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Month: February 2013

The Galway Music Residency 10th Birthday Festival

Ariel Hernandez and Dermot Dunne10th Birthday Festival in association with Music for Galway

The Galway Music Residency will kick off its first ever festival on February 27th in NUIG with three full days of lunchtime events, workshops and evening concerts. The Galway Ensemble in Residence, ConTempo String Quartet will be joined by Irish Pianist Isabelle O’ Connell, the RTE Vanbrugh Quartet, Argentinian Guitarist Ariel Hernandez & Irish Accordionist Dermot Dunne.

Lunchtime events will include a solo performance by Galwegian Cellist and vocalist Naomi Berrill, a reading from local poet Kevin O’ Shea and an open discussion about “the Making of Music” between Composer in Residence Karen Power and celebrated composer and founder of The Galway Music Residency Jane O’ Leary.

February 27th – March 1st 2013 | AULA Maxima , NUIG, Galway

Lunchtime events 1.10pm | Evening Concerts 8pm

Lunchtime events : FREE | Evening concerts – Admission €20 / €16 /€6 and children under 16 FREE

For tickets call  091705962, or log on to www.tht.ie. Also available at OPUS 2 High Street, Galway.

http://www.thegalwaymusicresidency.ie/

Hipdrop presents Love Jones | 14th Feb | Sugar Club

Hipdrop presents Love Jones on Valentine’s night at the Sugar Club with Butter, ChoiceCuts Djs, and screening of “Suite for Ma Dukes”  Feb 14th, 8pm- Late.

This Valentine’s day groove collective Hipdrop will set the scene to give you the love jones. Couples, the unpartnered and music lovers alike are welcomed to celebrate with a soundtrack to seduce and facilitate a little bump and grind for the day that’s in it.

Dublin based neo-soul outfit Butter, known for their innovative renditions of classic neo-soul and hip hop covers, will headline the night. Featuring some of Ireland’s most talented jazz and hip hop players, Butter are fast making a name for themselves as one of a fine few live neo-soul acts in the country. The group cover artists such as D’Angelo, J Dilla, Bilal, Slum Village, Radiohead, Massive Attack and R Kelly and are known to whip up quite the groove frenzy in some of their extended improv sets. Butter consists of vocalist Georgia Cusack, Sean Maynard Smith; bass, Dennis Cassidy (Mixtapes from the Underground); drums Darragh O’Ceilligh (Republic of Loose); keys, Chris Engel; Alto & Soprano sax and Sam Comerford; Tenor sax.

https://soundcloud.com/butterattheinternational/butter-unfinished-smyphon

ChoiceCuts Djs have agreed to provide the filling and the pink icing for the night to funk things up post-butter, guaranteeing a gathering on the dancefloor to end the night.

https://soundcloud.com/choicecuts

The undeniable spirit of producer J Dilla prevalent in the theme of the evening and the week, which marks the anniversary of his untimely death (Feb 10), sparked the idea to screen the exquisite “Suite for Ma Dukes” memorial concert to start off proceedings and set the mood for the evening. Dilla fans are in for a treat!
Support from Dublin based soul duo Nat and Dave, covers of Otis Redding, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Hidrop presents; “Love Jones” a Valentine’s special soul and hip hop night.
February 14th 8pm- Late.
The Sugar Club, 8 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2,  (01) 678 7188
Tickets: €8, €5 before 9/ cons, €10 for couples plus drinks promotions.

Emma O’Halloran Wins Jerome Hynes Young Composers’ Competition 2012

Photographer: Frances Marshall
Photographer: Frances Marshall

Irish composer, Emma O’Halloran, has been announced as the winner of the Jerome Hynes Young Composers’ Competition 2012. The award is issued by the National Concert Hall and gives the winning composer an opportunity to collaborate with professional musicians on a commission for a chamber ensemble. It acts as an important platform for aspiring young Irish composers.

Emma’s winning composition, “Cages”, will be performed on Friday 1st March as part of the New Music Dublin Festival at the National Concert Hall.

Based in Dublin, Emma is a member of the Irish Composers’ Collective, the International Computer Music Association and the Association of Irish Composers. Her music has been performed by Concorde, Crash Ensemble, Orkest de Ereprijs and the Dublin Laptop Orchestra, among others. In 2012, Emma was commissioned by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra to compose Whisper City, a landmark work for laptop orchestra and symphony orchestra.

