Trad musicians at risk of hearing loss, study finds

[From Irish Times >>> ] REPEATED EXPOSURE to amplified sound by Irish musicians will have an adverse effect on hearing, a postgraduate research project at NUI Galway (NUIG) has found. The study by physics MSc student Helena O’Sullivan shows that even traditional musicians run the risk of noise-induced hearing loss, if using amplification.

Some of the results recorded by Ms O’Sullivan exceed the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 on control of noise. The findings support a case for increased awareness training of the issue among musicians, the author has found.

Data collected by Ms O’Sullivan shows that personal noise exposures experienced by all of the rock/pop musicians sampled exceeded the 87dB(A) exposure limit value in the 2007 safety regulations. Half of the traditional Irish musicians sampled also exceeded the exposure limit value, she found.

She measured noise levels at static monitoring points on the stage during the performance. These ranged from 85 to 90dB(A) during traditional music performances, and 101-107dB(A) during rock/pop music performances. She also measured the personal noise exposure level of one member of the groups surveyed – the singer or the drummer. The levels were 100-102dB(A) for rock/pop band members and 88-95dB(A) for members of traditional music groups.

A questionnaire survey of musicians on noise exposure conducted as part of the research project indicated that 52 per cent of respondents regularly experience a ringing sensation in their ears after a performance.

Matt Molloy’s flute heading into space

Nasa astronaut Catherine Coleman. Photograph: Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters

American Nasa astronaut Catherine “Cady” Coleman, who blasts off today from Kazakhstan for a six-month stint on the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting the Earth, will be bringing Matt Molloy’s flute with her.

“We had done a concert and as always we had a tune afterwards with local musicians,” said the Westport-based musician. “It transpired she played the flute and we have been friends ever since.”

On a previous trip into space, she packed his Shadows on Stone CD in her space suit. “Cady told me: ‘Your music always brings me to a special place, so I thought I’d bring yours to one’. I was really moved,” said Molloy. “She told me she was going to be heading there for six months and asked me if I had a flute that she could play while on the station.” While joking that his response may have been “a moment of weakness”, Molloy gave her one of his most prized possessions, his E-flat flute, which he played on his first solo album made with Dónal Lunny in 1976. (Irish Times) >>>

The Wild Bees’ Nest: A Concert of Unaccompanied Traditional Irish Song

Free concert at National Library of Ireland, 17 December 2010 at 1 pm

Admission is free and all are welcome

Featuring singers Luke Cheevers, Fergus Russell, Tim Lyons, Pat Burke, Anne Dunne, Niamh Parsons, Paddy Daly, Tony McGaley, Micheál Marrinan, Mick Fowler and Tim Quan.

‘The Wild Bees’ Nest’ is a research project involving a group of traditional singers from throughout Ireland. The project is co-ordinated by Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert and is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland in conjunction with The Bealtaine Festival, The National Library of Ireland and the Irish Traditional Music Archive.

The eleven singers hail from Waterford, Cork, Tipperary, Galway and Dublin. Since October they have been researching material relating to a traditional song of their choice in the National Library and ITMA. They will share the history that informs the song, and perform the songs at the concert. Personal research diaries and video recordings of the singers will be featured on the website www.thewildbeesnest.ie which will be launched at the concert.

This is part of an ongoing series of research based projects conducted by Michael and Aileen in conjunction with The Bealtaine Festival and The National Library. To view the 2009 project please visit www.themagpiesnest.ie

Maighreád Ní Dhomhnaill & Triona Ní Dhomhnaill @ NCH

Soilse na Nollag- Maighreád & Triona Ní Dhomhnaill

21 December 2010 01:00 PM – KEVIN BARRY ROOM

Maighreád Ní Dhomhnaill, voice
Triona Ní Dhomhnaill, voice

The National Concert Hall is delighted to present Soilse na Nollag (Christmas Lights). A Luminous series of alternative yet  traditional concerts at lunchtimes and early evenings in December, all presented in the intimate surrounds of The National Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry Room.

Sisters Maighread and Triona Ní Dhomhnaill have been singing together since they were children, and they have both chosen to make performing Irish music their life’s work: Maighread as a solo singer and Triona as a singer and instrumentalist with the Bothy Band, Touchstone, and Nightnoise.

Presented by The National Concert Hall >>>

Karan Casey, Niall Vallely & Caoimhín Vallely @ NCH

Soilse na Nollag- Karan Casey, Niall Vallely & Caoimhín Vallely

17 December 2010 06:00 PM – KEVIN BARRY ROOM

Karan Casey, voice
Niall Vallely, concertina
Caoimhín Vallely, piano

The National Concert Hall is delighted to present Soilse na Nollag (Christmas Lights). A Luminous series of alternative yet  traditional concerts at lunchtimes and early evenings in December, all presented in the intimate surrounds of The National Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry Room.

Karan Casey is a natural innovator. More than a decade ago audiences were introduced to Casey fronting the Irish “supergroup” Solas. Karan recently released her fifth solo album entitled “Ships in the Forest”. This album focuses largely on the traditional repertoire and features the members of her current touring band, including Niall and Caoimhín Vallely!

Presented by The National Concert Hall >>>

Soilse na Nollag @ NCH

Soilse na Nollag- Cormac de Barra & Máire Breatnach

16 December 2010 01:00 PM – KEVIN BARRY ROOM

Máire Breatnach, fiddle
Cormac de Barra, harp

The National Concert Hall is delighted to present Soilse na Nollag (Christmas Lights). A Luminous series of alternative yet  traditional concerts at lunchtimes and early evenings in December, all presented in the intimate surrounds of The National Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry Room.

Máire Breatnach and Cormac de Barra released their first recording as a duo in Autumn. The album Tarraing Téad / Pulling Strings is a celebration of the magic that can flow between harp and fiddle and viola, with ample space between the notes for the melodies to find full expression. There’s a depth of interpretation here that will surely lure its share of new listeners to the music.Siobhan Long, Irish Times

Presented by The National Concert Hall

Listen to what happened at Frankie Kennedy Winter School launch

Tune in this coming Sunday night to the Rolling Wave which will include the Frankie Kennedy Winter School launch which was part of the Donegal Gaeltacht Night in Dublin last November. The night was hosted by Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh, and featured many special performances >>>

Peadar Ó Riada’s book on ‘sean-nós’ singing

Peadar Ó Riada has just published a book about ‘sean-nós’ singing, Amhránaíocht Dúchas na nGael.

Peadar writes: “I had to explain background stuff and hope that it makes sense. It is ‘as gaeilge’ -eventually i will do an English version. It surprises me how such a big heap of hassle for me over the last 4 yrs could fit into such a small bundle.”

“Seo leabhar ina ndeinean Peadar Ó Riada iarracht ar míniú do thabhairt ar cad as nó cad é an bhrí atá le “Sean-nós” nó amhránaíocht Dúchas na nGael mar thugaid ar in áiteannaibh éagsúil inniu. 122 leathanach faoi chlúdach cruaig le roinnt pictiúirí agus léaráidí daite nó dubh agus bán. Tá gach cóiop a ceannaíotar tríd an suíomh idir-línne sinithe go pearsanta ag an úghdar.”

You can order your copy for €20 + postage here >>>