Category Archives: MUSIC

AN LONDUBH: THE BLACKBIRD

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Cathal Breslin, Philip Hammond and Sabrina Hu Photo: © Michael Fisher

Cathal Breslin, Philip Hammond and Sabrina Hu Photo: © Michael Fisher

The imaginary musical trill of the blackbird filled the Harty Room on Sunday. Not the bird itself but rather the beautiful sound of the flute played so well by Sabrina Hu, accompanied by her husband Cathal Breslin on piano. They were performing a new work by Belfast composer Philip Hammond, entitled ‘An Londubh’, the Irish word for blackbird. It was part of the 51st Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s and was staged by the Belfast Music Society as part of their Northern Lights Mini-Fest.

Cathal Breslin, Professor of Piano, University of Memphis Photo: © Michael Fisher

Cathal Breslin, Professor of Piano, University of Memphis Photo: © Michael Fisher

Cathal had the score stored on his iPad and using it with wifi technology was able to flick effortlessly from one page to the next. There was an interesting contrast with a similarly named piece (‘Le Merle Noir’ by Messiaen) which Cathal and Sabrina played first. Philip Hammond explained that his composition was intended as a companion piece for the 20thC Frenchman’s work. But his starting point was very different.

Philip Hammond explains his new work: An Londubh Photo: © Michael Fisher

Philip Hammond explains his new work: An Londubh Photo: © Michael Fisher

Hammond explained to the audience that rather than the real birdsong, he created a fanciful play between flute and piano , with what he thought a blackbird might sing, if it was so inclined. The main origin of the piece is an ancient Irish air, arranged by Edward Bunting. It was published in the third volume of such arrangements in 1840. He has included it note for note at the end of the work, a fusion that works well. By coincidence I am watching an interview on BBC1 Northern Ireland in which the composer and cellist Neil Martin (who wrote music for Carlo Gébler’s Belfast by Moonlight) explained to Marie Louise Muir how he also had been influenced by Bunting.

The other influencing factor for Hammond comes in the shape of a poem, written by Dr William Drennan, the United Irishman and friend of Bunting. Drennan wrote it in the grounds of Cabin Hill, near Stormont, when his sister lived there. There is a spot in the grounds called the Drennan stone where he is believed to have rested to seek inspiration.  Hammond is also a former music teacher at Cabin Hill, when the house was the preparatory department for Campbell College.

Sabrina Hu Photo: © Michael Fisher

Sabrina Hu Photo: © Michael Fisher

CELINE BYRNE

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Celine Byrne at the Defence Forces Benefit Concert in Dublin Photo: © Michael Fisher

Celine Byrne at the Defence Forces Benefit Concert in Dublin Photo: © Michael Fisher

Soprano Celine Byrne from Co. Kildare will be singing with tenor José Carreras at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Thursday 17th October. The concert marks the start of the Belfast Festival at Queens, which runs until Sunday October 27th. The full programme can be accessed here. I will be blogging on some of the events as a volunteer with the festival. I have already previewed the preparation for the major public art display beside the Titanic Centre, Wish, by Jorge Rodríguez–Gerada.

Celine was the guest artist at the Defence Forces benefit concert in Dublin last Sunday. She will be back in the capital at the weekend to accompany José Carreras again at the Bord Gáis Energy theatre on Sunday. Details can be found here.

IRISH ARMY BANDS HISTORY

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Defence Forces Concert Photo: © Michael Fisher

Defence Forces Concert Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Defence Forces annual benefit concert at the National Concert Hall in Dublin with members of the combined army bands marked the 90th anniversary of the Army School of Music. The programme contained some fascinating articles and photos about the history of music in the Irish army, including the appointment in March 1923 of two senior German army officers who were musicians to lead the new school once the Irish Free State was established.

Pipes & Drums at the Concert Photo: © Michael Fisher

Pipes & Drums at the Concert Photo: © Michael Fisher

The Director of the DF School of Music Lt Col Mark Armstrong writes about his predecessor, the first director, Colonel Fritz Brase, who had been a very highly regarded German bandmaster. He led the school until his death in 1940. Brase brought with him another talented musician, Captain Friedrich Christian Sauerzweig. The first public performance by the new army band was on October 14th 1923, exactly ninety years ago, at the Theatre Royal in Dublin.

Celine Byrne and Lt Col Mark Armstrong are applauded Photo: © Michael Fisher

Celine Byrne and Lt Col Mark Armstrong are applauded Photo: © Michael Fisher

In 1922 when the state was founded General Risteard Mulcahy was the first Minister for Defence. To advise on the formation of an Irish military music school, he appointed Dr John F.Larchet, who was then Professor of Music at University College Dublin.

