Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway and John McIntyre have come together at the invitation of the Royal Irish Academy’s Committee for Irish Language, Literature and Celtic Cultures to create a truly memorable new piece of music to celebrate Colm Cille 1500. The commission was enabled by the kind assistance of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Their piece is based on a text from Alexander Carmichael’s Carmina Gadelica, a multi-volume collection of Gaelic prayers, incantations, charms and songs collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland over one hundred years ago. The musicians have also woven into the text some words from a blessing from the Middle-Irish period. Their composition bridges the Sea of Moyle and generations of tradition in a contemporary and layered arrangement using voices, guitar, bouzouki, violin and oboe to commemorate the remarkable Columba – a man who left an indelible mark on the life, literature and landscape of both Ireland and Scotland.
In the video they have made to accompany their composition, the four musicians and singers have invited artist Ellis O’Connor to respond in paint, inspired by the music they have created. It is an enchanting experience.
- from the Royal Irish Academy.
Filming: Conor Reilly Mix and mastering: Calum Malcolm
Tá na ceoltóirí céimiúla Julie Fowlis, Éamon Doorley, Zoë Conway agus John McIntyre i ndiaidh píosa úrnua spreagúil ceoil a chumadh mar fhreagra ar chuireadh ó Choiste Léann na Gaeilge, Litríocht na Gaeilge agus na gCultúr Ceilteach in Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann chun Colm Cille 1500 a chomóradh. Is le cabhair ó Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha na hÉireann a rinneadh an coimisiún seo. Tá an píosa seo cumadóireachta bunaithe ar théacs ón bhailiúchán il-imleabhair le Alexander Carmichael Carmina Gadelica a chuimsíonn orthaí, amhráin, paidreacha agus beannachtaí a bailíodh i nGaeltacht na hAlban corradh agus céad bliain ó shin. Tá curtha leis an téacs ag na ceoltóirí trí ábhar ó phaidir Mheán-Ghaeilge a fhí tríd. Tá an dá thaobh de Shruth na Maoile tugtha leo acu agus dúchas na gcianta mar an gcéanna chun cóiriú comhaimseartha agus ilghnéitheach a dhéanamh agus feidhm á baint as guthanna, giotár, bouzouki, veidhlín agus óbó. Is ceiliúradh fónta é seo ar an fhear eaglasta a d’fhág an oiread sin anála ar shaol, ar shaíocht agus ar thírdhreach na hÉireann agus na hAlban araon.
San fhíseán a d’ullmhaigh na ceoltóirí mar léiriú ar an saothar ceoil, d’iarr siad ar an ealaíontóir Ellis O’Connor géilleadh don inspioráid a chothaigh an ceol nuachumtha seo agus dul i mbun peintéireachta dá réir. Is álainn agus is draíochtúil an comhdhéanamh é.
► Julie: http://www.juliefowlis.com/ ► RIA: https://www.ria.ie/ ► Zoe & John: https://www.zoeandjohn.com/ ► Ellis O'Connor: https://www.instagram.com/ellisoconnor/?hl=en ► Julie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliefowlis/