Vocal Chords

Latest Instalment of Vocal Chords – In Conversation with Glen Hansard

admin — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:07:37 +0000

Glen is in conversation with fellow singer Iarla Ó Lionáird about his life and work in song in this documentary for RTÉ lyric fm as part of this multi award winning series. The full documentary is broadcast at 6pm on October 29th 2017.

Glen Hansard’s vocal journey began as a young teenager busking on the streets of Dublin but it has taken him to some of the biggest arenas in the world and an academy award for best song in the film ‘Once’. That film was inspired by Glen’s own busking life and he also got to play the lead role.

His film work began in ‘The Commitments’ while he was fronting his band ‘The Frames’ and since then he has worked with his idols Bob Dylan, and the late Leonard Cohen, as well as sharing a stage with international performers like Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder.

Glen talks with Iarla of a life dedicated to music and shares a song ‘Didn’t He Ramble’ written after the death of his father.

Vocal Chords : Iarla Ó Lionáird in Conversation with Glen Hansard – Glen Hansard Performing ‘Didn’t He Ramble’

Vocal Chords – Iarla Ó Lionáird and Glen Hansard In Conversation on Glen’s early influences

Glen Hansard in Conversation with Iarla Ó Lionáird is an Athena Media production for RTÉ made with the support of the BAI.

http://www.iarla.com/ for more about Iarla

http://glenhansardmusic.com/ for more about Glen

http://athenamedia.ie/ for more about Athena Media

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Meeting Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill

admin — Thu, 13 Apr 2017 11:04:33 +0000

In our latest episode of Vocal Chords, Iarla Ó Lionáird meets sisters Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, two of Ireland’s most respected traditional singers,

– and shares a conversation of family, song and language with them; from the stories of their father, the singer and folk song collector Aodh Ó Domhnaill, and his sister, the blind singer Neilí Ni Domhnaill, natives of Rann na Feirste, Donegal, to their own roots in the Meath Gaeltacht.

In this segment from the upcoming documentary feature Iarla talks to the sisters about that journey back to Donegal when they were children, to what they see as their spiritual home, and how their Dad would tip them sixpence for the first sighting of Errigal. In the piece you hear the song Níl sé ina lá that the sisters learnt as girls from their Aunt Neilí and recorded by them on the album Idir an Dá Sholas.

The full episode will be broadcast at 7pm on May 5th on RTÉ Lyric fm.

This feature documentary, in the award winning Vocal Chords series, is a unique insight into a family whose work has played a profound part in preserving the traditional culture and soundscape of Ireland and gives an intimate portrait of sisters, and singers, who share a deep and instinctive bond in song and life.

From their first band Skara Brae, with their late brother Micheal, the sisters share their work together and separately, Triona in the ground-breaking Bothy Band and Maighread in her acclaimed solo work. They sing together for Iarla a song once sung by their late Aunty Neili and collected by Maighread’s husband and traditional music devotee, Cathal Goan.

Vocal Chords is an Athena Media production for RTÉ Lyric fm made with the support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the TV licence fee.

The producer is Helen Shaw, The audio editor is Pearse Ó Caoimh. The digital editor is John Howard.

Photo image by Helen Shaw – all rights in Vocal Chords, recordings and images, rests with Athena Media Ltd. athenamedia.ie

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Vocal Chords: Paul Brady and Iarla Ó Lionáird in Conversation – On Air this Christmas

admin — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 11:36:52 +0000

Iarla Ó Lionáird meets fellow singer Paul Brady to explore his life’s journey in song, singing and songwriting.

Brady charts over 50 years in performance from his roots in Strabane and Donegal, to the early days with bands like ‘The Johnstons’ and ‘Planxty’ to later writing hit songs like ‘Steel Claw’ and ‘Beautiful World’. He shares the joy of singing and the story behind crafting songs like ‘Nothing But The Same Old Story’ and ‘Hard Station’ as well as his approach to shaping definitive versions of traditional songs like ‘Arthur McBride’ and ‘The Lakes of Pontchartrain’.

Paul Brady performs the song ‘Beautiful World’ and chats to Iarla Ó Lionáird about how the song came to be.

This short excerpt is taken from the full length documentary radio programme which is due to air on RTÉ Lyric fm this Christmas – Paul Brady talks candidly with Iarla of his life’s journey in music, songwriting and performance.

Press Release about the episode

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Gold Award for Vocal Chords at New York Radio Festival 2016

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 11:36:34 +0000

Vocal Chords: ‘The Odyssey of the Voice’ has won Gold in the Music Documentary category at the New York Radio Festival 2016.

Homeward bound with radio treasures @NYFRadioAwards @BAItweets @NewstalkFM @RTElyricfm pic.twitter.com/ugKXIqgRFM

— Helen Athena Shaw (@athenamediaie) June 21, 2016

Broadcast on RTE Lyric FM, in this series, presenter and The Gloaming singer, Iarla Ó’Lionáird explores the roots of traditions and folk song and how language, culture, identity and belonging are all tightly interwoven with song and singing. Song, Iarla says, becomes a vocal map to ourselves, to our roots, to our home. From the island of Inis Mór in Ireland with Sean Nós singer Treasa Ní Mhoilláin, and the Cwmbach Male Choir in Wales, to the spirituals in Africa and beyond, Iarla brings singing back to its roots and uncovers how songs and singing can bring you home. Huge thanks from everyone at Athena Media to everyone who contributed to the series and supported the project. To win in a competitive International field like this is a demonstration of the intrinsic value of public-funded, collaborative art projects, and we’re grateful to be regularly funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and to have our work aired nationally on RTÉ lyric fm.

