The craziness of the last month must really be taking it’s toll – I arrived to the National Concert Hall an hour early for the performance by Ensemble ICC after getting the whole day wrong earlier in the week. I’ll be doubling concentration efforts from here on!
This evening’s performance was the first in a series taking place in the Kevin Barry Room in the NCH. The programme involved seven works by Irish composers ranging from purely acoustic works to electronics. I arrived just in time to catch the end of the pre-concert talk by composer Peter Moran (I seem to have had all the wrong information about this gig!) which was a huge shame because in the short 5 minutes I caught he spoke briefly about composer stimulus and the conversion of that stimulus into music and asked the question of the audience – What is the relevance of that stimulus once the music reaches the performance stage? Next time I’ll be there in time to catch the whole talk.
Nocturne by very young composer Ciaran Quirke was a light, constantly moving rhythm, broken by occasional tremolo. While the work was eloquently performed by the viola and cello duet of Cora Venus Lunny and Kate Ellis, it failed to reach Eliot’s “perfect climax all true lovers seek!”".
Lunny and Ellis are wonderful together and have worked on their duo in a variety of contexts over the past few years. Lunny is intense in performance and the perfect foil to Ellis’ calm poise behind the cello. Peter Moran’s Viola Sonata for solo viola pushed Lunny to her limits and proved her one of the most concentrated performers working in Ireland at the moment. The work was relentless, almost ten minutes in length with only a short respite between movements for the performer; a furious double-stopped analysis of all the viola has to offer. The work was very different to any of Moran’s works I experienced previously but convincing nonetheless.
The work which stuck out for me was Alyson Barber’s Twists and Turns. The work is a beautiful study in the rich open strings and harmonics. Barber spoke about the work before hand and about the collaborative process involved in writing which involved working with a number of viola players and incorporating their feedback into the development of the work. This collaborative and attentive approach to writing seems to have worked exceptionally well for Barber in this instance.
The electronic works presented in this programme weren’t particularly convincing. This is particularly noticeable after the Spatial MC concert last month, although there seems to be some crossover between the members of the Irish Composers Collective and Spatial MC.
The next Ensemble ICC performance in this series is 25 August in the Kevin Barry room of the NCH.
I’ve been in and out from UCD this week where Music Network’s development programme Making Overtures is taking place. Highlights of the week so far include an insightful presentation on self-promotion by Bill Whelan and a panel discussion on the Role of the Critic including panellists Michael Dervan, Siobhán Long and Jim Carroll, chaired by Fergus Sheil.
Ensemble ICC performs at the National Concert Hall this evening at 7.30pm. The programme includes works by Peter Moran and Sean Reed.
Tomorrow evening Paul Hillier conducts the NCC in a performance entitled From the Sublime to the Ridiculous, which includes new works by Andrew Hamilton and Argentinean-American composer Ezequiel Vinao.
The Arts Council commissioned website www.publicart.ie recently went live and includes detailed information on public art commissioning in Ireland, including a critical space which promotes international conversations on public art.
Contemporary Music organisation Ergodos have announced a whole spate of performances in the second half of 2009 including performances by Trio Scordatura, Moya Homburger & Barry and Paul G. Smyth. More information on their live page
Crash Ensemble have just announced details of a new opera by Donnacha Dennehy with libretto by Simon Doyle entitled Gas. The first performance of the opera is to take place Saturday 03 October in Dublin. EDIT - Crash’s manager Frances Mitchell informed me that this work is an “Opera in Progress” – a workshop performance
By all accounts it seems we won’t know the fate of many of Ireland’s QUANGO’s as An Taoiseach has decided not to release the McCarthy report compiled by An Bord Snip until after the Oireachtas has had a chance to review, which is most likely to be after the summer break (although if the opposition have their way the break may be delayed and fair enough, say I. Imagine if I arrived into Music Network on Tuesday to announce I was taking a few months out and things would just have to tick over on their own until I get back – and I’m not running a country! yet…). In a review of QUANGO’s in last Sunday’s Sunday Independent the Arts Council actually comes off pretty well, although the review is critical of the number of consultants retained by the Council in 2008 considering there are already a number of advisors on the books. The review makes no mention of Culture Ireland, another body speculated to be facing cuts under the report.
Temple Bar Cultural Trust, in partnership with The Arts Council, have announced details of their Arts Audiences initiative. Information and updates on the initiative here.
The new Creative Careers site is up and running.
Gradcam just announced details of their upcoming research opportunities.
Oh I found the info on the Irish Composers Collective gig in the NCH on facebook. It’s on Wednesday (15 July), not Tuesday as I had previously mentioned, and is most certainly not a figment of my imagination…
The VAI is calling for consultation on an Artists’ Charter Project addressing agreements between commissioners and artists. This is expedient given the piece in the Irish Times today about Mannix Flynn’s engagement with Dunamaise Arts Centre
I’ve been away for a few weeks on an unexpected extended personal leave so have loads to catch up on. Bear with me…
This coming Monday (13 July) sees the Kronos Quartet making an appearance as guests of Louth Contemporary Music Society (LCMS). The concert in An Táin Theatre, Dundalk kicks off at 8pm and will feature the Irish premieres of Tan Dun’s Ghost Opera and Terry Riley’s Cusp of Magic. The Kronos will perform with very special guest Wu Man (site requires flash). I’m hoping to head up but still looking for a lift so if anyone is heading from Dublin drop me an email!
If you’re over on the west coast today or tomorrow then get yourself to The Model’s offsite space on Castle Street, Sligo to catch Soundtrack for a Day; a sound project by commissioned artist Karl Burke. The exhibition will be closing tomorrow evening so get there quickly.
I have a note in my diary telling me that the Irish Composers Collective are performing on Tuesday (14 July) in the National Concert Hall but I wonder now if this is a figment of my very active imagination as I can’t find a thing about it online… Anybody? I do know that the Neil Crowley Trio are performing that evening at 8pm in the NCH promoted by Note Productions. A nice bonus of that gig is a free download of the trio’s new EP for all people who purchase tickets to the NCH gig – nice!
Kinsale Arts Week starts this coming Saturday and I’m not going to get there until later in the week so will be disappointed to miss a good friend Áine Duffy supporting Imelda May this coming Monday. Not surprisingly, considering the calibre of both performers, the gig has already sold out so keep your ears open for any spare tickets floating around if you want to catch Duffy & May.
It’s a few weeks away yet but put a note in your diary to get to the National Chamber Choir performing From the Sublime to the Ridiculous in the National Gallery on Thurs 16 July, a programme of works featuring Macfarren, Hamilton and Bryars among others. I’ll be there and will most likely post a little reminder closer to the time. I did attend the NCC’s last performance in the NGI and wanted to write about the wonderful programme but the past few crazy weeks ran away with my time!
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On an entirely different note – I dropped into the NGI on my way home from Music Network yesterday evening and saw the exquisite Harry Clarke illustrations he created in the early 1900’s for a book of Hans Christian Anderson stories. If you get a chance drop in, the illustrations are perfect in detail. Closes 23 August.
