Sound of Belfast presents
Neil Martin
Location: Strand Arts Centre
21:00 GMT, Monday 09 November 2020
Song n°1: My Lagan Love
Song n°2: Planxty Irwin
‘I chose these pieces because of their connection with Belfast. Whereas My Lagan Love has long been associated with Belfast, the air was in fact originally collected in Donegal where there’s a river Laggan, but regardless of this ambiguity, it’s a stunning air, perfect in its arc, and it evokes emotions and memories for every one of us. Even though these emotions can be of sorrow, the air and song is also something of a comfort blanket – we cherish having these emotions aroused.
‘Planxty Irwin, composed by the blind harper, Turlough Carolan, 1670-1738, is a tune of dedication to a Captain John Irwin. The tune appears in the collections of Edward Bunting, the man responsible for annotating the music played at the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792, the last gathering of the old Irish harpers. This festival was a pivotal moment in the music of Ireland, bridging the old and the new worlds, and the foresight of those people of Belfast who enabled it is of inestimable value.’
This event was filmed and edited by Whitenoise design Limited.
Photo by Carrie Davenport - https://www.carriedavenportphotographic.com/
Featuring
Neil Martin is a composer from Belfast whose work has been performed across the world from Ground Zero to Mostar Bridge and the Royal Albert Hall, as well as being played on the International Space Station.
Sound of Belfast presents
Neil Martin
Location: Strand Arts Centre
21:00 GMT, Monday 09 November 2020
Song n°1: My Lagan Love
Song n°2: Planxty Irwin
‘I chose these pieces because of their connection with Belfast. Whereas My Lagan Love has long been associated with Belfast, the air was in fact originally collected in Donegal where there’s a river Laggan, but regardless of this ambiguity, it’s a stunning air, perfect in its arc, and it evokes emotions and memories for every one of us. Even though these emotions can be of sorrow, the air and song is also something of a comfort blanket – we cherish having these emotions aroused.
‘Planxty Irwin, composed by the blind harper, Turlough Carolan, 1670-1738, is a tune of dedication to a Captain John Irwin. The tune appears in the collections of Edward Bunting, the man responsible for annotating the music played at the Belfast Harp Festival of 1792, the last gathering of the old Irish harpers. This festival was a pivotal moment in the music of Ireland, bridging the old and the new worlds, and the foresight of those people of Belfast who enabled it is of inestimable value.’
This event was filmed and edited by Whitenoise design Limited.
Photo by Carrie Davenport - https://www.carriedavenportphotographic.com/
Featuring
Neil Martin is a composer from Belfast whose work has been performed across the world from Ground Zero to Mostar Bridge and the Royal Albert Hall, as well as being played on the International Space Station.
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