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Tag: Vincent Kennedy

New Orchestral Work by Vincent Kennedy

IMRO member Vincent Kennedy’s latest work IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN (New orchestral suite in 8 movements) will receive its World Premiere performance at 5pm on Saturday 3rd December 2016. The work has been commissioned by Roscommon County Council for Roscommon County Youth Orchestra with Moate Community School Orchestra to celebrate and remember 1916. Vincent’s inspiration for the music is the 1916 Proclamation and events that took place at that time and people that were involved directly or indirectly or who had an influence on Irish culture at the time, hence the movements are called.

1. IRISHMEN AND IRISHWOMEN
2. Raising The Flag
3. Brothers In Arms
4. O’Connell Street Tram
5. An Craoibhin Aoibhinn – Soloists Natalia Murray- Violin, Ella Healy – Cello
6. Valour And Discipline
7. Arbour Hill
8. August Destiny

“In this supreme hour the Irish nation must, by its valour and discipline and by the readiness of its children to sacrifice themselves for the common good, prove itself worthy of the august destiny to which it is called.

Signed on behalf of the Provisional Government,
THOMAS J. CLARKE
SEAN MAC DIERMADA
THOMAS MACDONAGH
P.H.PEARSE
EAMONN CEANNT
JAMES CONNOLLY
JOSEPH PLUNKETT

Vincent Kennedy’s The Chronicles of Meath – CD Launch 23rd September

The Chronicles of Meath – CD Launch
8pm Friday 23rd September 2016
In the George Eogan Culture Centre, Nobber County Meath

The CD of composer Vincent Kennedy’s The Chronicles of Meath for Harp Ensemble will be launched by Cllr Maria Murphy, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council on Friday 23rd September.

The Chronicles of Meath was commissioned by Meath County Council in 2012 for Dearbhail Finnegan and the Meath Harp Ensemble. The brief was to write a contemporary setting of music for Irish harp ensemble. The Chronicles of Meath was premiered in the Solstice Theatre, Navan in March 2013 and has since been performed to great acclaim in Ireland and abroad on many occasions. The performance at the World Harp Congress in Sydney August 2014 where Vincent conducted the Meath Harp Ensemble is considered by many who heard it as one of the highlights of the Congress.

The music is in seven movements each depicting a different aspect of history and heritage of County Meath

• Newgrange
• The Hill of Tara and the Hill of Slane
• The Book of Kells
• O’Carolan’s Arrival
• Lament at the Boyne (for Solo Harp)
• O’Carolan’s Concerto
• Have you Ever Been to Nobber in the County of Meath

The movement Lament at the Boyne (for Solo Harp) is now on the syllabus for Harp in Trinity College of Music London and recent performances of this movement have been by International Harpists Anne Denholm, Emily Mitchell, Laurel McConkey and Danielle Perrett to name just a few.

The launch of the CD represents the culmination of a wonderful collaboration between the composer Vincent Kennedy, Meath County Council and its Arts Officer Gerardette Bailey and the Meath Harp Ensemble. There will be a performance of several of the movements of The Chronicles of Meath during the launch by The Meath Harp Ensemble led by Dearbhail Finnegan.

Vincent Kenndy to conduct opening concert of 2016/17 season of the Albanian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra

IMRO member Vincent Kennedy has a number of important performances of his music in the coming weeks. On Tuesday 2nd August the RTÉ Concert Orchestra conducted by Elaine Kelly will open its lunchtime concert at the National Concert Hall with Dublin – Overture to My City. This work was originally commissioned for the Orchestra in 2009 and this will be its fourth performance. The concert is also being broadcast live on Lyric FM and the program includes Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” with soloist Billy O’Brien and music from “Appalachian Spring” by Aaron Copeland and Sean O’Riada’s “Misé Eire”. https://www.nch.ie/Online/RTECO-Summer-Lunchtime-02Aug16

Vincent has been invited to conduct the opening concert of 2016/2017 season of the Albanian Radio Television Symphony Orchestra in Tirana on Friday September 9th. For the concert he will conduct Dublin – Overture to My City and the European premiere of Dreams (2008) for Solo Violin and Orchestra with the brilliant Albania Violinist Lirza Zaloshnja. The program will also include Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and Manuel De Falla’s “Danse espagnole” with Lirza Zaloshnja as soloist. The concert is being broadcast on Albanian National TV and during the week of rehearsals Vincent will also take part in radio and TV interviews and other talks.

