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JOE BURKE
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Joe Burke is among the greatest exponents
of traditional Irish Music. His sheer
musical brilliance, his knowledge and love of his land, its music and culture
have earned him an immortal place in the history of Irish music and folklore. His technical virtuosity is unique, but that
is just part of his great artistry. Joe traces the sources and melodic forms
of Irish Music back to the rhythms and cadences of Irish speech and language,
and feels that they have an intimate relationship with each other. To him
the music is expressive and emotional, evoking the Irish countryside and the
varying humour of the people.
| From the parish of Kilnadeema in East Galway, Joe Burke is widely
regarded as the master accordionist who started the huge revival of interest
in the instrument. A legend in
his own time, many of the younger generation, now famous players themselves,
have been inspired by his style and technique.
He has travelled all over the world, and his recordings have been
widely acclaimed. His live performances,
as well as his own charm and wit have made him a favourite with all lovers
of Irish music. |
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His first recordings for Gael Linn in the
50’s were released on 78rpm discs. They
turned out to be the last 78’s ever released in Europe. His recording career has spanned five decades and all the formats
from 78’s to current CD’s. His classic
solo albums have sold worldwide and the early ones are considered ‘Collectors
Items’. Apart from his solo albums
Joe has recorded with many musical greats including Andy Mc Gann and Felix
Dolan, Sean Maguire and Josephine Keegan, Michael Cooney and Terry Corcoran,
Charlie Lennon, Frankie Gavin, Kevin Burke, Brian Conway, Noreen O’ Donoghue
and Mike Rafferty. He also recorded an album of traditional airs
form Ireland on which he plays concert flute and is joined by Harpist Márie
Ni Chathsaigh. Joe Burke’s music has
taken him from county halls and pubs in rural Ireland to the most prestigious
Concert Halls worldwide. He has performed
solo at Carnagie Hall, New York; The royal Albert Hall, London; Unuesque Hall,
Paris and the great American Musical Hall, San Francisco.
He has played at all the major festivals
at home and abroad and has given Master Classes and Workshops on the accordion
from Drumshambo Co. Leitrim, Ireland to Paris, France, to Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.
and as far afield as the logging and fishing towns in Alaska.
His trips and music classes in Paris (early eighties), and his association
with some of the great French players has influenced musicians such as Mark
Perone to expand his repertoire and include Irish traditional music in many
of his performances.
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Achievements
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Senior All-Ireland
Accordion Champion 1959 and 1960
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Traditional musician of the Year RTE Irish Television
1970
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Represented Ireland at World Accordion festival held
in Montmagny, Quebec, Canada 1989
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Hosted his own Radio Show entitled ‘Ireland in America’
on station KDHX St Louis Missouri 1989 to 1991
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Represented Ireland in ‘Accordions That Shook The World’
tour 1992
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‘Hall of Fame’ award Rostrevor, Co. Down. 1990
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‘Lifetime Achievement’ award ‘Irish World’ newspaper
London. 1997
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‘Honorary Member’ award National Association of Accordion
and Fiddle Clubs, Scotland 1974
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‘Traditional Musician of the Year’ award – AIB and
Galway Chamber of Commerce 1997
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Represented Ireland at traditional music festival Canayyama,
Japan 2001
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Boston College Award for:
‘Your
Exceptional Mastery and Life long Illustration of the Music
of Ireland’ 2000
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Arranged and Performed music for ‘Old Ireland’ – a
film Depicting Rural Ireland in the mid Twentieth
Century 2002
Joe Burke and his wife Anne Conroy-Burke teach Master Classes at the following
venues:
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Willie Clancy Summer School
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South Sligo Summer School
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Joe Mooney Summer School
Joe is also available to give lectures and talks. Some of the titles are:
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‘Emigrant Musicians of the Twentieth
Century’
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‘The Music of East Galway’
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‘The Accordion in Traditional
Music’
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‘Time of Change’ Traditional
Music mid Twentieth Century.
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Enquiries to: Joe Burke Kilnadeema,
Loughrea, Co. Galway Telephone: 091 842419 Email: joeburke@unison.ie |
The Kilnadeema Branch of CCE is privileged
to have Joe Burke as patron. This
is where Joe and Anne live and continue to pass on that great musical tradition.
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Joe Burke and Bill McEvoy at
the launch of Kilnadeema Branch
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Joe and Anne with Thomas O Baoil,
Co Board Chairman and branch officers Pat Stapleton and Donal Herlihy
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