Music « Thurles Information

Top Three Websites Supporting Music Appreciation & Learning At Home

“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.” – Elton John.

Be sure to share these top three recommendations for music appreciation and learning at home.

Teach Rock – View HERE.

Music lovers and music teachers, if you are not already familiar with www.teachrock.org then you are about to spend many happy hours sifting through its catalogue of lessons. Although it’s called Teach Rock, lessons cover every conceivable music genre. From big band to folk, jazz to pop, lessons for all ages explore the power of music to influence society, history and culture. Cross curricular links are made with The Beatles used to teach Maths and Pink Floyd used to teach art. To support learning at home during this period of school closures, a number of PDF packs have been prepared and are available to access HERE.
Pupils can learn about expressing gratitude and care with music through the Bill Withers hit ‘Lean on Me’ or even learn about the history behind one of the greatest guitar makers of all time – Leo Fender.

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra – View HERE.

The kids section of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s website is well worth a visit for anybody looking for resources relating to classical music and instruments of the orchestra. By clicking HERE you can learn about all the instruments played by the orchestra and sample sounds.
By clicking HERE you can learn about composers throughout history from the Renaissance period right through to modern day.
This site even includes a section that shows children how to make their own instruments using everyday items including a homemade xylophone made from different lengths of PVC piping. Click HERE.

London Symphony Orchestra

The closest thing to actually going to see an orchestra perform is available to experience via the London Symphony Orchestra’s website. Click HERE. Not only are visitors treated to incredible performances, they are also able to change camera views and explore the different sections of the orchestra from multiple angles. An additional sidebar option to the left enables visitors to learn more about the conductors, musicians and their instruments.

Continue To Stay Safe

All Expenses Paid, World Tour, Courtesy Thurles.Info

I Think It’s Going To Rain Today

Broken windows and empty hallways,
A pale dead moon in a sky streaked with grey.
Human kindness is overflowing,
And I think it’s gonna rain today.
Bright before me the signs implore me
Help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s gonna rain today

Lyrics Randy Newman – Singer Neil Diamond.

First it was the Donegal Sinn Féin TD Mr Padraig Mac Loughlin on April 6th, sending back his almost €9,000 wage increase, to support Irish frontline healthcare workers, or so he claims.

Next it was Ms Amy Huberman; having hammered away for hours over her cast iron shoe last; she has already or is presently, giving away, free, 20 pairs of shoes from her latest manufactured collection, to Irish healthcare workers.

Then it was the great Rock Band U2, who admit to earning around €5 million a night from its concerts, donating two nights takings, possibly from their low-tax jurisdiction, based in the Netherlands; to buy personal protective equipment (PPE) for Irish frontline health care workers.

We are unsure of the actual shoe sizes on offer, or indeed how this major generosity will be split up between the 40,000 healthcare workers who signd up to fight the Coronavirus COVID-19 in Ireland.

However, not to be outdone, and having read all this accidently leaked details of generosity on offer, we here at Thurles.Info will not now be seen to be wanting, with regards to demonstrating our extreme generosity.

This said we have decided to send our thousands of daily readers, yes, on an “all expenses paid world tour”, starting this very night.

Pack your bags, as we now invite you to go on our VIRTUAL TOUR to visit some of the most amazing attractions in the World, each one linked hereunder.

The Natural History Museum, London – Visit HERE

The Vatican Museum, Rome – Visit HERE

The Guggenheim Museum, New York – Visit HERE

Machu Picchu, Peru – Visit HERE

NASA, USA – Visit HERE

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you”. Matthew 6:2

Enjoy Your World Tour & Stay Safe.

“Singing Mailman” John Prine Dead At 73 years

Maywood, Illinois born John Prine, the American country folk singer-songwriter sadly passed away yesterday, April 7th 2020, at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, aged 73 years.

The long to be remembered 1970’s live performer, gifted influential composer and recording artist passed away following a 13 day fight with Covid-19 virus.

During his lifetime he worked in the US army as a mechanic in Germany and as a mail carrier, before starting out on his music career. He began playing guitar at 14 years old, going on win two Grammy awards from a total of 11 nominations.

Prine twice suffered from cancer; once in 1996, when part of his neck was removed, requiring speech therapy and again in 2013, when he overcame lung cancer.

Divorced twice, he is survived by his current wife, Irish woman Fiona Whelan Prine, latter a native of Co. Donegal, whom he married in 1996, together with three sons, Jody, Jack and Tommy; two brothers, Dave and Billy and three grandchildren.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilís.

National Folk Singer Mary McPartlan Has Passed Away

Musical Director, Broadcaster and one of Ireland’s great National Folk Singers, Ms Mary McPartlan has passed away in Galway in the early hours of this morning, April 6th 2020. Aged 65 years, Ms McPartlan succumbed to cancer.

Born in Drumkeeran, Co Leitrim, Ms McPartlan was a former member of the folk duo “Calypso” back in the 1970’s, and later worked as a producer for television and stage before conceiving what are now known as the “Gradam Ceoil” TG4 awards. She also produced two seasons of the TG4 series “Flosc”, as well as an Irish traditional music show in Las Vegas in 2003.

In 2004, aged 50, she released a long-awaited debut album, “The Holland Handkerchief”, which was voted MOJO Magazine’s folk album of the year.

In 2010, as part of a National Tour, Ms McPartlan performed at St. Kieran’s Church, here in Cloughjordan, North Co. Tipperary

Ms McPartlan’s love of the music by the Irish traveller, traditional singer and banjo player Margaret Barry led to her producing the play “She Moved Through the Fair: The Legend of Margaret Barry”.

Creative director of the ‘Arts in Action’ programme at NUI Galway (NUIG), in 2013, Ms McPartlan received a Fullbright Scholarship to the US and last year received an Ireland United States Association (IUSA) Distinguished Alumni Award for her outstanding contribution to culture, education and music.

In 2016 she released her last album “From Mountain to Mountain”.

Ms McPartlan is survived by her husband, Paddy Noonan, her two daughters, Mairéad and Méabh, her stepdaughter Niamh, and her stepson David.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dilís.

8-Dimensional Sound Brought To You Tonight

An amazing new sound called ‘8D audio’ (8-Dimensional sound) is all the rage over the past number of months, and if your main source for streaming music is YouTube you are in luck.

A number of music tracks or sound sequences can be listened to but only with the use of regular headphones.

Using your Headphones, plug in, close your eyes and listen to the Pentatonix version of “Hallelujah” using 8D Audio; shown hereunder.

Ok, we trust you felt that sound sensation soothing your physical and mental being.

Why not now have a ‘field day’ by trying yet another old favourite from back when songwriters actually wrote real lyrics; also hereunder in 8D audio?

Most listeners who tune in with eyes closed listening to 8D audio for the first time, are convinced that the sensation experienced is similar to that of being at a live concert, as the music swirls around in their brain.

Please do Enjoy