Currently the Italian Harpist Alexandra Selleri is doing a series of concerts in Northern Italy featuring Vincent’s music. On 22nd July she performed Meditation on the Book of Kells from The Chronicles of Meath at Chiostro Francescano di Campo Lomaso with Violinist Sergio La Vaccaro. On 2nd August Alexandra performs Lament at the Hook from The Hook – A Place and A People in a new arrangement for Harp and Trumpet at Museo delle Palafitte di Fiavè with Davide Riccioni Trumpet.

All this comes after Vincent’s collaboration with acclaimed traditional composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and IMRO member Manus Lunny on Home to Ballybeg the brilliant new composition by Manus which was premiered to great acclaim on 17th July in An Grianan Theatre Letterkenny as part of the Errigal Arts Festival. Manus worked closely with Vincent who created and conducted the string score. Manus was joined by two of his band mates from top Scottish outfit Capercaillie, Donald Shaw and Ewan Vernal (former Deacon Blue bass player). Also on stage was Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan; Michael McGoldrick, who has toured the world with Mark Knopfler; and leading Donegal fiddler Teresa Kavanagh. Edinburgh multi-instrumentalist Fraser Fifield completed the line-up. Home to Ballybeg is a musical journey that draws on the landscape and characters, the inspiration and the issues that so passionately influenced Brian Friel’s writings. Each of the performed works is deeply rooted in Irish Traditional music, born in the heart of the Donegal Gaeltacht and transports the audience into the world of one of the greatest Irish playwrights.

Young Musicians Set to Premiere “The Wicklow Ways” by Vincent Kennedy

Wicklow Ways“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.

Vincent Kennedy’s ‘The Chronicles of Meath’ performed at the World Harp Congress in Sydney

Vincent Kennedy will conduct four performances of his work The Chronicles of Meath in July with the Meath Harp Ensemble, the highlight of which is the performance at the World Harp Congress Sydney on Friday, 25 July.vincent_kennedy_2

Commissioned by Meath County Council under the per cent for Art scheme, The Chronicles of Meath was written for the Meath Harp Ensemble led by Dearbhail Finnegan. Each of the seven moments is inspired by a place or facet of County Meath’s rich heritage and history and includes titles such as Newgrange, The Hill of Tara – The Hill of Slane, and The Book of Kells.

Performances of the work take place at the Cairde na Cruite International Harp Festival, An Grianain, Termonfeckin, County Louth on 1 July; The Thosel, Drogheda, County Louth on 5 July; and at the Irish Embassy, Canberra, in Australia on 21 July; with the final performance on 25 July at The Grand Ballroom, Four Season’s Hotel, Sydney as part of the The World Harp Congress.

Vincent Kennedy hosts workshops and showcases new works

May is a busy month for composer vincent_kennedy_2Vincent Kennedy who has spent the beginning of May hosting workshops in schools in County Wicklow that will be participating in his new work commissioned by Wicklow Education Partnership.

The commission is managed and produced by the Contemporary Music Centre under partnership with Wicklow County Arts Office and Music Generation Wicklow and will involve many children and young people aged between six and sixteen.

The work is one of four commissions being created with other notable Irish composers including George Higgs, Elaine Agnew and Neil Martin.

Vincent will be taking part in ten performances of his works including the world premiers of two of his works.

Dates and details of these performances can be found below:

Friday 30th May 2014 – 8pm Drawing Room, Glenveagh Castle, Glenveagh, County Donegal.

“Memories” for Flute, Violin I, Violin II, Cello – Sarah Murphy (flute), Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo and Lucia Spacirova (Violins), Víctor Yélamo (cello). This is a world premiere of this version of the work originally written for 3 violins in 2012.

Saturday 31st May (2 concerts) at the Glebe Gallery, Glenveagh, County Donegal

12.30pm

Donegal Music Education Partnership’s Junior String Orchestra and Friends

“Etude for Cello” with Chamber Orchestra

5:00pm. Concert in the Glebe Gallery, Glenveagh, County

Donegal Chamber Orchestra with guest sean-nós singer Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde

Sunday 1st June 8pm Drawing Room, Glenveagh Castle, Glenveagh, County Donegal.

