norður (north) concert curated by Linda Buckley

The Association of Irish Composers has launched a new concert series titled Directions, starting with a concert this Sunday. The series builds on previous AIC concerts, The Irish Canon, in which performers chose works for their instrument by Irish composers. Directions sees concert programmes curated by composers instead, from Irish and international repertoire, that reflect their own personal experiences and interests.

The first concert is titled norður (north), and is curated by Linda Buckley to reflect her interests in Nordic music, and her experiences in residencies in Iceland and Gotland. The programme explores themes of winter, sea and  Performers include regular collaborators Michelle O'Rourke (voice), Kate Ellis (cello), and David Bremner (organ).

From Linda:

"I have long been fascinated by the North -  the Nordic countries, expanse of land and ocean, from residencies on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, to the vast Icelandic countryside. The title norður comes from the Icelandic word for ‘north’. 

This programme represents many areas of interest from me, with field recording and themes of sea and winter, to music rooted in immersion and atmosphere. I certainly feel an affinity to the Irish composers featured - the sonic experimentation of Conal Ryan, the purity and harmony of Garrett Sholdice, also deeply inspired by a love of Medieval music. 

I also wished to include composers who are perhaps not frequently heard in Ireland – the Danish Jacob Kirkegaard, Icelandic Daniel Bjarnason, Norwegian Jana Winderen and the young New York composer Jacob Cooper, all making work that holds a strong personal connection for me. 

The chosen instrumentation conveys the timbres and combinations that I have been most inspired by over the years: female voice, cello, organ and electronics, performed by close collaborators and friends Michelle O’Rourke, Kate Ellis and David Bremner."

The concert takes place on 13 December, 8.30pm at Christ Church Cathedral. The series is supported by Arts Council Ireland, and will also features concert curated by Ed Bennett, Grainne Mulvey, Karen Power and Peter Moran.

Tickets are available from https://aic-nordur.eventbrite.ie. A limited number of tickets will also be available on the door on the night.

Read more about Linda's time in Iceland here

Programme:

John Luther Adams (Alaska) – At a Still Point (tape)
David Bremner – Sweelinck Fractal (Organ solo)
Maurice Duruflé – Pie Jesu from Requiem (Voice, Cello, Organ)
Jana Winderen (Norway) – Submerged (Tape)
Daniel Bjarnason (Iceland) – Bow to String II: Blood to Bones
Bow to String III: Air to Breath (Cello & Electronics)
Jacob Kirkegaard (Denmark) – Auditorium (Tape)
Conal Ryan – fifth ooze (Organ solo)
Jonathan Nangle – Coastal Field Recordings (Tape)
Jacob Cooper – Silver Threads (Voice & Electronics)
Benjamin Britten – Corpus Christi Carol (Voice, Organ)
Garrett Sholdice – Organum on Viderunt Omnes (Voices, Cello, Organ)
Linda Buckley – improvisation on Passages installation piece (Voices, Cello, Organ, electronics)