá Cheanada a bhunadh ar an lá sin i 1867.

D'éirigh an tionscnamh seo as smaoineamh a phléadh agus a chuireadh faoi bhráid comhdháil Fhís Ghaeilge Mheiriceá Thuaidh – atá faoi choimirce Glór na nGael – i Nua Eabhrach i 2008 agus mar thoradh de sin beidh teacht le chéile anseo de ghrúpaí Gaeilge áirithe ó Mheiriceá Thuaidh agus Éire. Chomh maith leis na cainteoirí líofa agus dúchasacha tá na h-eagraithe dóchasach go mbeidh an ócáid mealltach don bhánú is déanaí de Ghaeilgeoirí as Éire agus do gach uile fhoghlaimeoir. Ba mhaith leis na h-eagraithe cuireadh fáilteach a shíneadh chuig gach grúpa Gaeilge in Éirínn ar mhaith leo páirt a ghlacadh le h-iomaitheoirí nó le moltóirí.

Is é Cumann na Gaeltachta – buaiteoir Duais Ghaeilge Dhomhanda 2007/8 – a bheidh mar óstach ar na comórtais agus na h-eachtraí ag Gaeltacht an Oileáin Úir. Tá an Ghaeltacht suite amuigh faoi thuath álainn Ontario in aice le bailte beaga Erinsville agus Tamworth; ar 60 acra de mhíntír le trá álainn ar abhainn an Bhradáin. Ba é Declan Kelly Ambasadóir na hÉireann a d'oscail an Ghaeltacht go h-oifigiúil i Iúil 2007. Ag an am sin fuarthas litir oifigiúil chomhghairdis ó Éamonn Ó Cúiv Aire Gnóthaí Pobal Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta. Tá ardáthas ar Chumann na Gaeltachta an eachtra oirnithe seo a láithriú le súil ar a rath agus bláth sna blianta romhainn..

Tosóidh an fleáchas Dé hAoine 1ú Iúil 2011 le Paráid Lá Cheanada agus fágfaimid slán ag a chéile le bróinse ar an nDomhnach 3ú Iúil. Fáilte roimh gach ceist agus tuilleadh eolais ghinearálta le fáil ó:
 Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh kenny-h@rmc.ca
Clár Ní Dhuibhir claredwyer@aol.com
Facebook link
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FIRST "OIREACHTAS CHEANADA" TO BE HELD
A Celebratory Competition of Indigenous Irish Language, Culture and Arts will mark an exciting time for the Irish language and arts outside of Ireland. The first ever Oireachtas Cheanada will kick-off a three day competition held in the Irish language and feature events in singing, dancing, music and literature. Events will be open to all ages and skill levels with the emphasis on promoting, fostering, celebrating, and above all, enjoying, indigenous Irish language, arts and culture.

Competitions and events will be hosted at Gaeltacht Thuaisceart an Oileáin Úir, by Cumann na Gaeltachta, winner of the 2007/2008 Global Gaeilge Award. The site is located in beautiful rural Ontario near the villages of Erinsville and Tamworth. Situated on 60 acres of rolling, arable land and with a scenic waterfront on the Salmon River, the Gaeltacht was officially opened in June 2007 by Irish Ambassador Declan Kelly and received an official letter of congratulations from the Minister of Rural Community and Gaeltacht Affairs at the time, Éamonn Ó Cuív. Cumann na Gaeltachta is thrilled to take on this inaugural event with an eye to its future growth and success!

Festivities commence Friday July 1, 2011 with a Canada Day parade and close Sunday July 3rd with a farewell brunch. All inquiries are welcome and general information is available by contacting: 
Aralt Mac Giolla Chainnigh - kenny-h@rmc.ca 
Clár Ní Dhuibhir - claredwyer@aol.com
Facebook link

What's going on in Montreal? Lots!

No surprise, really, is it? Montreal is a big bustling city with a big Irish heritage in its history. The five major links to share are:

The Comhaltas Montreal Branch, which is a very informative and well done webpage containing numerous links (including the 5 others shown here). Next, there is the Siamsa music school. They organise the monthly ceili in Montreal, and offer a lot of music instruction, and a a regular session. They are very active, and their webpage is really worth cruising. Several years ago I attended one of their ceili's and while I wasn't dancing at the time, it was a very lively affair, a great ceili band, door prizes, and a wide range of ages. I'd like to go back and check it out from the dace floor next time. For more serious academics, there is the School of Irish Canadian Studies at Concordia University. Usually, fifteen or more courses are offered annually in subjects such as History, Literature, Film, Music, Economics, Language, Theatre, Popular Culture, Theology, Irish Studies, Political Science and Geography. The School offers a Minor and a Certificate in Canadian Irish Studies, offered within the Faculty of Arts and Science, and much more! Go check it out. Next up is Cine Gael Montreal now in their 19th year of presenting Irish movies. I wonder if we can somehow get a second showing of these movies in Ottawa? Finally, there is Irish Montreal which appears to be in a similar spirit to the Irish Music Ottawa webpage, a sort of one-stop place for finding most Irish happenings in the local area. It's a well done webpage (I humbly say nicer than my own) and looks very useful. Thanks for reading.