Therein lies another connection with the past. The National Concert Hall in Earlsfort Terrace was for many years the main building for UCD. Indeed I remember doing first year Arts exams in the Aula Maxima, which has now been transformed into an international concert hall and provided the splendid setting for Saturday night’s concert.

IRISH ARMY BANDS

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DF School of Music Crest Photo: © Michael Fisher

DF School of Music Crest Photo: © Michael Fisher

Wonderful Defence Forces benefit concert with combined army bands & soprano Celine Byrne at the National Concert Hall in Dublin on Saturday night. Lt Col Mark Armstrong was the conductor. Members of the pipe bands also played. President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina were the guests of honour.

DF Concert Programme

DF Concert Programme

BIG MUSIC WEEK: ARMY BAND

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Army No.1 Band in Newbridge Photo: © Michael Fisher

Army No.1 Band in Newbridge Photo: © Michael Fisher

One of the highlights at the start of the recent RTÉ Big Music Week to encourage live music was the parade in Newbridge. It made its way from the train station to the Main Street and then over the bridge across the River Liffey to Patrician Secondary School for an hour-long concert in the school hall. The parade was led in style by the Army No.1 Band from Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. Tomorrow night (Saturday 12th October) they will be performing at the National Concert Hall in Dublin in the annual defence forces benefit concert and the tickets are sold out so there will be a full house. Celine Byrne from Caragh in County Kildare who was also in Newbridge for the RTÉ Music week is the guest soprano.

Army No.1 Band in Newbridge Photo: © Michael Fisher

Army No.1 Band in Newbridge Photo: © Michael Fisher

Celine Byrne with Luka Bloom and his brother Christy Moore in Newbridge: up the Lilywhites! Photo: © Michael Fisher

Celine Byrne with Luka Bloom and his brother Christy Moore in Newbridge: up the Lilywhites! Photo: © Michael Fisher

BIG MUSIC WEEK: CHRISTY MOORE

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Christy Moore at Patrician Secondary School Photo: © Michael Fisher

Christy Moore at Patrician Secondary School Photo: © Michael Fisher

Christy Moore returned to his native county of Kildare to take part in the RTÉ Big Music week at Patrician Secondary school in Newbridge, where he was a pupil many years ago. When I looked around the packed school hall, I suddenly noticed him behind me sitting in the audience and moving with the music as Luka Bloom sang. Only afterwards did I realise that Luka Bloom is the stage name for Kevin Barry Moore, Christy’s younger brother from Prosperous.

Luka Bloom at Patrician Secondary School Photo: © Michael Fisher

Luka Bloom at Patrician Secondary School Photo: © Michael Fisher

BIG MUSIC WEEK: CARLOW

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Colourful welcome for the RTÉ Music Train at Carlow Photo: © Michael Fisher

Colourful welcome for the RTÉ Music Train at Carlow Photo: © Michael Fisher

I was delighted to get as far as Carlow on the RTÉ Music Train as I began my journalistic career there as a student in summer 1972 when I worked at the Nationalist and Leinster Times in Tullow Street. My father had begun his career there and had met my mother over 65 years ago.

More live music here in a marquee erected in the station car park. Risin’ Time presenter Shay Byrne was the compere this time. Selina O’Leary from Tullow was among the performers as well as the Bugle Babes. After seven hours of varied and continuous live music, it was time to return home, courtesy of Iarnród Eireann as far as Dundalk.

Ready for the return to Dublin Heuston from Carlow Photo: © Michael Fisher

Ready for the return to Dublin Heuston from Carlow Photo: © Michael Fisher

BIG MUSIC WEEK: NEWBRIDGE

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'Birds of Paradise' with town Mayor Mick Deely greet RTÉ's Miriam O'Callaghan at Newbridge Photo: © Michael Fisher

‘Birds of Paradise’ with town Mayor Mick Deely greet RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan at Newbridge Photo: © Michael Fisher

What a fantastic reception in Newbridge for RTÉ’s Big Music Week. Alighting from the train, the musicians, presenters and guests were greeted by the colourful ‘Birds of Paradise’. Town Mayor Councillor Mick Deely was on the platform, waiting to whisk Miriam O’Callaghan away in a horse-drawn carriage.

