Day of music promises a fascinating journey

Concorde Contemporary Music Ensemble along with The Galway ensemble in residence, the ConTempo Quartet, will present a day of music in Galway City on Saturday, February 8 as part of its work with Galway Music Residency.

The programme, which will consist of three separate events, will kick off at 2pm in the Galway City Museum. 

The first, a free event entitled Putting it all together – Up Close with Music will allow audiences to explore what’s involved putting together a piece of contemporary music. 

Performers and composers will preview music from a concert to be held later that evening, discussing the instruments, music and techniques used in contemporary composition.  Excerpts from music by Dave Flynn, Alyson Barber and Jane O’Leary will be examined, giving people a glimpse behind the scenes to see what exactly happens when artists such as these get creative.

Later that evening, the concert will take place in NUI Galway’s Aula Maxima starting at 8pm when musicians Madeleine Staunton (flutes), Paul Roe (clarinets) and Dermot Dunne (accordion) will be performing with the strings of ConTempo.

The programme will consist of contemporary music commissioned by Concorde from Irish composers Jane O’Leary, Dave Flynn, Deirdre McKay and Judith Ring, alongside a quintet for strings and accordion by Swedish composer Daniel Nelson, a duo for bass clarinet and cello by Massimo Lauricella from Italy, and a bit of sunshine from Argentina in a trio by Ariel Hernandez. In addition, Alyson Barber’s Illusions will have its world premiere.  Photos from the woods of Annaghmakerrig in Co Monaghan, take by artist Marie Hanlon will accompany Jane O’Leary’s evocative music. 

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune