Could traditional music sessions exist without listeners? Are the non-playing listeners in public spaces important for tune players? Here’s a brief podcast adaptation of a video response to this intriguing little question! _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to&nbsp;.  ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters:&nbsp; the Irish &amp; Celtic Music Podcast, John Sigler, Randall Semagin, Ron Kral, Isaiah Hall, David Vaughan, Susan Walsh, Matt Jensen, John Ploch, Tom Frederick, Paul DeCamp, Suezen Brown, Jonathan Duvick, Gerry Corr, Mike Voss, Sean Carroll, Isobel McMahon, Bob Suchor, Finian McCluskey, Rick Rubin, Ken Doyle, Chris Armstrong, Ian Bittle, Chris Murphy, Sharon Murphy, and Kerryleegh Hildebrandt

Episode 75-Betting on the Punters

Irish musicians, and writers, and home makers can all benefit by learning some rules and technical skills—and by allowing a little spontaneity and flexibility. But how much great technique do you need? Does that get in the way of the magic? In this episode, Nathan Gourley, Brendan Mulholland, and Sharon Murphy reflect on the alchemy of order and spontaneity: how rule following and rule breaking can make for a great journey; but how a total lack of plan can derail everything. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to&nbsp;  ___________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to this month’s underwriters: Michael Taylor, Edward O’Dwyer, Adele Megann, Peter Crimmin, the Irish &amp; Celtic Music Podcast, John Sigler, Randall Semagin, Ron Kral, Isaiah Hall, David Vaughan, Susan Walsh, Matt Jensen, John Ploch, Tom Frederick, Paul DeCamp, Jonathan Duvick, Gerry Corr, Mike Voss, Sean Carroll, Isobel McMahon, Bob Suchor, Finian McCluskey, Rick Rubin, Ken Doyle, Chris Armstrong, Ian Bittle, and Chris Murphy

Episode 77-The Bunch of Keys

My sixth original tune for April. I wrote this slow reel to go along with a song called I Would Never that I arranged for Mollie O'Brien. I later paired the tune with my song "Starry Lullaby," and I'll be performing that toNIGHT with a bunch of talented kids in Scituate, Mass.

Starry Night (Maybe I Might)

I wrote this slow reel, imagining the ornate bow down to a king that my young friend Liam had designed. At the end of the tune is a series of rising gestures to accompany a decorated show of respect. I also wrote the tune imagining a bow to Pra Naresuan, who was a beloved and lucky king of Thailand, and who bestowed good luck to my family in 2010.

Bow For Rama

I wrote Blue Dress Waltz as a centerpiece on my Blue Dress CD. Maeve Gilchrist recorded it with me, and it made my heart soar to hear a room full of her students playing it on my birthday (best phone message ever!). I've performed the piece with my string quartet project and with Childsplay. And I've turned it into a classical flute and piano number, which was recently performed at Scituate High School by two impressive young musicians. The Blue Dress CD is available at http://www.mattandshannonheaton.com/discography/Discography_BD.html

Blue Dress Waltz

It's a chilly Spring morning in Boston this morning... made me think of hanging out in front of the fire with my friend Anne Marie! I wrote this tune remembering lots of great conversations at the Craughwell home, and have happy memories of playing the waltz with Siucra, with Beth Leachman, Matt Heaton and later Sam Amidon.

Winter In Craughwell

Memories of Maine and Vermont! I recorded this sweet little song with Laura Cortese, Rachel Panitch, Eve Boltax and Valerie Thompson in the summer of 2015. I've gotten a bit more ambitious about writing for strings, and I still love this project that helped me get deeper in.

After the Morning Demo Tracks

Starry Lullaby LIVE

Here's "Woman of the House" in honor of the first woman in U.S. history to be nominated by a major political party. It's a simple warm up for tomorrow, when millions of women--and men, boys, and girls--will stage marches to protest the new U.S. Administration and, more importantly, to demonstrate support for the protection of rights, safety, and health of diverse communities. Marches will be held in Washington and in 616 other towns around the world!!!! I will attend the march in Dublin. THANK you to my sisters and brothers here in Ireland, who are standing against regimes around the world that, although they appear populist in demeanor, seem set on degrading human rights and well being around the globe. Wishing for the best for everybody as we chip in and work to build up our local schools to help teach critical thinking skills and empathy to our future voters and leaders.

WomanOfHouseForInaugurationDay.WAV

Just came across this recording from the solo show I did last year in Milwaukee. Great venue at Celtic MKE, and looking forward to a return visit this summer!

Paddy's Rambles Live In Milwaukee

Here's a classic set of slides (tunes associated with Paddy Cronin and Denis Murphy). First tune played slowly for learning, second tune played with the Somerville gang at the Armory. We meet on the second Saturday of the month, 2-4pm. All levels welcome at this Guided Session.

GuidedSessionGangPlaysPaddyCroninsDenisMurphys

Irish Music Stories is the show about traditional music, and the bigger stories behind it. Full episodes at IrishMusicStories.org -- where you'll hear tales like this one, about how fiddle tunes link fiddle player Laurel Martin to the past, and can offer some perspective and comfort today.

excerpt from Irish Music Stories podcast

Something in Common

Just came across a quick kitchen recording of this great reel--Woman of the House, indeed!

HeatonsWomanofHouse.WAV

a quick set from the Heaton kitchen, recorded on a phone a few years back, with our pal Dan Gurney. Sharing this for John who loves the tune!

Heaton Kitchen

Tap Room Kitchen set

I wrote this on the occasion of my first social meet up since Covid-19 isolation! A brief (masked) garden visit with my dear friends Kieran Jordan and Vincent Crotty.

for Kieran

The Garden Party

Trailer for the November 2017 inaugural episode of .

Episode 01 Trailer

Boston-based Shannon Heaton specializes in Irish wooden flute and traditional Irish-style singing. She has been heralded as one of North America's finest traditional musicians (Massachusetts Cultural Council Traditional Arts Fellow 2016; IAN 2009 Female Musician of the Year; Live Ireland 2010 Female Artist of the Year). She is wildly creative teacher, and has published two flute/fiddle method books. Her latest, "First 50," is a collection of notated tunes with accompanying recordings. The book includes breathing marks for flute players and bowing for fiddle players, showing musicians how to play with minimal ornamentation and maximum rhythmic stability.

ShannonHeatonMusic

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