Emma holds a BMus International from NUI Maynooth and the University of Miami, Florida, along with a Masters in Music Composition from NUI Maynooth. She also holds a Diploma in Orchestral Conducting from the Royal Irish Academy of Music. Emma’s new commission Cages is scored for voice, piano, horn and electronics. Her current work explores the combination of acoustic and electronic instruments and her music is represented by the Contemporary Music Centre.

The world première will take place on Friday, 1st March, 6.45pm at the National Concert Hall followed by a panel discussion previewing the inaugural New Music Dublin Festival. The three-day festival of new music will showcase the work of major international and Irish composers at the National Concert Hall.

 

 

Pan Celtic Song Contest Winner

PC photo Daithi, Aine & Seoirse 1 by AineThe Inishowen musician/artist Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh and writer/Irish language enthusiast Áine Durkin from Buncrana have had their song, “Le Do Thaobh”, chosen to represent Ireland in the Pan Celtic Song Contest in Carlow in April. Last Thursday evening in the Seven Oaks Hotel in Carlow, they won the First Prize of €1000 in the Irish heat of the contest with Áine’s lyrics set to original music by Seoirse.

On the stage that night there were performances by 20 entrants, shortlisted from 55, many of the songs in very elaborate accompaniment, including, keyboards, percussion, harps, bass guitars and backing vocals, provided by the contestants themselves. However, Seoirse, who lives at KinnegoeBay in north Inishowen, decided to sing the song solo with the minimal amount of accompaniment using his own Spanish guitar in a classical picking style. The adjudicators, who included the well-known Cork singer Seán Ó Sé, were evidently impressed enough to award Seoirse and Áine First Prize.

Áine Durkin is originally from Connemara, but has been resident in Buncrana since her marriage to Brian O’Sullivan in 1980. The lyrics of the song deal with the tragic death of her sister, Ciara Durkin, who died in Afghanistan in 2007. Áine wrote the words down, shortly after Ciara’s first memorial, as she sat in the half-built kitchen of her new house in Inis Eoghain, on a beautiful Autumnal day. As she watched the river and the beauty of nature outside, trying to make sense of life, and of Ciara’s death, in particular, the lyrics first came to her in the form of a song. A few years later, during the summer of 2012, upon hearing Seoirse performing in The Red Door in Fahan, Áine knew that she had found the right singer for her lyrics, and one who, as events unfolded, would, in expressing the message musically, give the song its life.

The simplicity and intimacy of Seoirse’s melody and performance very effectively capture the sadness of Áine’s lyrics which are well-rooted in the Irish tradition of the caoineadh, a lament for the loss of such a lovely person.  The song also depicts some other losses and sadnesses within society itself.  There was stillness in the hall as Seoirse performed the song in Carlow. It was generally described as “a very emotionally charged performance”.

Seoirse is presently working on the release of a new album called “Windmills of the Mind” using local Inishowen musicians of the calibre of the Henry Girls, Aiden McLoughlin and Laurence Doherty, recorded entirely in Inishowen. The songs range from Leonard Cohen and Dylan to traditional songs from Donegal. The Henry Girls are involved in every one of this generous offering of 18 tracks (really a double album pressed onto a single disc).  Seoirse’s daughter, Neassa, also sings on two of the songs. The CD is due for release in the next few weeks.

Seoirse and Aine’s song will be performed again in Carlow on 4 April 2013 when it competes with five other entries from Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Cornwall and Brittany.  Follow them up to Carlow!

Information on the events of the International Pan Celtic festival can be found at: www.panceltic.ie

Peter Pan & You Raise Me Up | The Never Ending Story

With  the €10 million, Music Hall production of Peter Pan – The Never Ending Story, about to open in Amsterdam’s 17,000 seat,  Ziggo Dome on February 14th, it is perhaps little surprise that the show’s promo single and finale song, is yet another chapter in the never ending story of the worldwide hit, You Raise Me Up.

Peter Pan – The Never Ending Story, World Arena Tour has already played 23 shows at the 7,000 seat, Forest National Theatre in Brussels and after Amsterdam, is on its way to Wembley Arena, the Manchester Arena and other UK arenas, as part of a World Arena Tour.  http://www.peterpan.is/

You Raise Me Up, Tinkerbell’s song in the production, having already been recorded by Belgian Tinkerbell, Silvy De Bie, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G–x87YZ6YA  as the show’s promo single, has now also been recorded by Dutch Tinkerbell, Jennifer Ewbank for the Ziggo Dome  shows. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmnRB9RF-YM

 A new Tinkerbell will enter the spotlight for the UK concerts. Direction and scenography is by ex – Cirque du Soleil, Luc Petit with music composed and arranged by Matt Dunkley, (Moulin Rouge, Black Swan, The Dark Knight and Pirates of the Caribbean). The production also includes a number of well-known, classic hits…and for the first time has above-stage flying without any harness, with Peter Pan’s aeronautics being supported by a cushion of air, a technique developed for training NASA space travellers.

