Chamber Music on Valentia 2025: The Kerry Polka and More

Featuring: Darragh Morgan, violin; Chase Spruill, violin; Jane Atkins, viola; Peter Adams, cello; Jack Talty, concertina; Ultan O’Brien, fiddle.

Taking the synonymous ‘Kerry Polka’ as a starting point, this will be a meeting of worlds and styles with polkas and other dances from Bohemia (Smetana), Scandanavia (Danish String Quartet) and Ireland (Neil Martin) for string quartet interspersed with sets by two of Ireland’s most adventurous traditional musicians, Jack Talty on concertina and Ultan O’Brien on fiddle.

We will also hear two world premieres, for the entire ensemble, by Aoife King and Harry O’Connor, responding to the ‘Kerry Polka’ following our 2025 call for Kerry creators. This specially curated programme will show off the range of possibilities and blends in dance music.

Programme

Bedřich Smetana - String Quartet No. 1, Mvt. 2 Allegro moderato de Polka  
Selection from Danish String Quartet Woodworks Collection, including ‘No. 2 Peat Dance’, ‘Waltz after Lasse in Lyby’, and ‘Jässpodpolska’
Nikolay Sokolov, Aleksandr Glazunov, & Anatoly Lyadov - Polka in D major, ‘Les Vendredis’
Trad. (arr. Neil Martin for string quartet) - Sliabh Luachra Polkas, Alisdrum’s March, Reel Beatrice    
Aoife King - New work (World premiere)
Harry O’Connor - New work (World premiere)

This event will also feature two sets of tunes by Jack Talty and Ultan O’Brien 

Tickets

€10 - 20. Booking at Eventbrite.