328K

For Immediate Release

The Contemporary Music Centre presents Kirkos Ensemble in the final Salon series concert of 2012

2 November 2012

Young musicians from Kirkos Ensemble will perform a range of recent and new Irish works at the Contemporary Music Centre's next new music::new Ireland salon concert on Thursday 29 November.

The programme of solos, duos and trios for varying combinations of violin, viola, cello and piano, features six works composed over the last eight years and includes two world premieres. The pieces take their inspiration from sources as diverse as Pythagoras' music of the spheres (Linda Buckley), Arabic and Persian poetry (Raymond Deane) and German artist Gerhard Richter (Jonathan Nangle). Kevin O'Connell's Strike for violin and cello and Garrett Sholdice's The Grass of Yen is Growing Green and Long for viola and piano will be heard for the first time.

Established in April 2012, Kirkos is a contemporary music ensemble founded and run by students of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, with the support of the RIAM. Aiming to expose young people to all kinds of contemporary music, the ensemble has already gained attention for its work championing new music, particularly that of young Irish composers, and performed as part of the Contemporary Music Centre's Culture Night 'happening' in September.

CMC's new music::new Ireland salon series aims to encourage newcomers and enthusiasts alike to engage with the music Irish composers. Each performance takes place in an informal atmosphere with dialogue encouraged between composer, performers and audience.

Admission to the concert is free but booking is strongly recommended. To book please contact the National Concert Hall (tel: 01 417 0000 / www.nch.ie).

For further information contact Sam Wilcock, Promotion Manager, Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8. (Tel: 01 673 1922 / email: swilcock@cmc.ie / web site: www.cmc.ie)

NOTES FOR EDITORS

The Contemporary Music Centre presents

new music::new Ireland salon

Date: Thursday 29 November 2012, 6-7pm
Venue: Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, Dublin 2
Admission: FREE (booking recommended)

Performers: Kirkos Ensemble (Colm Ó Braoin, violin; Sebastian Adams, viola; Yseult Cooper Stockdale, cello; Alexander Bernstein, piano)

Programme:
Kevin O'Connell (b.1958) Strike (2012) [vln, vc] WORLD PREMIERE
Linda Buckley (b.1979) do you remember the planets? (2004) [vla, tape]
Garrett Sholdice (b.1983) The Grass of Yen is Growing Green and Long (2012) [vla, pno] WORLD PREMIERE Breffni O'Byrne (b.1988) Rhapsody (2010) [pno]
Raymond Deane (b.1953) Marthiya (2005, rev. 2010) [vln, vla, vc]
Jonathan Nangle (b.1981) where distant city lights flicker on half-frozen ponds (2011, rev. 2012) [vln]

Booking information: National Concert Hall box office (tel. 01 417 0000 / web site: www.nch.ie)

More information: Sam Wilcock, Promotion Manager, Contemporary Music Centre, 19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 8 (tel. 01 673 1922 / email: swilcock@cmc.ie / web site: www.cmc.ie)

Information about each of the composers featured in this concert can be found at www.cmc.ie

Kirkos Ensemble
Kirkos Ensemble is a contemporary music group founded and run by students of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, with the support of the RIAM. Kirkos consists of a loose collective of around ten of the best young performers in the country and a committee of composers and performers. The ensemble's name is derived from the Greek word meaning circus, ring or church. The ensemble's primary aim is to expose young people to all kinds of contemporary music (from Messiaen through Cage and all the way to live electronic improvisation) as listeners and as performers. An important part of this aim is that all Kirkos-presented concerts are free to attend. In addition, Kirkos has two other important aims: to premiere new work, particularly that of young Irish composers, and to present unusual programmes in innovative ways. Founded in April 2012, Kirkos has already given 10 concerts, 12 world premieres, seven Irish premieres and has performed a total of 47 different pieces.
www.facebook.com/kirkos

The Contemporary Music Centre
The Contemporary Music Centre is Ireland's national archive and resource centre for new music, supporting the work of composers throughout the Republic and Northern Ireland. It engages in an ongoing programme of development work to promote new Irish music at home and abroad, and is a member of the International Association of Music Information Centres (IAMIC). The Centre is used, nationally and internationally, by performers, composers, promoters and members of the public interested in finding out more about music in Ireland. Its library and sound archive, open to the public free of charge, contain the only comprehensive collection in existence of music by Irish composers. Extensive reference and advice services are available and the Centre's website provides access to CMC's resources for those who cannot visit in person.
www.cmc.ie