Trad meets classical with Kevin Burke and Vanbrugh Quartet

Date Published: {J}

Legendary traditional fiddler Kevin Burke, who has played with the Bothy Band, Patrick Street, Celtic Fiddle Festival will be in Galway next Monday, May 16 for a a special concert, where traditional and classical music will join forces.

Burke is travelling from his hometown in Portland Oregon with his musical partner; guitarist, composer and arranger, Cal Scott to perform the Irish Session Suite in venues throughout Ireland, including Galway, where they will be joined by the Vanbrugh String Quartet.

The Suite is featured on Burke’s and Scott’s latest release of the same name and contains a collection of well-known jigs, reels, hornpipes and other airs, arranged for string quartet.

London-born Burke is best known for his fluid and ornamented Sligo style fiddle playing while multi-instrumentalist Cal Scott has been playing a variety of music for years; everything from folk to jazz, on bass, brass and guitar. He has built a career as a composer, arranger and producer with extensive film and television scores to his credit as well as his own CDs.

The two men met some years ago while Scott was working a score for a documentary on Northern Ireland and have developed a fruitful musical partnership.

Kevin Burke has said that The Irish Session Suite is an unusual variation of the kind of music he normally plays, but explained that taking a classical approach to traditional Irish fiddle tunes fits right in with his musical upbringing.

He was reared in London, where his parents wanted him to learn Irish music but didn’t know anybody who could teach it to him, he has explained, so they sent him to a violin teacher who taught him classically. Their hope was that once he had mastered the instrument, he’d subsequently pick up Irish tunes. His parents’ plan obviously worked, and although he has forged his career in traditional music, Kevin Burke has always had a healthy respect for classical music.

Irish Music Magazine described The Irish Session Suite “as a groundbreaking and original album’ while critic for The Irish Echo Earle Hitchner described it as “pure listening pleasure”.

The Irish Session Suite has been performed across the US with classical players to great acclaim but this tour will be its first outing in Ireland.

Renowned classical musicians The RTÉ Vanbrugh String Quartet will join Burke to perform this work on Monday night, with Scott overseeing proceedings as arranger in the city’s Town Hall Theatre.

The show will contain three elements; a traditional set from Burke and Scott, a classical section from The Vanbrugh and the merging of the two traditions with Kevin Burke taking lead fiddle to perform The Suite with the remaining quartet members. A very special night of music is assured.

Booking for the show on Monday next, May 16 is now open at the Town Hall Theatre on 091-569777 or on the web at www.tht.ie