Craig

Book Launch Party - The Angira Legacy and The Catalyst

Join us at a book launch party for local Irish novelist and traditional musician, Kevin Dooley, for his latest novel, The Angira Legacy and The Catalyst - Parts II and III of The Angira Trilogy, published by Baico, at:
O'Connell's Irish Pub, 1205 Wellington St Ottawa
TUES FEB 15th, 2011 @ 7 pm
Reading - Live Irish Music
Info: 613 726-7583

The McGee Band and David Wilson, concert - Irish Rebel, Canadian Icon

February 6th, 2011, 2 PM

The life and times of Thomas D’Arcy McGee in words and music. A wonderful blending of Irish, Scottish and Quebecois traditional music.

Frank Cassidy: Whistles, Banjo, Vocals
David Wilson: Orator
Greg T. Brown: Accordion, Concertina, Fiddle, Vocals
James Stephens: Fiddle, Vocals
Ken Harper: Bodhran
Jeff McClintock: Keyboards and Guitar

DOORS OPEN 1:30 pm CASH BAR
Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Phone: 613-244-7373
Entrance to Kildare Room on Cumberland Street

Email: info@sbcottawa.ca
Please refer to St. Brigid's Centre webpage, http://www.saintbrigidscentre.ca/ for this gig, and more.

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann - Ottawa, St. Patrick's Day Dinner and Ceili

Saturday, March 12 at 6:00pm - Midnight.

Begin your St. Patrick's Day celebrations early by joining us for our 2nd annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner and Ceili!

The sumptuous dinner will begin at 6:00 pm with a ceili and dancing to follow, starting at 8:00 pm. Music will be performed by the Ottawa Ceílí Band, with entertainment provided by CCÉ dancers.

Tickets are $30, with admission by ticket only. Buy your tickets in advance by contacting one of the members of the CCÉ Ottawa executive. Tickets will not be sold at the door. This event was such a huge success last year, tickets sell out quickly!

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (Ottawa)
194 Fourth Avenue (in the Glebe)
Ottawa, ON

Cool Irish Stuff on the Web - Part 1

I will occasionally post some suggestions on some cool Irish stuff that is on the web, that you may or may not know about. They may, or may not, be about Irish traditional music.  This first instalment takes us to the motherland and the RTE radio network.  The RTE 'Docs On One' series of documentaries is absolutely fascinating. First, there are a lot of docs on this site (link below), and they cover an amazing breadth of topics related to Irish culture, old and current. They cover politics, music, folklore, health, you name it, they probably have a doc for it. I won't bore you with any more of my ramblings. Go check it out for yourself.

The link is here: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/docs.html
It is also easily found and subscribed to using iTunes, or any other podcast subscription application.

Craig

'The Music of the Celtic Peoples' a course offered by the University of Ottawa

This just in from Ellen McIsaac ... I should also note that the course I offered at University of Ottawa 'The Music of the Celtic Peoples,' will be running in 2011 as a summer course. Anybody who missed out in the fall of 2010 and wants to take part shout contact the Modern Languages department of Ottawa U. for more information.

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Arts Hall, Room 134
70 Laurier Avenue East

Tel.: 613-562-5715
Fax: 613-562-5138
langmod@uOttawa.ca

Chris Angel House Concert - 22 January 2011, 8pm

Performing on both sides of the border, Chris Angel has been playing and writing music for several years, leaving his mark on the Celtic and Folk scene. In 2002, Chris released his debut album and has since gone on to achieve worldwide sales and gain him an audience from all corners of the globe.

Exploring his love of traditional music, Chris is currently working on a follow up album. This effort will once again have him taking songs that have been passed down through the generations and reinterpreting them with his own spin.

www.chrisangelmusic.com
www.Facebook.com/ChrisAngelsMusic

$15 donation - Seating is limited - all proceeds go directly to Chris

To reserve you seats, email Graham at gcrate /at/ rogers.com

Ballygiblins Jam - cancelled

I regret to advise that we can longer garner a sufficient number of musicians to continue the jams on Wednesday night at Ballygiblins in Carleton Place. Therefore, all future Wednesday night jams at Ballygiblins are cancelled.

I have thanked Ballygiblins for all past sessions and hospitality.

Janice Parton

Concert: 'Cape Breton: Beautiful Island, Beautiful Music' - 23 January 2011

Atlantic Voices: the Newfoundland and Labrador Choir of Ottawa presents its winter concert, Cape Breton: Beautiful Island, Beautiful Music, on Sunday, January 23 at 3 pm at Centretown United Church, 507 Bank Street. The musical team of Director Scott Richardson and Accompanist Theresa Clarke lead the choir in a musical tour of the Island.

The programme ranges from folksongs in Scottish Gaelic and Acadian French to contemporary classics by some of Cape Breton's greatest songwriters, including Allister McGillivary, Jimmy Rankin, and Rita MacNeil.