Peter Pan – The Never Ending Story, is yet but another chapter in the story of You Raise Me Up, written by Norwegian composer, Rolf Lovland and Irish songwriter and author, Brendan Graham . With sales approaching one  hundred million units, You Raise Me Up has been recorded by almost 600 different artistes, in over 40 languages and is one of the most successful songs in the history of popular music . The song has been performed at such occasions as the 9/11 Official Ground Zero, and Pentagon Commemorations ;  Winter Olympics, Gold Medal Ceremony; Super Bowl, NASA Tribute;  Laureus World Sports Awards; Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies (twice); The White House(twice);  Opening of the Northern Ireland Assembly; Queen Elisabeth II’s visit to Ireland ; Eucharistic Congress closing ceremony.  Nelson Mandela’s 91st Birthday; Oprah Winfrey’s 50th Birthday.

 

http://www.peterpan.is/

Scoring for Film Masterclass | With Oscar Winning Composer Dario Marianelli

Presented in association with the National Concert Hall and IMRO, the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is proud to announce that Oscar and BAFTA winning composer Dario Marianelli will host a masterclass iDario Headshotn film composing. Taking place in the National Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry room, this specialist class will see the composer for Anna Karenina, Pride and Prejudice and Atonement show his work, explain his processes for recording a film score and discuss going from playing piano down the phone to Paddy Breathnach to being Oscar nominated, three times.

Film/TV Credits: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0547050/

Date: Tuesday 19th February
Time: 11am
Location: Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2.

This is a FREE event but booking is essential. Email membership@nullimro.ie to reserve a place. Limited availability.

Games Music Ireland and Windmill Lane Recording Studios Present | Composing for Games Module

Dates: March 2nd – 3rd – 9th / 2013
Time:  10:00am / 5:00pm
Venue: Windmill Lane Recording Studios 20 Ringsend Road, Dublin 4.computer games

The module will take place over three days. The course offers up skilling and training in technique for composing in the field of digital games.

Platforms supported by the course are Pro-Tools, Logic and Reason. Also provided is a Mac computer and keyboard. The module will be delivered by Mick Kiely.

The cost for the three day course is €380.

To book a place contact: gamesmusicireland@nullgmail.com

What the composers said:

“Of working on a AAA game has been invaluable. He has a deep knowledge of the practicalities of writing for games and he shares it in a fascinating, and very enjoyable, way. If you’re thinking about moving into games music then this course is a must. ”

– Jamie Evans Composer

” The Composing for Games Module with Games Music Ireland and Windmill Lane Recording Studios was such a fantastic way to spend three days. Mick was such a gentleman with gallons of passion and inspiration oozing out of him. I’d highly recommend this to any composer of any genre. The insight into this particular sector of the music industry was hugely informative and greatly appreciated. Great stuff !! ”

– Kevin Whyms, Composer.

 ” A thoroughly enjoyable and informative course. After day one I couldn’t wait to get to the practical assignment. Mick’s clear instructions and hands on support helped me make a start on my demo. Definitely a must for anyone interested in composing music for games. ”

Elaine Cudden, music teacher / Composer

 “This course put the fire under me to get myself focused on such an interesting area of composition. Well recommended. ”

Alan McCahey  Composer

Day 1.

Morning session.

• Introduction.
• A brief history of music in games.
• The rapid evolution and demand for music in games
• Understanding a game brief
• Composition, Film v Games.

Lunch
Afternoon session.

• Game score demo.
• How the score works interactively in the game.
• The importance of loop progression.
• Creating the evolving score illusion.
• Memory economy within the game.
• Useful tips and tricks.

Day 2

Composers will be assigned a brief and will work with the platform of their preferred choice in a compositional exercise where they will compose and construct game scores with interactive capability. Composers will receive one on one support during this session.

Day 3

Today sees the final touches to the scores, analysis and discussion.
The module closes with a talk on plans for the future.

