The Clare Memory Orchestra a uniquely Irish orchestra founded by internationally acclaimed composer Dave Flynn, comes to Glór onFriday, September 21, at 8pm as part of the Culture Night series.
The orchestra features Liz Carroll on fiddle, Mairtín O’Connor on accordion and Mick O’Brien on pipes and sees composer Dave Flynn combine some of Ireland’s leading traditional and classical musicians to create a distinctive new sound.
The orchestra has a string section infused with the sound of Irish fiddles, a wind section mixing flutes, whistles and pipes with the haunting tone of the oboe. While a harmonic background of Irish harp and guitar and a dynamic rhythm section mixing rumbling bass and ticking percussion provide the means for this unique sound.
The orchestra gets its name from the fact that the musicians play from memory, without the barrier of sheet-music on stage.
The Clare Memory Orchestra will have its official launch concert in its adopted home of Glór in Ennis during culture night on September 21. The launch will feature some of the section leaders of the new orchestra performing as a group and in solos and duets.
These include Mick O’Brien (uilleann pipes), Aisling Agnew and Eimear McGeown (flutes/whistles), Etain McCooey (oboe/whistle), Aoife Ní Bhriain (fiddle/violin), Niamh Varian-Barry (fiddle/viola), Ann-Marie O’Farrell (Irish harp), Neil O’Loghlen (bass), Aidan Dunphy (percussion) and Dave Flynn (guitar).
Two very talented young musicians, Ciara Ní Bhríain (viola) and Cormac O’Brien (cello), will join the section leaders to reflect the ultimate ambition to develop a large orchestra filled with talented young apprentice musicians from throughout Ireland. Internationally renowned conductor Bjorn Bantock will conduct the orchestra under the artistic direction of Dave Flynn.
For this special Culture Night event The Clare Memory Orchestra will be joined by another new group, The Tune Makers, featuring three virtuoso composer/performers; Liz Carroll (fiddle), Mairtín O’Connor (accordion) and Dave Flynn (guitar). Meanwhile Liz and Mairtín will also join the ensemble for some exciting new arrangements of their exhilarating compositions.
The night will culminate in a special world premiere of Flynn’s new version of Aontacht, his fiddle concerto originally premiered by Martin Hayes and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra at the National Concert Hall in 2010. This new arrangement for the Clare Memory Orchestra will feature Liz Carroll as the soloist performing the haunting slow-air like middle movement and the rousing finale.
Alongside this and other music by Dave Flynn the orchestra members will perform an eclectic mix of music including classical works by Albeniz, Bach and Poulenc and traditional music standards.
Tickets for the event are free, however advance booking is recommended through the Glór Box Office by calling 065 6843103 or visit boxoffice@glor.ie.