Our special guests are members of the Ottawa Cape Breton Session, a local association of Cape-Breton-style fiddlers. Our own house band, the Fumblin’ Fingers, will provide pre-concert entertainment BEGINNING at 2:15 pm. You are invited to join the choir after the concert for free refreshments and a silent auction. There are also door prizes

Tickets are $15 in advance or $18 at the door. Advance tickets may be purchased by calling Hannie @ 613-722-9240. Admission is free for children 12 years and under. For parking and other information, visit our website www.atlanticvoices.ca.

Ottawa Celtic Choir concert - Music and songs in Irish, Scots, Welsh and Manx

Saturday January 29th, 2011 - Saint Brigid’s Eve

An evening of Celtic nations and the Celtic Diaspora in both English and various Celtic languages.
Time: 7:30 p.m
Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
DOORS OPEN 6:30 pm CASH BAR

Entrance to Kildare Room on Cumberland Street

Email: info@sbcottawa.ca

Please refer to St. Brigid's Centre webpage, www.saintbrigidscentre.ca, for this event, and more. 

James Conway - 'Mouth Box' (a short review)

I am not a 'music critic', but I am a somewhat fussy listener. I will attempt to post some short reviews of the music in my collection. Please send me your recommendations/reviews similar (or better!) than the one that follows, below. I'll post it!

OK, a few years ago I purchased online (from CDbaby.com) an album by Irish traditional artist James Conway, who has superb skill as a harmonica player (generally a rare instrument compared to other instruments) and who displays the underlying beauty of Irish traditional music in the recording. You can find some James on YouTube doing some amazing things with his harmonica (sorry, no juggling). As an aside, while I have zero connection to cdbaby.com, there are some great finds in there, and you can listen to samples for free. The prices are excellent, too. Second, I note that if you're connected into iTunes, you can search for nearly anything, and there are lots of discoveries to be made. (Ottawa's own Matt Pepin's album 'Pass It Down' is also available at CDbaby).

To the quick review ... James' album, entitled Mouth Box, is a collection of 15 traditional tunes that range from toe-tappin'-get-me-another-beer-good-times (Ash Plant, Black-Haired Lass, Wise Maid), to the the nearly-baroque Carolan's Concerto (harpsichord and harmonica, thoughtfully played), to the romantic Give Me Your Hand, and a sublime version of Castle Kelly, which moves into the rollicking Farewell to Ireland - just to name a few. One thing I really appreciate about James' playing is that he demonstrates his masterful skills at both slow and fast tempos. To play so well at slow speed is, many say, much harder than ripping through tunes where the notes (and mistakes) might get lost on the listener. In Castle Kelly, a reel which one would expect would be played much faster then he does on this recording, he slows down the tune, so that every note of the melody can be savoured, and it is a beautiful melody. I enjoy his varied selction of tunes, and his varied, but never over-the-top tempos, would also make a good album for those wanting to learn any of the tunes on this recording. You would be well served to support James and have this in your trad music collection.

Craig

Harp of Tara hosts House Concert and Fiddle Immersion Weekend with Irish Fiddle master Patrick Ourceau

Patrick is a virtuoso on the fiddle, an avid student of the old masters, and a particular specialist in the style and repertoire of Clare and East Galway. He currently plays with the band ‘Chulrua’ with Paddy O’Brien

Fiddle Immersion Weekend, Jan 28 – 30

Friday night Social; Fiddle workshop all day Saturday, Concert, and Session; then a half day workshop on Sunday. $125

House Concert, Saturday, January 29, 8:00 p.m.
$15 (advance), $20 at the door, $10 for students, limited seating. The best of Irish music, by an acknowled master, up close

For further information, check the ‘Special Events’ page on the Harp of Tara web-site www.srayner.ca/comhaltas/ , e-mail rmacdiarmid a@t cogeco d.ot ca or phone 613-544-1055.

WANTED: Contributors!

Hi folks, well, it's been quite a while since the ol' blog has been updated with anything meaningful.  That's a shame, and my fault for not pushing it harder. It's a vicious cycle, with a lack of contributors (e.g. not me) the blog goes stale, readership drops off, and it becomes more and more irrelevant as time passes, and who wants to post to an unread blog? And I also don't want this blog to all about me. The Irish music scene in Ottawa, and it's enthusiasts, and practitioners, is YOU.

How do we revise this space? Simple. If you have something to say about the Irish music scene, your favourite band, your favourite new Irish cd, the last great jam you played at, or the great time you had at a conference or workshop, or you need to promote a concert, or a any relevant Irish music/art/cultural event, then you get it on this blog!  How do you do that?  Simple, again! Simply send me an email (plain text preferred), which has been at a minimum spell checked, and provide a title and any and all relevant information. Within a day, usually, I can quickly publish your piece.  If you want to be a REGULAR contributor, I can even give you more direct access to the posting of your writings. It's really simple, and it's what I want this blog to be: YOUR VOICE.

Many thanks to Clare Dwyer at CCE Ottawa for reminding people of this component of the Irish Music Ottawa web presence in the recent CCE Ottawa newsletter.

In closing, send me your stories, information, etc! We'll get it posted to the blog!

Craig