Vocal Chords

In episode four of Vocal Chords, presenter and singer Iarla O Lionaird explores the power and spirit of the combined voice from church choirs to street protest, from prison camps to the factory floor.

Iarla takes the journey from the unique sound of Robert Hollingworths solo voice ensemble, I Fagiolini, and grammy award winning folk choir Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares to the deep bass tones of Welsh mining mens choirs and the Singing Revolution of the Baltic States. South African singers talk of toyi toyi protests when the power of the marching crowds singing carried them for miles. Vocal Chords is the intellectual property of Athena Media Ltd and no production use can be made of the podcasts without the direct consent of the producers. www.vocalchords.ie

In this episode presenter and The Gloaming frontman Iarla O Lionaird explores the narrative power of a song, from songs of love and war to protest and empowerment, and explores how song is at the heart of remembering. Voices you hear in this episode include singers Christy Moore, Treasa Ni Mhoillain, Peter Gabriel, Sinead O Connor, Francis Devine, Grace Toland and composer Brian Irvine. Vocal Chords is the intellectual property of Athena Media Ltd and no production use can be made of the podcasts without the direct consent of the producers. www.vocalchords.ie

After sound comes language. In this episode presenter and The Gloaming singer, Iarla O’Lionaird explores the roots of traditions and folk song and how language, culture, identity and belonging are all tightly interwoven with song and singing. Song, Iarla says, becomes a vocal map to ourselves, to our roots, to our home. Voices in this episode include singers Christy Moore, Steve Byrne, Julie Fowlis, Francis Devine, Grace Toland, Frances Black, Treasa Ni Mhoillain and South African singers Nomfusi, Otto Maidi, Bafana Nhlapo. Vocal Chords is the intellectual property of Athena Media Ltd and no production use can be made of the podcasts without the direct consent of the producers. www.vocalchords.ie

Episode 1 of Vocal Chords explores the idea that, as anthropologist Thomas Hylland Eriksen says, to look at the voice is to look at what it means to be human, while New York vocalist Meredith Monk talks of singing as joining the world vocal family. Iarla O’Lionaird explores our journey of voice and sound and finds what unites us and divides us. Vocal Chords is the intellectual property of Athena Media Ltd and no production use can be made of the podcasts without the direct consent of the producers. www.vocalchords.ie