With a Celtic spirit culled from the rich musical traditions of their native County Donegal, Altan explores the expanse of Irish music, from lovely old tunes to lively jigs and reels.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Their exquisitely produced, award-winning recordings and their heartwarming, dynamic live performances have captivated audiences from Donegal to Tokyo to Seattle. Throughout, there has been the unwavering commitment of the band to bringing the beauty of traditional music, particularly that of Donegal fiddlers and singers, to contemporary audiences in a way that shines a unique light on its qualities. In fact, the members of Altan have always believed that Irish traditional music is a modern genre in every sense, and its growing influence and popularity have proved them right.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The seeds of the band lie in the music and fun of gatherings and sessions in kitchens and pubs in Donegal, where virtuoso music was heard in an atmosphere of respect and intimacy. It is here that the band’s heart lies still, whether they are performing on live television in Australia or jamming with Ricky Skaggs in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n Program<\/strong><\/p>\n (The program for this U.S. tour will feature all-time favorite and requested pieces, ranging from haunting songs to lively spirited Donegal dance tunes. Set order may vary and will be announced from stage. There will be a short intermission.)<\/p>\n 1. Se\u00e1n sa Cheo<\/em> 2. Andy de Jarvis<\/em> 3. \u201cMonth of January\u201d 4. \u201cPiper in the Cave\u201d 5. Templehouse Highland<\/em> selection 6. D\u00e1ith\u00ed Sproule 7. \u201cD\u00f3nal agus M\u00f3rag\/The New Rigged Ship\u201d 8. Gap of Dreams<\/em> 9. \u201cBacach Sh\u00edl Anda\u00ed\u201d 10. \u201cDark Haired Lass\u201d and \u201cBiddy from Muckross\u201d 11. \u201cThe Road Home\u201d 12. \u201cTullaghan Lasses\u201d 13. \u201cGleannt\u00e1in Ghlas Ghaoth Dobhair\u201d 14. \u201cFermanagh\u201dand \u201cDonegal\u201d Highlands\/Reels Altan Biography<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On one of his many visits to the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair, Belfast-born flute player Frankie Kennedy met fiddler and singer Maire\u0301ad Ni\u0301 Mhaonaigh, sparking off a deep musical connection, a marriage, and a journey to bring the unique repertoire of Donegal music to the world. In the mid-1980s, Ni\u0301 Mhaonaigh and Kennedy recruited from Fermanagh bouzouki player Ciaran Curran, whose intricate counterpoint is at the center of the Altan sound, and guitarist Mark Kelly from Dublin, whose mastery of a wide palette of guitar styles and harmonic vocabulary add a breadth and depth of color. As a band, Altan played their first concert on June 1, 1985, in St. John\u2019s Church in Listowel, County Kerry, at the famous Listowel Writers Week.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The group\u2019s eponymous debut was released in 1987, followed quickly by <\/span>Horse with A Heart<\/span><\/i>, which saw the inclusion of Paul O\u2019Saughnessy on fiddle and lending his stunning virtuosity and in-depth knowledge of the Donegal style. In 1992, the album <\/span>Harvest<\/span><\/i> Storm<\/span><\/i> brought with it Da\u0301ithi\u0301 Sproule on guitar, himself one of the pioneers of guitar in Irish traditional and folk music. Their 1993 release, <\/span>Island Angel<\/span><\/i>, became the second biggest-selling world music album in 1994. Shortly after its release, the legendary accordionist Dermot Byrne joined the band. Sadly, Kennedy died on September 19, 1994, but his vision, artistry, and sense of fun is still at the heart of Altan, and his legacy is carried and celebrated in every note.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A 1996 record deal with Virgin catapulted the band on an extensive touring schedule over the subsequent decade. This period saw them working with great American performers like Dolly Parton. Martin Tourish, a past TG4 Young Musician of the Year, took the accordion seat in late 2013. The band explored connections between traditional Irish and bluegrass music with <\/span>The Widening Gyre<\/span><\/i>, recorded in Nashville with American musicians, such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Jerry Douglas, and Alison Brown. In 2016, they performed at The Grand Ole Opry with Ricky Skaggs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Altan has traveled with Irish presidents on state visits to Japan, North Korea, and Italy. And in 2006, the Irish government honored Altan with an official postal stamp to celebrate their contribution to the Irish culture. In 2008, Ni\u0301 Mhaonaigh was awarded the coveted TG4 Gradaim Ceoil (Music Award) 2017, the highest accolade a traditional musician can receive in Ireland.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The band\u2019s 2017 book, <\/span>Altan: The Tunes<\/span><\/i>, features a collection of 222 melodies from Altan\u2019s 30-year history alongside transcribed dance music and interviews with the band members. Containing a detailed commentary on each of the tunes, it is the only collection of Donegal music currently in print.