A new lyric fm release of four works for orchestra by John Kinsella, performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra ahead of the composer’s 80th birthday in 2012. John Kinsella: Orchestral Works is the sixth release in the Composers of Ireland Series funded by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and RTÉ.

A disc of orchestral works by the 20th Century Irish composer Frederick May (1911-85), released by RTÉ lyric fm to mark the composer’s centenary year in 2011. The recordings feature the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra with conductor Robert Houlihan and baritone soloist Owen Gilhooley.

The Book of Ways is a collaboration between composer Ian Wilson, saxophonist Cathal Roche and the RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet. I-Ching, an ancient Chinese system of divination, forms the basis of a musical structure, devised by Roche and Wilson, that marries improvisation and notation, improviser and classical ensemble.

Grá agus Bás is the label debut from Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy featuring two works performed by the Dublin-based Crash Ensemble, conducted by Alan Pierson. The title track, which translates as ‘love and death’, is inspired by sean-nós or ‘old style’ Irish vocal music, the vocals performed by Irish singer Iarla Ó Lionáird. Soloist, Dawn Upshaw features on the song cycle That the Night Come, six settings of poems by W.B. Yeats.