Platforms supported by the course are Pro-Tools, Logic and Reason. Also provided is a Mac computer and keyboard. The module will be delivered by Mick Kiely.
Places are secured on a first come basis.

About Mick Kiely

Irelands first AAA games composer with a firm understanding of music and it’s place in the digital games industry. Well connected internationally with music professionals in the games industry. Also composing professionally for TV and film, he has a clear understanding of the requirements and necessary transitions needing to be made in order to cross successfully from these media to that of music in games. With a reputation for innovation and trend setting, he pioneered music production techniques successfully implemented in AAA computer game play. Mick attended lectures at GDC 2012 to insure this module optimises the latest technologies. Mick is currently composing for the social and casual games sector.

Celebration of New Music in Waterford This Week

Waterford New Music Week 2013Various performances, discussions and workshops are taking place this week in Waterford as part of Waterford New Music Week. The theme of this year’s festival, run by the Department of Creative and Performing Arts at Waterford Institute of Technology in association with Garter Lane Arts Centre, is “New Music – New Audiences” and new works by over 30 composers will be performed throughout the week.

As part of the festival, the Contemporary Music Centre are hosting a free lunchtime concert of new Irish music featuring Paul Roe (clarinet) and Kate Ellis (cello) in the Central Library, Lady Lane from 1-2pm on Wednesday 6th February. The programme will include solos and duos by Linda Buckley, Deirdre McKay, Emma O’Halloran and Eric Sweeney.

The festival takes place with support from the Arts Council and Waterford City Council. For a full brochure listing all events taking place see http://www.wit.ie/news/details/events/new_music_week_2013

 

VANN Set For Big 2013

VANNKicking off the year with a bang and hoping to crack the U.K and Ireland’s underground music scene, Dublin based Electro-Pop gang VANN are certainly not far from their target.

After an explosive performance at the 2013 First Fortnight finale gig in a SOLD OUT Button Factory, the Retro-Infused, hard hitting set from VANN left the crowd in awe and begging for more.

With their debut EP anticipated to be released in early spring, this epic four piece have already made an imprint on the masses both in Ireland and abroad with their energetic, pulsating and absorbing synth based collection.

VANN have also secured placements for two of their forth-coming tracks with O2 for the 2013 O2 6 Nations advertisement campaign.

Having been heavily influenced by such bands as Talking Heads, LCD SoundSystem, M83 and Fleetwood Mac (to name a few), VANN portray an intensely nostalgic 1980′s vibe that really grips you and will leave you feeling like you have stepped back in time.

All in all 2013 is shaping up to be the platform year for VANN having already secured several major festivals.

“This band should feature on plenty ones-to-watch list over the coming year” – Golden Plec

“One’s to watch in 2013, certainly” – AU Magazine

”VANN are an outstanding band with a trademark sound that marks them out as one of THE bands to watch in 2013.” – U&I Music.

“Life in Realtime” & “Never Want to be Alone” featured as soundtracks to O2’s The Making of Bring On The Green

www.VANNMUSIC.com

 

Bill Whelan to Take Part in RDS Speaker Series

bill_whelan_2010Bill Whelan | “Publish and Perish: Music and Creativity at the Gateway to Babylon”

Wednesday 13th February at 6pm| RDS Minerva Suite

Composer, Bill Whelan, will be taking part in the RDS Speaker Series on Wednesday 13th February with a talk entitled “Publish and Perish: Music and Creativity at the Gateway to Balylon”.

In a wide ranging talk, Bill Whelan will explore the influence that the internet has had on music creativity and particularly how audiences experience music since the recent technological revolution began.

Bill’s production and arranging credits include U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Richard Harris, Planxty and The Dubliners.  He was honoured with the 1997 Grammy Award for ‘Best Musical Show Album’ for his Riverdance record.    Riverdance The Show has been seen live by more than 22 million people and by a television audience of nearly 2 billion.

Bill is a member of the Boards of Berklee School of Music in Boston, The University of Limerick, Crash Ensemble and Music Generation, the newly established music education body for Ireland.  He has completed co-teaching a course at Princeton for composers and authors and was recently appointed adjunct Professor to Trinity College Dublin’s School of Drama, Film and Music.  Bill Whelan is a Fellow of the Royal College of Music.

Admission to this lecture is free and open to the public but advance booking is necessary. For bookings and further information, please contact RDS Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 at 01 240 7254 or librarydesk@nullrds.ie. Bookings may also be made online at www.rds.ie/speakerseries.

 

 

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