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The band\u2019s latest album, <\/span>The Gap of Dreams<\/span><\/i>, celebrates the roots of its music in Donegal folklore. The title refers to that \u201cgap\u201d between this and the \u201cother world,\u201d which older fiddlers noted as the source for their music and inspiration, poetically describing encounters with the fairy folk or listening to tunes on the wind. In creativity, the \u201cgap of dreams\u201d is never shut.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Clare Friel Biography<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Clare Friel, TG4 Gradam Ceoil\u00a0<\/span>Ceolt\u00f3ir \u00d3g\/<\/span>Young Musician of the Year 2018, was born and brought up in Glasgow, Scotland, with very close family ties to Donegal. She is a highly regarded fiddle player and singer and plays as a part of The Friel Sisters. Friel is quickly making a name for herself and has played and toured with such acts as Altan, The Chieftains, Moya Brennan, Lu\u0301nasa, Sharon Shannon, Carlos Nun\u0303ez, Cherish the Ladies, and the Ma\u0301irti\u0301n O\u2019Connor Trio.\u00a0<\/span>The Irish Times<\/span><\/i> has said, \u201cClare\u2019s fiddle is a joy: unhurried, throaty and conversational in style,\u201d while <\/span>Irish Echo<\/span><\/i> said, \u201cShe plays with a ferocious intensity.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With a Celtic spirit culled from the rich musical traditions of their native County Donegal, Altan explores the expanse of Irish music, from lovely old tunes to lively jigs and reels. 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\nThese are three reels from our 2018 album, The Gap of Dreams. The first reel is an unusual version of a traditional reel, followed by two spirited reels composed by Martin Tourish. The names of the pieces are \u201cTuar,\u201d meaning \u201cprediction,\u201d and \u201cO\u00edche Fheidhmi\u00fail\u201d meaning \u201ca wonderful, memorable night!\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThese are three jigs from the vibrant Cape Breton tradition of eastern Canada, which we got from the great Jerry Holland, who passed away a few years ago.<\/p>\n
\nA beautiful sad song from the singing of the great Paddy Tunney, who was a frequent visitor to the Gaeltacht area of Gaoth Dobhair.<\/p>\n
\nAn unusual march, which we learned from the playing of the brothers Micky and Francie Byrne of Kilcar, County Donegal, also known as \u201cThe Deargs,\u201d as the family was known for their red-colored hair!<\/p>\n
\nA selection of typical Donegal highlands and reels, which shows the strong connection with Scotland, our Celtic neighbors.<\/p>\n
\nWe usually get Derry-born D\u00e1ith\u00ed Sproule to delight us nightly with various songs, which he has collected over the years.<\/p>\n
\nThis is a popular song, which Mair\u00e9ad got from a neighbor about a wedding feast on Ratlin island, off the County Antrim coast. The neighbor could only remember two verses, and Mairead asked her father, Francie, to write a few additional verses in the same spirit of the original song. The reel that follows is an old reel from The Shetland Islands, which was given to Mair\u00e9ad by the great Tom Anderson, telling her that it was from County Donegal originally and came to the Shetland Islands through the fishermen.<\/p>\n
\nThree newly composed jigs. The first jig Mair\u00e9ad composed after hearing D\u00e1ith\u00ed mentioning the idea in a song by the title \u201cThe Ballad of Douglas Bridge.\u201d The second jig was composed by Mair\u00e9ad\u2019s daughter Nia when she was 12 years old, and we simply call it \u201cNia\u2019s Jig.\u201d The third jig, composed by a young musician and accomplished musician, Sam Kelly, is our Irish guitarist\u2019s son. He titled it \u201cThe Beekeeper.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nA children\u2019s song from the Irish uprising against the English in 1798. The French came to Kilalla to help, but the Irish, being ill prepared, were defeated and sent many on the run. Like a lot of children\u2019s rhymes this has a serious dark story!<\/p>\n
\nA selection of three reels from the Donegal fiddle tradition. \u201cBiddy from Muckross\u201d was a great source of tunes for local musicians, and it was said that she learned her music from the fairies.<\/p>\n
\nA beautiful slow tune composed by Martin, depicting his emotions on a journey north along the Atlantic Coast to County Donegal on his road home from the wonderful Willie Clancy Summer School, which takes place annually in Milltown Malbay, County Clare, in memory of the great piper of that name who once lived there.<\/p>\n
\nThis first reel was a favourite of one of Donegal\u2019s greatest fiddler, John Seimi Doherty. The reels that follow are also from the Donegal fiddling tradition repertoire.<\/p>\n
\nTranslated as \u201cThe Green Fields of Gaoth Dobhair,\u201d which Francie Mooney, Mairead\u2019s father composed in praise of their home area in northwest Donegal.<\/p>\n
\nThese two highlands are firm favorites of the band and their audience as they depict the essence of the music of County Donegal.<\/p>\n