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For Immediate Release

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue T.D., marks the 20th anniversary of the Contemporary Music Centre by launching a series of sound installations through Temple Bar

13 June 2006

As part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Contemporary Music Centre (CMC), Minister John O'Donoghue officially launched a series of sound installations that form a music trail through Temple Bar today, 13 June 2006. The installations, which have been playing at 3 outdoor locations in Temple Bar since 1st June, feature three new pieces of music that were commissioned especially for the occasion from three Irish composers, Seán Taylor, Ailís Ní Ríain and Siobhán Cleary.

"Our celebrations this year mark the significant contribution that the Contemporary Music Centre has made to Irish cultural and musical heritage since CMC was established by the Arts Council twenty years ago", commented Eve O'Kelly, Director, the Contemporary Music Centre, "These sound installations are merely one of the many ways in which our events aim to bring new music to people on the streets — literally!"

At today's reception to mark the 20th anniversary of the Contemporary Music Centre Minister O'Donoghue said, "Ireland has a rich musical heritage revered around the world. Over the past twenty years the work of the Contemporary Music Centre in nurturing the composition and performance of new Irish music has built awareness of Irish music internationally and has contributed greatly to Irish cultural life."

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The three outdoor sound installations that make up the music trail can be heard Monday to Friday, 1.00pm - 6.30pm and Saturday and Sunday, 12.00pm - 3.00pm, throughout the month of June 2006.

For further information, please contact:
Karen Hennessy, Promotion Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre, Tel: 01 673 1922 Email: khennessy@cmc.ie Web site: www/cmc.ie

Podcast available from:
www.cmc.ie/articles/article1085.html

Full works, commissioned by the Contemporary Music Centre in association with Temple Bar Cultural Trust's 2006 Diversions Festival with funding from Dublin City Council available from:
www.cmc.ie/articles/article1085.html#works

NOTES ON MUSIC AND COMPOSERS

StreetSong by Ailís Ní Ríain, is a traditional keen from County Donegal, Caoineadh na Máthar, (the mother's lament), and floods Fishamble Street as this ancient song is presented in a new way. Siobhán Cleary's Eblana Civitas, a snapshot in sound of the history of the 'Old City' connects pastoral life with today's urban living. Alignments by Seán Taylor is a contemporary sound world for CMC's rear courtyard. This is next to the site of the 18th century Neal's Musick Hall where Handel's Messiah was first performed, one of the many local sources of inspiration.

The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national library and promotion agency for new music. It has its home in a historic building in Fishamble Street in the Old City. The Centre celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2006 and this project is the focus of a special programme of events throughout the year. The Contemporary Music Centre is supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

Ailís Ní Ríain (b.1974)
Cork-born Ailís Ní Ríain is particularly interested in mixed-media music theatre, electro-acoustic soundscapes and improvisation. Her works have been performed in the UK, Ireland, France, Holland, Italy and the USA. She is also a published poet, painter and pianist.

Siobhán Cleary (b.1970)
Dubliner Siobhán Cleary's music has been performed and broadcast in Ireland and many parts of Europe and the USA and she has received commissions from RTÉ, the National Chamber Choir, the National Concert Hall and Sligo County Council, where she now lives.

Seán Taylor (b.1959)
Seán Taylor is based in Limerick and comes from a visual arts background. He normally works as one half of the creative partnership, Softday, with computer software designer Mikael Fernström, whose work includes a commission from the ESB, performed in the turbine hall of the Ardnacrusha Power Station.