Ulysses Journey 2022: Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses by James Joyce
Ulysses Journey 2022 was an international celebration of new music and film marking the 100th anniversary on 2 February of the publication in Paris of Ulysses by James Joyce.
Presented by the Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland (CMC) and Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris (CCI), Ulysses Journey 2022 took place from February to June 2022 bringing together composers, performers, filmmakers and other artists from Ireland and Hungary for a programme featuring six new music and film works, live performances of new music by composers from Ireland and Hungary, and talks responding to James Joyce’s seminal work.
So many works by composers from Ireland are inspired by Ireland’s world-famous writers like Joyce, from our base in Dublin, CMC wanted to mark this major milestone in a way that celebrates, at home and abroad, our dynamic composers alongside Ireland’s prowess in filmmaking. Given Leopold Bloom’s Hungarian origins, we have also collaborated with Hungarian artists and organisations in this celebration.
- Linda O'Shea Farren, CMC Projects, Programmes & Events Manager
Ulysses Journey 2022 Opening Night, 2 February at the Irish Film Institute, Dublin.
(L-R, Clockwise: Composer Benjamin Dwyer; Accordionist Dermot Dunne with Actor Barry McGovern; Composer Anselm McDonnell, actor Nicole Rourke, Dr. Patricia Flynn of DCU and New Music Dublin, Laoise O’Brien of Jiggery Pokery Productions, CMC's Projects, Programmes & Events Manager Linda O'Shea Farren and CMC Director Evonne Ferguson.) Photographs by Barry Cronin.
Ulysses Journey 2022 commenced with the world premiere screenings of six new music and film works, co-commissioned by CMC and CCI, at the Irish Film Institute, Dublin and the Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris. The Dublin screening was complemeneted by a discussion on Joyce and Music with composer Benjamin Dwyer and CMC's Projects, Programmes and Events Manager, Linda O'Shea Farren.
The programme then journeyed onwards to The MAC, Belfast for the first in a series of international concerts showcasing new music by composers from Ireland and Hungary, performed by Hungarian guitarist Katalin Koltai and Irish soprano Elizabeth Hilliard. The six new music and film works received their Belfast premiere at the Sonic Arts Research Centre, complemented by a talk on Joyce and Music from CMC's Linda O'Shea Farren and composer Benjamin Dwyer at Queens University. The programme then returned to Dublin for a concert for Sundays@Noon at the Hugh Lane Gallery.
Katalin Koltai & Elizabeth Hilliard perform new works by Irish & Hungarian Composers, 6 February at Sundays@Noon
(L-R, Clockwise: Guitarist Katalin Koltai; Composer Greg Caffrey with CMC's Projects, Programmes & Events Manager Linda O'Shea Farren; Composers Gráinne Mulvey and Daragh Black Hynes, CMC Director Evonne Ferguson, soprano Elizabeth Hilliard, Katalin Koltai, HE Ambassador of the Embassy of Hungary, Ireland István Manno, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Hungary, Ireland Dr. Nikolett Égeni and composer Petra Szászi with CMC's Projects, Programmes & Events Manager Linda O'Shea Farren.) Photographs by Jonathan Grimes.
Watch: Sundays@Noon Live Concert Recording
In April, the Ulysses Journey 2022 film programme was presented as part of the One Dublin One Book festival. This event at the DLR LexIcon included a discussion on Joyce and Music from composer Benjamin Dwyer and CMC's Linda O'Shea Farren and a recitation of Molly's Soliliquy by actor Nicole O'Rourke. The film programme also featured at the New Music Dublin festival later that month.
On the eve of the celebrated literary occasion of Bloomsday on 16 June, the Ulysses Journey 2022 concert programme was presented at the Budapest Music Center.
Watch: Live Concert Recording from Budapest Music Center
Ulysses Journey 2022 continued in Budapest on 17 June with the Hungarian premiere of the film programme complemented by a Discussion on Joyce and Music, featured as part of the celebration of the centenary of the publication of Joyce’s Ulysses at FUGA :: Budapest Center of Architecture.
Watch: Live Recording from FUGA:: Budapest
The international tour returned to Paris for a final event on 18 June at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, combining the film programme, discussion on Joyce and Music, and a live performance from guitarist Katalin Koltai and Elizabeth Hilliard.
For more details on each of the events in this programme, please visit CMC's Ulysses Journey 2022 event listing here.
Listen: Ulysses Journey 2022 for CMC's podcast amplify
Episode #59 is a special feature on the Ulysses Journey 2022 programme with contributions from CMC’s Linda O’Shea Farren, composers Darragh Kelly and Ailís Ní Ríain, and guitarist Katalin Koltai.
amplify #66 was recorded live from New Music Dublin 2022 and features composers Benjamin Dwyer and Frank Corcoran discussing Joyce and New Music with CMC's Linda O'Shea Farren.
Watch: Ulysses Journey 2022 Films
Ulysses Journey 2022
Artists Participating in New Music & Film Works
Ed Bennett | Thomas Bennett | Jonathan C. Creasy | Stephanie Dufresne | Dermot Dunne | Jim Henry (spoken word / archival recording provided with kind permission of the Henry family) | Camilla Houstoun | Darragh Kelly | Garth Knox | Anselm McDonnell | Barry McGovern | Hannah Mamalis | Rioghnach Ní Ghrioghair | Ailís Ní Ríain | Ultan O’Brien | Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin | Paul Roe | Nicole Rourke | Laura Sheeran | Euan Tait | Eimear Walshe | Ross Wilson BEM & Art Ward
Composers featured in International Concert Series
Máté Balogh | Daragh Black Hynes | Greg Caffrey | Seán Clancy | Benjamin Dwyer | Alessio Elia | Samu Gryllus | Áine Mallon | Gráinne Mulvey | Petra Szászi | Márton Szőcs | Péter Tornyai | Ian Wilson
The Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Project Lottery Funding. Ulysses Journey 2022 is a programme of events and commissions celebrating the centenary of the publication of James Joyce’s Ulysses across Ireland, France and Hungary from February to June 2022. Responding to Ulysses, this project features an international series of concerts, screenings of six newly commissioned music and film works and talks about Joyce. The Ulysses Journey 2022 new music and film works were co-commissioned with the Centre Culturel Irlandais as part of its Joyce Season (2 February - 20 June 2022) supported by the Irish Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Decade of Centenaries 2012-2023 programme. Other funders and partners include Budapest Music Center; Centre Culturel Hongrois, Paris; Embassy of Ireland, Hungary; FUGA Budapest Centre of Architecture; Irish Film Institute; Moving on Music; New Music Dublin; One Dublin One Book through funding from Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, Dublin City Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Embassy of Hungary, Dublin; Sonic Arts Research Centre (SARC); Sundays @ Noon at The Hugh Lane Gallery.
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