Polish Dance in Ireland: Altan and "Mazurka"

Today's random tune is performed by Altan, which was originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewing's sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Besides The Chieftains, they have worked with musicians such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. This song, called Mazurka, can be found on their 1993 album Island Angel. A mazurka is a music and dance style originally from Poland that was imported into Ireland in the 1840s. It is a style largely played in the Donegal region.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altan_%28band%29; http://altan.ie/

Steppin' and Hoppin': Altan and "The Tin Key/Sam Kelly's Jig/The Gravediggers"

A few jigs to get give you a spring in the step make up our random tune for today. The jigs are performed by Altan, which was originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewing's sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Besides The Chieftains, they have worked with musicians such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. This set of jigs, called The Tin Key/Sam Kelly's Jig/The Gravediggers, can be found on their 2015 album The Widening Gyre.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altan_%28band%29; http://altan.ie/

I'll Have Some: Altan and "Maggie's Pankcakes/Piobaire an Chéide/The Friel Deal"

Altan brings us the random tune for today, a set of reels called Maggie's Pankcakes/Piobaire an Chéide/The Friel Deal, from their album The Widening Gyre (2015). Altan was originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Besides The Chieftains, they have worked with musicians such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altan_%28band%29; http://altan.ie/

At the End of the Earth: Altan and "Far Beyond Carrickfinn"

Acclaimed Irish band Altan bring us the random tune for today. Far Beyond Carrickfinn is from their album The Widening Gyre (2015). Altan was originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Besides The Chieftains, they have worked with musicians such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altan_%28band%29; http://altan.ie/

It Won't Throw You: Altan and "An Grianan/Horse with a Heart"

Altan performs our random tune for today, called An Grianan/Horse with a Heart. Originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987, the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo, and additional members were added through the years. They named their group Altan after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became Irish music legends matching The Chieftains in popularity. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Altan has recorded and toured with fellow countrymen The Chieftains, and other musicians such as such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. An Grianan/Horse with a Heart can be found on their 1989 debut album Horse with a Heart, and on the various artists compilation album Celtic Putumayo Presents: Celtic Tides (1998).

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altan_(band); https://altan.ie/

Get Your Drink On: Altan and "The Jug of Punch"

Irish music legends Altan perform our random tune for today. Originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987, the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo, and additional members were added through the years. They named their group after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Altan has recorded and toured with fellow countrymen The Chieftains, and other musicians such as such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. This song, The Jug of Punch, can be found on their 1993 album Island Angel, and on the various artists compilation album Celtic Wonder (2005). The song celebrates the wonders of a good drink.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.

Waiting to be Plucked: Altan and "The Flowers of Magherally"

The random tune today is by an Irish musical powerhouse. The Flowers of Magherally is performed by Altan, a band originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Altan has recorded and toured with fellow countrymen The Chieftains, and other musicians such as such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. The Flowers of Magherally can be found on their 2006 release The Red Crow, and on the compilation album Celtic Wonder (2005).

A Reel Birthday: Altan and Drumnagarry/Pirrie Wirrie/Big John's"

A very happy birthday to Ms. Megan Kamerick, host of this show, on today. The random tune today is actually appropriate as it hearkens to her Irish heritage. Drumnagarry/Pirrie Wirrie/Big John's is a set of tunes performed by Altan, a band originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Altan has recorded and toured with fellow countrymen The Chieftains, and other musicians such as such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. Drumnagarry/Pirrie Wirrie/Big John's can be found on their 1993 release Island Angel.

Humorous Rambling: Altan and "Humours of Andytown/Kylebrack Rambler/The Gladstone"

Today's random song is from Irish band Altan, and is a set of reels called Humours of Andytown/Kylebrack Rambler/The Gladstone. Altan was originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Besides The Chieftains, they have worked with musicians such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. Humours of Andytown... is from their 1993 release Island Angel.

The Dying Embers: Altan and "No Ash Will Burn"

Today's random song is from Irish band Altan, and is called No Ash Will Burn. Altan was originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Besides The Chieftains, they have worked with musicians such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss. No Ash Will Burn is from their latest release, The Widening Gyre, released in 2015.

A Ways Away: Altan and "Far Beyond Carrickfinn"

The random tune today is by acclaimed Irish band Altan. Far Beyond Carrickfinn is from their newest album The Widening Gyre (2015). Altan was originally formed in County Donegal by vocalist and fiddler Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband Frankie Kennedy in 1987 after the pair initially released a pair of albums as a duo. They named the band after a lake in County Donegal. County Donegal has a rich tradition of Irish music and styles, and Altan made this music available to the world and in the process became known worldwide with a popularity to match The Chieftains. Kennedy died of Ewings sarcoma in 1994, leaving Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to keep the band going. Besides The Chieftains, they have worked with musicians such as Enya, Dolly Parton, Bonnie Raitt and Alison Krauss.