66. Anna Falkenau: Traditional Musician & Researcher

Episode 66 is a conversation with musician and researcher, Anna Falkenau. Anna takes us through her personal journey from East Germany to the West of Ireland with a few musical performances along the way. The latter half of the interview focuses on her research into Traditional Irish Music - a must listen for anyone interested in the arc of the popularity of this jewell in Ireland’s crown.

Conversation includes: introductions; growing up in East Germany; classical vs. trad bowing technique; the subtle details of playing trad; Orkney Islands; Cathal McConnell; Nuala Kennedy; learning by ear; ‘The Way You Look Tonight’; Carnatic music; South Indian Classical Music; old-timey music; The Raineys; Anna’s studies of Irish traditional music; Tommy Nolan; the Irish music scene of the 1950s and 1960s; the different political and socio-economic developments of Ireland around the 1960s; the returning diaspora; the re-evaluation of traditional Irish music; music first appearing in bars; O’Connor’s Bar in Salthill; Music Revival; Galway; Pub Sessions; Dolores Keane; the Keanes; the Gavins; Stauntons; Dick Byrne; Fo’castle Folk Club; ‘Hardiman And Beyond’; Donal and Mae Staunton; Castle Hotel; An Taibhdhearc Theatre; Irish language; East Galway; Connemara; Traditional Irish music taking root; Mr and Mrs Larry Cullen; Doolin; Dublin Pipers Club; The Eagle Bar; Seán Ó Riada; Biochemistry Dept in University of Galway; Comhaltas; De Danann; Repertoire; Transmission; Prof Pádraig Ó Carra; Jackie Small; Celine Hession; the Cellar Bar; Mickey Finn; how the sessions have changed over the years; Toner Quinn; Bill Finn’s slow air; The Galway Advertiser and Ronnie O'Gorman; Ollie Jennings and other topics. 

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Ronnie O'Gorman. 

Relevant Links

http://www.annafalkenau.com/

https://music.apple.com/us/album/i-can-hear-you-calling/1271594435

https://music.apple.com/us/album/féileacán-na-saoirse/894281460

https://nuigalway.mediaspace.kaltura.com/media/Spring+Lunchtime+Lecture+Series+2021+Anna+Falkenau/1_gfxreok2/211424143

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/19hvHskQbScVfwjil91BPl?si=252bf194baf44eff

Additional Links

https://ardenpublishing.sumupstore.com/product/hardiman-and-beyond

University of Galway photo by Professor Chaosheng Zhang.

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