Donegal Camerata String Quartet (Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo, Claire Cunningham, violins; Lucia Spacirova, viola; Víctor Yélamo, cello)

Further details on all performances taking place in Glenveagh, Co. Donegal can be found here.

Friday 16th May 2014 7.30pm Rosses Community School, Dungloe, Co. Donegal

Donegal Youth Orchestra conducted by Vincent Kennedy

Sunday 18th May 2014 – 3pm Balor Theatre, Ballybofey, County Donegal

Friday 23rd May 2014 – 8pm Solstice Theatre, Navan, County Meath

Meath Harp Ensemble conducted by Vincent Kennedy

Friday 25th May 2014 – 3pm Ballyroan, Parish Church

Rathfarnham Concert Band conducted by Vincent Kennedy

CMC Present “Musical Tales” to Celebrate One City, One Book

CMC

The Contemporary Music Centre is presenting two concerts in Dublin City Libraries this month as part of One City, One Book. This year, James Plunkett’s “Strumpet City” has been selected for Dublin City Council’s One City, One Book initiative, a project which encourages everyone to read a book connected with the capital city during the month of April each year. To celebrate this, CMC have programmed two concerts celebrating the influence of Dublin City, which is at the heart of Plunkett’s novel, on Irish composers.

Curated by Irish Composer Benjamin Dwyer, the concert programme will be performed by Miriam Kaczor (flute), Evelina Ndlova (electric piano), Vincent Kennedy (trumpet), alongside a choir of eight singers (Robyn Richardson, Sarah McCourt, Zosia Kucyńska, Heather Fogarty, Richard Bridge, Richard Shaffrey, Robbie Blake, Pascal Kennedy) conducted by Maragaret Bridge.

The two concerts, which have FREE ADMISSION, take place between 1pm and 2pm, in the Central Library (Ilac Centre) on 24 April, and Rathmines Library on 25 April.

The concert programme features works by Irish composers: John Buckley, Hamilton Harty, Michael Holohan, Donal Sarsfield and Vincent Kennedy.  Harty’s In Ireland (1918) was written in the same decade as the Dublin lockouts and reflects a flavour of the music written at this time. Buckley and Sarsfield present their versions of popular tunes. Holohan with a strong affinity to Dublin celebrates his city with two works adapted for these concerts. Kennedy who recently completed an orchestral work Dublin – An Overture to my City writes a new piece especially for these concerts entitled s-Trumpet City, in which he will perform solo Trumpet.

All concerts are FREE admission but booking is essential.

Please contact the relevant library to book.

 

1pm – 2pm, Wednesday, 24 April

Central Library – Music Library Dublin 1

T | 01 873 4333 E | musiclibrary@nulldublincity.ie

 

1pm – 2pm, Thursday, 25 April

Rathmines Library, Dublin 6

T | 01 497 3539 E | rathmineslibrary@nulldublincity.ie

 

“The Chronicles of Meath” by Vincent Kennedy to be Premiered at Solstice Arts Centre

IMRO member Vincent Kennedy’s latest work “The Chronicles of Meath” will be premiered at the Solstice Arts Centre in Navan on 14 March at 8pm. “The Chronicles of Meath” is written for six Irish harps and will be performed by the Meath Harp Ensemble.  There are seven movements of exquisite music each depicting a different time in the history of County Meath: Newgrange, The Hill of TaraThe Hill of Slane, The Book of Kells, O’Carolan’s Arrival, Lament at the Boyne, an arrangement of O’Carolan’s Concerto, and finally, Have You Ever Been To Nobber In the County of Meath? Vincent was commissioned by Meath County Council under the Per Cent for Art Scheme. “The Chronicles of Meath” is a public Art project and admission is free but tickets must be booked by contacting the Solstice Arts Centre Box Office directly at 046-9092300.vincent_kennedy_2

The performance comes soon after Vincent Received the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras special achievement award “For outstanding artistic achievement and for outstanding promotion of music in the community.” The award was a wonderful recognition for all involved in The Happy Prince production particularly Little John Nee (who wrote and retells Oscar Wilde’s story so beautifully) and Vincent, who wrote the music and conducted all the performances with the Donegal Youth Orchestra and Donegal Youth Choir. The award was presented to Vincent at the National Concert Hall on 9 February.

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