Altan and Jerry Douglas • Celtic and Country Music Connections • 2024
Interviews
•
49m
Masters of traditional Irish folk music Altan and world-renowned dobroist Jerry Douglas bring together their deep collective knowledge of Celtic musical traditions for an insightful conversation and powerful musical performance. This program, which took place in the museum’s Ford Theater, was recorded on March 17, 2024, in partnership with the Music City Irish Festival.
Moderated by the museum’s John Fabke, the program explores the panelists’ influences, career highlights, and creative process, as well as the historic and current musical exchange between country, bluegrass, and traditional Irish music. The panel dives into the resurgence of differing regional styles of fiddle playing found in Ireland, the recent Irish folk music revival, and the importance of the Gaelic language and its role within Celtic music. The program concludes with two performances: one is of the Irish traditional “Tá Mo Chleamhnas á Dhéanamh,” and the other is a medley of “Comb Your Hair and Curl It" and "Gweebarra Bridge Reel,” which Altan calls “Gweebarra Bridge.”
Celtic band Altan was founded in 1987 in County Donegal by frontwoman Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and her husband, Frankie Kennedy. The first Celtic band signed to a major record deal, Altan has recorded or performed with numerous American musicians, including Alison Krauss, Tim O’Brien, Bonnie Raitt, and Country Music Hall of Fame members Dolly Parton and Ricky Skaggs. Their current configuration includes Ciarán Curran, Clare Friel, Mhaonaigh, Dáithí Sproule, and Martin Tourish. Jerry Douglas is a Grammy-winning musician known as a master innovator on the resophonic guitar. He has collaborated with dozens of Celtic musicians for “Transatlantic Sessions,” a television series and concert tour that showcases traditional and contemporary music from the British Isles, Ireland, and the United States.
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