Irish Composers on Irish Music: Martin O'Leary (solo piano)

29 Oct 2016 - 12:00pm
Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane

The Association of Irish Composers presents

Irish Composers on Irish Music:

Martin O’Leary

solo piano

29 October 2016, 12pm

Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane

free entry

Martin O’Leary brings his unique insight as a composer, performer and lecturer to a specially selected programme of solo piano music by Irish composers.

This recital programme was chosen to showcase the work of Irish composers for piano, and includes a short piece by the Dean of living Irish composers, Seoirse Bodley. There is also a focus on James Wilson (1922--2005), and two of his pupils. Paul Hayes and John Buckley. I have known all the composers personally, and three of the pieces (Kevin O’Connell’s Berceuse, Paul Hayes The Agony of Trance, and Ryan Molloy’s) were written especially for me. I have also given the first performances of John McLachlan’s piece, the earlier Paul Hayes pieces, as well as the first public performance of Seoirse’s beautiful celebration. The recital offers a comprehensive, but not exhaustive, selection of work by some of Ireland’s most gifted composers, and the variety and quality of the work reflects on how the Irish composition scene is thriving.”  – Martin O’Leary

See other features of the Irish Composers on Irish Music series over at the AIC New Music Journal, including videos of In Conversation public discussion events, at www.aicnewmusicjournal.com 

Irish Composers on Irish Music is supported by Arts Council Ireland. The AIC is supported by IMRO.

About Martin O’Leary

Martin O’Leary is a composer, pianist and lecturer. He has written a wide range of compositions for forces from solo instrument to full orchestra, choir and various chamber ensembles. As a pianist he has given recitals throughout Ireland, as well as in Israel and the USA. He has lectured in the Music Department of Maynooth University since 1991. Recent compositions include ‘Blue Toccata’ (2011), which was commissioned for the AXA Dublin International Piano competition of 2012, where it was performed by four pianists, including the eventual winner Nikolay Khozhianov. Avanti (2012) was written for the Muzika Trio of Kenosha, Wisconsin.  ‘Luireach Phadraig’ (2015) was written for the Maynooth Chamber Choir and conductor Michael Daweson, and featured on the CD ‘Lorica’, as well as on a concert tour of the USA and China in March of 2016. Most recently ‘Schubertreise’ for 2 guitars (2016) was written for the Swiss Duo Morat – Fergo and premiered by them in Maynooth earlier this month. 

Programme:

Seóirse Bodley                 In Quiet Celebration... (2000) 

James Wilson                   5 Preludes, op 87 (1982)

John Buckley                    3 Lullabies for Deirdre (1989)

Paul Hayes                       Hammerstrung 5 ‘Cool Heart’ (1994)

                                       27 January 1995 ‘Lost in Tokyo’ (1995)

                                       The Agony of Trance of the Red Piano in Old Cambodia  (2015-16) *

Kevin O’Connell               Aria 1 (2015)

                                       Berceuse (2015) from ‘Measures and Inventions’

John McLachlan               December (Winter Music) (2013)

Jonathan Nangle              grow quiet gradually (2008)

Ryan Molloy                     For Morton O’Leary (2016)

Martin O’Leary                 Filligree (2014) *    

                                       Caoineadh Malachy McGeeney (2015)

Peter Moran                    Transcript 4 (2012)

* First Irish performance