Accordionist, Composer and Producer Martin Tourish was born into a musical family in Co. Donegal and began playing from three years of age. His ancestors were collectors of Donegal fiddle music from the late 1800's and his cousin Ciaran Tourish is renowned for his playing with the band Altan.
Named as being in the top 3 piano accordionists in Irish music in The Rough Guide to Ireland, he has brought his instrument to a new level by being the first piano accordionist to win TG4's prestigious "Young Musician of the Year" in 2008, an accolade regarded by The Irish Times as being "the Irish Music equivalent of an Oscar". In the same year, he graduated from The Conservatory of Music and Drama achieving first class honors in classical performance and winning the Anne Leahy Medal for the highest academic mark for his dissertation "The James Tourish Collection: Its Stylistic Significance within Its Cultural Context". Within a month after completing his degree, he was offered the prestigious ABBEST scholarship from the Dublin Institute of Technology to complete a PhD entitled, "The development of complex stylistic identities by way of the musical catalyst theory as a basis for third level education in traditional music and creativity".
When his debut album Clan Ranald with bouzouki player Luke Ward was released, it was listed by music critic Earle Hitchner of the Irish Echo and Wall Street Journal, as being in the top 20 albums of 2005. That year also saw him make a guest appearance on the hit South African soap opera Isidingo, in which he both played and acted a small role.
Martin has been involved with many types of music, including Balkan, Klezmer, Rock, the music of Astor Piazzolla, and has shared the stage with acts as diverse as Altan, The Cafe Orchestra and Patti Smith, recorded with Nectar and Carmine Rojas (of David Bowie and Tina Turner fame) and in 2007 amongst other gigs in Europe, completed a three week German tour of the album as well as playing in Asia. In Ireland, he has taken part in the Facing North Tour which saw him share the stage with Danish duo Haugaard & Hoirup, played on the Trad Connections tour which combined elements of traditional, classical, jazz, and ethnic musical styles, and also was involved in the development of "Invoke" and "Real-Eyes" which saw the combination of trad, rap, and ariel dance.
He has played the major venues in Ireland such as Vicar St., The Irish National Events Centre and The National Concert Hall several times and has been asked by Áras an Uachtaráin to perform for the President of Ireland, the Irish and foreign governments on three separate occasions in the last number of years. He has given interviews and played live on radio programs such as The Arts Show, The Bloom of Youth and Ceili House by RTE, as well as shows by Radio Na Gaeltachta and NewsTalk fm. He has also featured on television shows such as Ardan, Soisceal Phariac, Nuacht TG4, and the Gradam Ceoil by TG4 and has appeared on Nationwide and the Six One news by RTE, often giving interviews in both Irish and English. His work in television reached its apotheosis in 2008 when he was commissioned by TG4 to compose, produce, play and act in their new television and Cinema add campaign "The more you look, the more you see".
Martin is currently working on the publication of volume one of The James Tourish Collection and on his next Trad album "Exegesis"
Hey wass up just showing sum love check out our new videos please please download our single on itunes if you haven't already please show your support here
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace... Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my blog for details): CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY
As gospellers have said, Beneath signalling skies, On land dusty to tread, A trough in a stable Was the strawy first-bed Of a divine baby - The forgiving Godhead.
A season for new hope - There then and here now; The yuletide of goodwill - There then and here now.
In respect of this chance, Beneath bright or dark skies, Faith's the star that we glance Attending Christ's churches And trying to enhance, With singing and ritual, Our God-loving stance.
Salve Martin, parabéns pelo seu belo trabalho. A música Lei de Murphy venceu o Festival de Santa Maria. Ela foi interpretada pela Carol Voigt, gostaria que visitasse myspace.com/srtavoigt e desse "aquela força" para ela. Ouça "Matin Ensoleillé" com accordeon. Muito obrigado, grande abraços e sucessos sempre!
Thanks for your kind words. Me and my girlfriend went on holiday to Ireland this summer. I've always liked traditional Irish music, but being there and actually seeing and hearing it being performed was a real eye-opener. We were there for two weeks and visited Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Killarney, Limerick, and again Dublin. We had a great vacation and would love to go back sometime in the future.
Hey friend remember us we would like to think you because wit out you we couldn't of gotten so far, we started this account 3years ago and we never would expect to go so far wit the band
1 000 000 play on youtube & myspace
50 000 friend myspace top 20 Canadian band when you look at peoples comments you know this band will have huge follow up
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Hey Martin glad you like them! Havent heard Midnight in Siena in so long either and still love it!! Goes way back to that random house we ended up at in Rialto at stupid o clock and played tunes all night if you remember! By the way ive been making good use of the helicopter if thats alright with ya?! (even though i suspect the 3rd part is a bit wrong!)
Will give you a shout if i go for a wander up to the big smoke no bother.
and you can be proud cos sarah, dominic and I we..re the only tourish..s in germany! If I come over we..ll meet up! But i have to get some money first cos I..m going to new york for 3 weeks. But I..ll let you know. I hope I can come in wintertime but looks like it..ll be spring or sth.. nice to talk to you!
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