Tag: Music Generation

“The Wicklow Ways” is a newly written work for orchestra by Irish composer, Vincent Kennedy, and comprises 73 young Wicklow musicians performing on violin, recorder, ukulele, guitar, piano and a whole host of drums and tuned percussion instruments. The piece will receive its world premiere this Sunday, 22nd March in the Mermaid Arts Centre in two concerts at 3pm and 4:30pm.

Vincent Kennedy was commissioned by Wicklow County Council under the Per Cent for Art Scheme and on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow to engage with four schools across County Wicklow to create the piece. Four workshops have taken place in each school – Scoil Chaoimhin Naofa, Gleann da Loch, Co. Chill Mhantain; St Laurences National School, Kindlestown, Greystones, Co. Wicklow; Lacken National School, Blessington, Co.Wicklow; St Cronans National School, Vevay Road, Bray, Co.Wicklow – since September 2014 , engaging the young musicians in fun and challenging ways, inspiring them to perform to the best of their abilities and reach new heights in their musical development.

Speaking of the project, Vincent said: “Wicklow, the Garden of Ireland, has always had a special place in my life and heart. Therefore receiving the commission to write The Wicklow Ways presented me with an opportunity to write music that celebrates the beauty and loveliness of the place and its people and also some of what it means and has meant to me. This experience has also been very important to me because as a seven year old in CBS Westland Row I got the chance to take up music and it changed my life. To be involved with these wonderful young people at the beginning of their music education is tremendous. To experience their enthusiasm, their sense of fun in learning, their kindnesses, their beautiful smiles and laughs, and to see how they have grown musically through the process has been inspiring.”

He added: “I have also experienced some of why they are doing so well and that is down to their brilliant and enthusiastic music teachers, their class teachers and assistants, the support and enthusiasm of the school principals and their dedicated staff and the support of their families and Wicklow Music Generation.”

Along with the children of the WOW Orchestra (Wonderful Orchestra of Wicklow) Aisling Seery plays “Rain, Water, Life” on Piccolo, Descant and Treble Recorders, Eamon Sweeney performs “Glendalough” on classical guitar, Sinéad Finegan premiers “Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh” on Violin with Svetlana Rudenko on piano, Terry Clancy gives the first performance of “Sea and Sky Blues” on Alto Saxophone, Rama Block beating his drums leads us on “A Night on Sugar Loaf Mountain” and James Dunne takes us on a journey by “Steam Train from Greystones to Bray” up and down his Xylophone.

The Wicklow Ways by Vincent Kennedy from Contemporary Music Centre on Vimeo.

The Wicklow Ways is one of four new music works commissioned by Wicklow County Council and produced by the Contemporary Music Centre under the Per Cent for Art Scheme on behalf of Music Generation Wicklow. These commissions have involved some 300 children and young people between the ages of 6 and 16 across County Wicklow.

Tickets are €6 (single ticket) and €12 (family of four). Bookings online via Mermaid Arts Centre or by phone 01 272 4030.