the contemporary music centre ireland presslinkssend pagecontactsubscribesite maphome
what's newirish composersshopsearch the libraryeducation & outreach
calendarfeatures on irish musicopportunitiesuseful addressesabout us
features on irish music features home
Multimedia preview of Free State III, a concert of new Irish music presented by the Crash Ensemble on 27 November 2008 in O'Reilly Theatre, Dublin, including interviews with John Godfrey (composer and guitarist with the ensemble), Frances Mitchell (Crash Manager and CEO) and the featured composers.

Copyright © 2008 Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland.

Audio Interviews

Andrew Hamilton

[7.4M; 8:04] mp3 clip

Peter Moran

[4.8M; 5:09] mp3 clip

Sean Clancy

[4.8M; 5:10] mp3 clip

Jonathan Nangle

[3.2M; 3:25] mp3 clip

Crash Ensemble: Free State III


Click on the above image to view.
This video is also available in
XML podcast XML podcast
mp4 icon mp4 download [22.1M; 11:22]
  • View detailed instructions on subscribing to our podcast.
  • Subscribe via iTunes: subscribe via iTunes button

Audio Feature


[21.4M; 23:00] mp3 clip
  • Upcoming Free State concert
  • John Godfrey's piece The Abstract Despotisms of Calculus and his involvement with the ensemble as a performer
  • The ensemble's dedication to performing and commissioning new Irish music
  • The growing audience for new music in Ireland
  • Future projects

Music excerpts used:

0:20 Junk Box Fraud, Donnacha Dennehy [Crash Ensemble] ©NMC
6:28 for David Adams, John Godfrey [David Adams (org)] ©All Write Music
13:25 Trio Scordatura, Peter Moran [Chimera Ensemble] ©Peter Moran
16:30 Apollo and Marsyas, Kevin O'Connell [Sylvia O'Brien (S-solo), Martin Higgins (Bar-solo), Crash Ensemble, conductor Fergus Sheil] ©Kevin O'Connell
23:30    music for roger casement, Andrew Hamilton [Ives Ensemble] ©Andrew Hamilton

Free State III is the Crash Ensemble's third annual showcase of new music from Ireland.

The concert, which takes place at O'Reilly Theatre, Dublin on 27 November at 8 pm, is part of a two-concert celebration of Irish and UK new music and features several exciting new works from a diverse selection of Irish composers, including three world premieres (Yes Variations by Andrew Hamilton, The Abstract Despotisms of Calculus by John Godfrey and our headlights blew softly into the black, illuminating very little by Jonathan Nangle); an Irish premiere of a new piece by John McLachlan which was recently premiered at the Musica Viva festival in Portugal; and works selected from the Crash Ensemble's open call for works from two up-and-coming young Irish composers -- Sean Clancy (Whisper, Whisper, Whisper) and Peter Moran (A Casual Analysis of Prose Rhythms).

Crash Ensemble has developed an international reputation for its repertoire and interpretations of cutting-edge music. As well as regular concerts in Ireland, Crash has also performed in the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia, Canada and the USA, and has featured in radio broadcasts in all of those countries.

For further details on the concert please see www.crashensemble.com or visit www.tickets.ie/crashensemble for tickets.

John Godfrey and Frances Mitchell were interviewed on video by Niamh Heery at the The Parlour, O'Reilly Theatre, Dublin, on 30 October 2008.

The views expressed in this interview are those of the persons concerned and are not necessarily those of the Contemporary Music Centre.

back to top

features on irish music:
features home

Nurturing the composition and performance of new Irish music. The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, Ireland. Telephone: (01) 673 1922. Fax: (01) 648 9100.

what's new - irish composers - shop - search the library - education & outreach
calendar - features on irish music - opportunities - useful addresses - about us
press - links - send page - contact - subscribe - site map - home
registered composers section