167K

For Immediate Release

The Contemporary Music Centre Launches Latest CD

Contemporary Music from Ireland Volume Seven

18 February 2008

The Contemporary Music Centre launches the seventh volume in its promotional CD series Contemporary Music from Ireland at 11.00am, Friday, 29 February 2008. Mr Eugene Downes, Chief Executive, Culture Ireland, will officially launch the CD which is funded by Culture Ireland, the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's Awards for All scheme.

The CMC promotional CD series gives a snapshot of what is happening right now in contemporary music in Ireland. Volume Seven features eleven composers, ten Irish-born with one long-term resident from England. All works were written in the twenty-first century. As well as showcasing Irish composers the CD features many performing groups and individuals, all of whom are committed and active perfomers of new Irish music.

'The works featured on the CD illustrate the diversity and energy that's evident in new Irish music in 2008. We are particularly grateful to all the composers, performers, organisations and funders who have helped make this disc a reality', says Jonathan Grimes, General Manager, The Contemporary Music Centre.

The CD will be distributed nationally and internationally to radio stations, festivals, concert promoters, performers, and universities. All the tracks from the CD may be broadcast and further information on all composers on the CD can be found on the Centre's web site at www.cmc.ie A special video feature on the CD will be available on www.cmc.ie from 29 February 2008.

The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national archive and resource centre for new music, supporting and developing the work of composers throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. It is used on a national and international basis by performers, composers, promoters and members of the public interested in finding out more about music in Ireland.

For further information and to arrange interviews with any of the artists involved contact Karen Hennessy, Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8, tel: 01 673 1922, email: khennessy@cmc.ie

Notes for Editors

Composers featured

• Greg Caffrey
• Karen Power
• Paul Wilson
• Gráinne Mulvey
• Gordon Delap
• Piers Hellawell
• Benjamin Dwyer
• David Flynn
• Scott McLaughlin
• Kevin O'Connell
• Roger Doyle

Performers featured

• Gerard McChrystal (Saxophone)
• Mary Dullea (Piano)
• Kate Ellis (Cello)
• The Smith Quartet
• RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Robert Houlihan
• The Schubert Ensemble
• Dermot Dunne (Accordion)
• Vox 21, conductor David Brophy
• ConTempo String Quartet
• Dunleavy Clarinet Quartet
• Crash Ensemble, conductor Fergus Sheil
• Syliva O'Brien (Soprano)
• Martin Higgins (Baritone)