Hundreds of schoolchildren and supporters lined the station car park and poured out onto the streets to cheer the musicians. One banner read ‘Thank you for the music’. The Kill Singers from County Kildare serenaded the arrivals with “Chattanooga Choo Choo”, which had also been performed on board in style by the Bugle Babes.

Numerous local bands including the Scoil na Naomh Uilig band played as the musicians and singers lined up for a parade into town headed by the Army No.1 Band from Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. On Saturday they will be appearing at the National Concert Hall in Dublin at the Defence Forces Benefit Concert, which is sold out. Soprano Celine Byrne who was also in Newbridge will be making a guest appearance. I notice she is also coming to the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on October 17th to sing alongside José Carreras in the opening night of the Belfast Festival at Queen’s.

“What a way to arrive into my hometown of Newbridge,” singer Luka Bloom told the Leinster Leader. He was joined on the platform by fellow musician and friend Philip King. “What a thrill. I was at Connolly Station at 8am this morning [Monday 1st October] and what a way to spend a Monday. There was a lot of singing on the train”.

At the Patrician Secondary School, Luka Bloom’s brother Christy Moore was waiting at his alma mater. Luka sang a song he had written for his good friends the Brigidine Sisters in Kildare Town called ‘Don’t be afraid of the light within you’.

BIG MUSIC WEEK: TRAIN

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RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ’s Big Music Week was run in association with Iarnród Éireann, which provided a three carriage ICR train for the musicians and their guests. The 22000 Class “InterCity Railcar” is a diesel multiple unit usually used on commuter routes such as Kildare, Portlaoise and Longford to Dublin and on Irish Rail’s intercity routes except Dublin to Belfast (served by the Enterprise) and peak-time journeys from Dublin to Cork. There are 48 of them and they can seat 190 passengers. They are capable of speeds up to 160 km/h (100 mph).

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

The sets were supplied by Mitsui of Japan in an order totalling approximately €400 million. The fleet was built by a partnership between Hyundai Rotem of South Korea and Tokyu Car Corporation of Japan, who supplied the bogies. The first sets were delivered in March 2007. Two of the 3-car sets, 22010 and 22011, which arrived in July 2007, suffered corrosion damage in transit from South Korea. They were returned to Rotem for repair in October 2008, with a revised delivery date. It was later determined that it was uneconomic to repair them and two replacement units with the same numbers were provided at no cost to Iarnród Éireann.

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

The ICRs are divided into three car sets and six car sets, and have two internal configurations. The first 30 units are all three cars, and are all intended for use on Intercity routes, as are ten of the 15 six car units. The remaining five 6-car sets, plus the 17 three car sets ordered in 2008 are configured for long-range commuter services to and from Dublin. Combinations of two 3-car sets, three 3-car sets, two 6-car sets and a 3-car set + a 6-car set are possible. In case of emergency, they can operate in formations of up to 18 cars.

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ Music Train at Connolly Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ Music Train waits at Newbridge Station with regular interCity service to Heuston Photo: © Michael Fisher

RTÉ Music Train waits at Newbridge Station with regular interCity service to Heuston Photo: © Michael Fisher

Features:-

  • Engine: MTU 6H 1800 R83, 12.8 L, 6 cylinder, 483 bhp gross, 386 bhp (288 kW) traction per car.
  • Transmission: Voith T 312 R
  • Top speed: 160 km/h (approx. 100 mph)
  • Body: high quality stainless steel with some corrosion-resistant carbon steel components
  • Automatic PA and information display systems (Supplier: SA Viewcom)
  • Fully air-conditioned (Supplier: Toshiba)
  • Saloon, external view of doors and front-facing CCTV camera and recording system (Supplier: Verint)
  • Catering facilities
  • Individual base seating
  • Fire safety to BS 6853 Cat 1B, automatic fire extinguishing system for engines & fuel tanks
  • All sets feature Irish standard CAWS signalling systems and train radio.
  • The first six 3-car sets fitted with Train Protection and Warning System for operation on Northern Ireland Railways.

    RTÉ Music Train in siding at Carlow Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

    RTÉ Music Train in siding at Carlow Station Photo: © Michael Fisher

Dimensions:-

  • Length: 3-car set, 70 m
  • Width: 2.84 m
  • Height: 4 m
  • Weight: 63 tonne, each car

    Plaque at Carlow Station for Railway Engineer William Dargan Photo: © Michael Fisher

    Plaque at Carlow Station for Railway Engineer William Dargan Photo: © Michael Fisher

Michael Fisher travelled from Connolly Station to Carlow as a guest on the RTÉ Music train and returned courtesy of Iarnród Éireann