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Concert Preview
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Troy Record, Concert Preview >>
It’s early in March but the weather is mid-April. So you might be forgiven if you don’t realize that St. Patrick’s Day comes the middle of next week.
Not to fret, for the next few days the color of choice at most area performing arts venues is green.
Tomorrow night the world-famous Celtic Masters of Altan perform at Troy Music Hall as part of a tour celebrating their 25th anniversary. This is a group that started playing in local pubs and has become so popular they were invited to perform at the Sydney Opera House. The initial goal was to enlighten their neighbors, today they play at state houses throughout the world, including the White House.
Most of what has made the sextet so universally appealing is they honor their roots. Altan is considered the most traditional band in Ireland.
Sure they perform the typical jigs and reels as well as a fair share of tragic Irish love songs. And being Irish they are natural storytellers. And be sure, they’ll bring humor to the show — probably at the expense of their Scottish neighbors or their one-time foe England.
However, Altan blend music and stories to be more than entertainment. They make an effort to capture the beauty, mystery and music that defines a culture. Attend tomorrow’s concert and you will touch the social history of a society.
Altan performs at Troy Music Hall, 8 p.m. Friday. For tickets and information call 273-0038
At at Crossroads
If you are looking for a reference to verify the authenticity of Irish entertainment, consider the appearance of "Celtic Crossroads" at The Egg next Tuesday. The event is a fund raiser for the Irish American Heritage Museum and if anyone can vouch for Irish entertainment they’re the ones.
Indeed, the name of the group comes from the fact that before pubs neighboring communities met at various crossroads of roadways to socialize and music has always been an important part of Irish tradition.
Those meetings were a time of merry-making that started the traditions of Irish music. It was music that eventually influenced such other musical genres as American Bluegrass, European Gypsy, world Classical and Jazz. Indeed, this show uses those influences as it brings Celtic music in the 21st century entertainment with some hard pulsating rhythms and bass-driven grooves.
But the show remains respectful of Irish tradition. The seven musicians will play over 20 instruments including the fiddle, banjo and mandolin, several pipes and whistles, and of course, the Irish harp. Included in the cast are two of Ireland’s best high kicking step dancers.
The show is at the Egg on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. which is, appropriately, St. Patrick’s Day Eve. For tickets and information call 473-1845.
At the pub
After the Irish stopped mingling at crossroads, the entertainers moved inside to pubs and then to theaters and music halls. You can experience what those events might have been like this Sunday at the Palace Theatre in Albany when Dublin’s Traditional Irish Cabaret will perform at 5 p.m.
It an event filled with classic Irish music hosted by the comic personality Noel V. Ginnity. Tenor Paul Hennessy (one of the original Irish Tenors) and soprano Emer Hartnett will offer favorites such as "Danny Boy," "Galway Bay" and "I’ll Take You Home Again Kathleen." They’ll be accompanied by skilled musicians on piano, guitar, accordion and various pipe instruments. For tickets call 1-800-745-3000
Big guns
If you like your Irish entertainment big, Proctors Theatre in Schenectady on Friday is the place for you. The Band of the Irish Guards/Royal Regiment of Scotland will perform. The band consists of 80 members, six of whom are dancers.
Formed on April 1,1900, the Irish Guard will bring 11 decades of ceremonial Irish and military tradition to the Proctors Stage. Along with pipes, drums and the Highland Dancers the band will demonstrate military splendor that complements its musical precision.
And it all ends in an Irish sing-along. The show is at Proctors Theater 8 p.m. tomorrow night. For tickets and information call 346-6204.
Around town
All this entertainment should get you in the mood for the big event on Wednesday. Troy is filled with great Irish pubs and other places that are Irish for the night. Each will have great local entertainment performing throughout the day and night. Enjoy and behave responsibly. 03/11/10 >> go there
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