Athena Media’s radio work has been awarded one of the highest prizes internationally with its documentary The Kinder Letters winning the overall Grand Award at this year’s New York Radio Festival. Another Gold was awarded for The Kinder Letters, a story of love, loss and innocence in post World War 2 Europe broadcast on Newstalk.
A third programme by Athena Media Bright Sparks for RTÉ Radio 1 was awarded a finalist certificate in the new category of climate change programme. All three winners in the competition were funding supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and the TV licence fee.

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Celtic Media Award Nomination and Rebroadcast for Vocal Chords

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 17:02:40 +0000

Our ‘Singing Our Way Home’ episode of Vocal Chords has been nominated for Best Radio Music Programme in this year’s Celtic Media Awards, which are being hosted in Dungarvan this year from the 20-22nd of April.

All five episodes of the series will also be broadcast on RTE Lyric FM from Friday May 6th to June 3rd at 19:00. We’re delighted to get this slot again, as the journey Iarla brings the audience on is a great way to detach from work mode and slip into a relaxed weekend mindset.

In this episode of Vocal Chords, presenter and The Gloaming singer, Iarla Ó’Lionáird explores the roots of traditions and folk song and how language, culture, identity and belonging are all tightly interwoven with song and singing. Song, Iarla says, becomes a vocal map to ourselves, to our roots, to our home. From the island of Inis Mór in Ireland with Sean Nós singer Treasa Ní Mhoilláin, and the Cwmbach Male Choir in Wales, to the spirituals in Africa and beyond, Iarla brings singing back to its roots and uncovers how songs and singing can bring you home.

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New York Radio Festival Award winning feature with Peter Gabriel airing this Friday 25th September at 7pm on RTE Lyric fm

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 08:37:41 +0000

Iarla Ó’Lionáird presents this special where he talks to Peter Gabriel about his journey as a singer and what performance, song and singing means to him. The program will be broadcast again on Friday the 25th of September at 7pm on RTE Lyric fm. You can read more about the special here and you can hear the full programme below.

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In Conversation with Peter Gabriel wins award

admin — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 10:55:00 +0000

Vocal Chords special In conversation with Peter Gabriel has won silver in best music programming in New York Radio Festival 2015. Iarla Ó’Lionáird presented the special where he talks to Peter Gabriel about his journey as a singer and what performance, song and singing means to him. You can read more about the special here and you can hear the full programme below.

Amy Millar the audio editor behind Vocal Chords with the Trophy

There will be another Vocal Chords special, In Conversation with Christy Moore broadcasting August 14th 2015 at 7pm on RTÉ lyric fm.

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Vocal Chords special with Christy Moore to air August 14th

admin — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 10:34:49 +0000

The Vocal Chords series features five episodes and specials with Sinéad O’Connor and Peter Gabriel will continue with a one hour special In Conversation with Christy Moore, on August 14th at 7 pm on RTÉ lyric fm.

For this compelling one-on-one interview, Iarla visits Christy Moore at his home in Dublin to talk about his relationship with the voice and songs, and what it means to be a singer. Sitting in the very room where Moore creates his music, he shares with Iarla the inspiration for his songs, his love of the folk tradition, and his many influences over the years including Ewan MacColl, The Clancy Brothers, and even being at singers’ clubs like ‘An Goilín’

listen to ‘Vocal Chords: Christy Moore on storytelling through song (Vocal Chords Episode 3 & Vocal Chords: In Conversation with Christy Moore, RTE Lyric FM July 2015)’ on audioBoom

For more information on the series you can see the press release.

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Vocal Chords final episode airs this Friday

admin — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:45:22 +0000

The final episode of Vocal Chords airs this Friday, May 29th 2015, as the Lyric feature on RTÉ Lyric fm at 7p.m.

In the final episode of this series of Vocal Chords presenter and singer Iarla Ó’Lionáird delves into the harmonies and cross-overs of global vocal experience and sounds from his own roots in Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records family to the story of a Muslim Imam who now sings Irish sean nós songs and says his ability to do so comes from his roots in incanting the Quran. Voices heard in this episode include Peter Gabriel, Sinéad O’Connor, Muhammad Al-Hussaini, Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Jaime Jones and Niillas Holmberg.

listen to ‘Vocal Chords: Episode 5, Promo RTE lyric fm, May 29th 2015’ on audioBoom

You can read more about the Vocal Chords series here or download the episodes via iTunes.

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Hear a clip from Vocal Chords: Episode 4, airing 7pm May 22nd on RTE Lyric FM

admin — Mon, 18 May 2015 10:55:08 +0000

Vocal Chords – an odyssey of the human voice with Iarla Ó’Lionáird, airs on RTÉ lyric FM, as the Lyric Feature, Fridays at 7p.m from May 1st for 5 weeks.

Something changes, transforms, when a group of people come together and sing. In episode four of Vocal Chords, presenter and singer Iarla Ó’Lionáird explores the power and spirit of the combined voice from church choirs to street protest, from prison camps to the factory floor. Iarla takes the journey from the unique sound of Robert Hollingworth’s solo voice ensemble, I Fagiolini, and grammy award winning folk choir Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares to the deep bass tones of Welsh mining men’s choirs and the Singing Revolution of the Baltic States. South African singers talk of toyi-toyi protests when the power of the marching crowd’s singing carried them for miles.

Here’s a short promo for Episode 4: Better Together, with conductor David Brophy on what it means to sing as part of a choir. Episode 4 airs on RTÉ lyric FM on May 22nd 2015 at 7pm.

listen to ‘Vocal Chords: Episode 4 Promo RTE lyric FM May 22nd 7pm’ on audioBoom

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