Singer, musician and folklorist Mick Moloney's new album, McNally's Row of Flats, centers on theater songs by an Irish songwriting team from the late 1800s. In those days, Vaudeville and minstrelsy were giving way to American Musical Theater in New York City.
The Irish team consisted of actor and writer Ed Harrigan and musician David Braham, both acclaimed performers of the early Great White Way. The songs on Moloney's CD range from "Dad's Dinner Pail" to "I Never Drink Behind the Bar." It also includes a top hit of 1878, "Such an Education Has My Mary Ann."
I'm referring to mention of the Album you start the thread with. Jeremy seems to like to keep this sort of thing in the section designated for recordings. The radio streaming link is an interesting a very good supplement, but my understanding of Jeremy's website indicates to me he would prefer this to be over there. I could be wrong, but Jeremy will probably sort it out himself if he sees it and deems it necessary.
well I haven't heard his album. I listened to this NPR story which includes alot of documentary info about the role of Irish music in the development of the American Broadway Musical. That opening paragraph was just the intro to the piece on the NPR webpage. Sorry for the confusion but do give the story a listen/
I think this whole area of the presentation of Irish culture through the music hall etc. is worth thinking about. Certainly if you are around my age (50) or older, this will have influenced your parents' and teachers perception of Irish culture if you grew up outside of Ireland - even influencing how many Irish ex-pats viewed themselves. Sometimes at a very subtle level. It's amazing how this has filtered down to today. Perhaps the dreaded Riverdance is just a continuation of this for modern times?
Well, though I am not a Michael Flatley fan, I imagine that Riverdance has done more to promote ITM/Celtic music and dance awareness to the mainstream than just about anything since the great Irish migration. I imagine that beforehand, the most the average person knew about Irish music was "Danny Boy" and whatever happened around them on Saint Paddy's day. But - I could be wrong.
Around the turn of the last century, there was a burst of interest in Irish music in the world of stage, and many songs were cranked out, both by Irish immigrants and others influenced by the style. From what I can surmise by talking to folks older than me, this Irish music fad spread far wider through the US culture than the latest "Riverdance/Enya/Titanic" fad. One of my best recent musical finds is a song book that reprints the original sheet music to about 30 of those songs, that I got in a little Celtic store in Saratoga Springs NY. It has songs like Irish Eyes are Smiling, My Wild Irish Rose, Danny Boy, I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen, Harrigan, etc, etc. It ain't Irish, but this stuff is at the heart of the Irish American tradition. And if you ever play in a nursing home in the US, and want to see the old dim eyes light up, just play a few of these. It is not a pure Irish tradition, but it is a tradition worthy of respect.
Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
Singer, musician and folklorist Mick Moloney's new album, McNally's Row of Flats, centers on theater songs by an Irish songwriting team from the late 1800s. In those days, Vaudeville and minstrelsy were giving way to American Musical Theater in New York City.
The Irish team consisted of actor and writer Ed Harrigan and musician David Braham, both acclaimed performers of the early Great White Way. The songs on Moloney's CD range from "Dad's Dinner Pail" to "I Never Drink Behind the Bar." It also includes a top hit of 1878, "Such an Education Has My Mary Ann."
click on
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5289944
Bob
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by bobgordon
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
Shouldn't this be in the "recordings" section?
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
well it is not a recording, it is an internet radio streaming address, but put it where you want it
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by bobgordon
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
Thanks for the link Bob. This is an important and nearly forgotten period in Irish American history.
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by Farr
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
I'm referring to mention of the Album you start the thread with. Jeremy seems to like to keep this sort of thing in the section designated for recordings. The radio streaming link is an interesting a very good supplement, but my understanding of Jeremy's website indicates to me he would prefer this to be over there. I could be wrong, but Jeremy will probably sort it out himself if he sees it and deems it necessary.
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by Phantom Button
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
well I haven't heard his album. I listened to this NPR story which includes alot of documentary info about the role of Irish music in the development of the American Broadway Musical. That opening paragraph was just the intro to the piece on the NPR webpage. Sorry for the confusion but do give the story a listen/
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by bobgordon
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
I think this whole area of the presentation of Irish culture through the music hall etc. is worth thinking about. Certainly if you are around my age (50) or older, this will have influenced your parents' and teachers perception of Irish culture if you grew up outside of Ireland - even influencing how many Irish ex-pats viewed themselves. Sometimes at a very subtle level. It's amazing how this has filtered down to today. Perhaps the dreaded Riverdance is just a continuation of this for modern times?
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by kris
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
Well, though I am not a Michael Flatley fan, I imagine that Riverdance has done more to promote ITM/Celtic music and dance awareness to the mainstream than just about anything since the great Irish migration. I imagine that beforehand, the most the average person knew about Irish music was "Danny Boy" and whatever happened around them on Saint Paddy's day. But - I could be wrong.
# Posted on March 26th 2006 by bobgordon
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
Around the turn of the last century, there was a burst of interest in Irish music in the world of stage, and many songs were cranked out, both by Irish immigrants and others influenced by the style. From what I can surmise by talking to folks older than me, this Irish music fad spread far wider through the US culture than the latest "Riverdance/Enya/Titanic" fad. One of my best recent musical finds is a song book that reprints the original sheet music to about 30 of those songs, that I got in a little Celtic store in Saratoga Springs NY. It has songs like Irish Eyes are Smiling, My Wild Irish Rose, Danny Boy, I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen, Harrigan, etc, etc. It ain't Irish, but this stuff is at the heart of the Irish American tradition. And if you ever play in a nursing home in the US, and want to see the old dim eyes light up, just play a few of these. It is not a pure Irish tradition, but it is a tradition worthy of respect.
# Posted on March 27th 2006 by AlBrown
Re: Exploring Broadway's Early Irish Period
What a fantastic link---thank you, Bob, for posting it. Fascinating stuff.
# Posted on March 27th 2006 by lcox