The concert program “An Irish Celebration” offered the audience an exciting musical journey that honors the cultural bridge between Ireland and America.
“Irish music has traditionally been formed from melodies. We were too poor to have harmonies. We have them now, but historically these melodies were passed down from generation to generation orally. As musicians, this gives us the freedom to express ourselves, to add chords here and there. We can play around with this music,” Hayes told the audience.
Often people assume that traditional Irish music is only sweet and joyful, but it can also contain a lot of darkness and dissonance – just like life. This evening, the musicians aimed to showcase this diverse range of emotions. “We started the program with melodies that speak of the Irish spreading across the world. I don't know how it is here in Latvia, but if you are Irish, you will meet Irish people in every corner of the world. Many of us have emigrated. We would probably be a very densely populated country if people hadn't moved abroad,” Hayes joked.
The concert also featured melodies based on Irish folklore that speak of leprechauns, ghosts, magic, and mysticism. In contrast, fast-paced dance tunes filled with a lively, bouncing rhythm – jigs and reels – were also performed. At times, the musicians slowed them down so that, as Hayes mentioned, the listeners could truly hear the rich sound of the melodies.
Martin Hayes performed at the “Great Amber” concert hall several years ago with great success alongside the group “The Gloaming”, receiving undivided enthusiasm from the audience. This time, the brilliant musician shared the stage with his latest collective, “The Common Ground Ensemble”, which consists of five versatile musicians – jazz pianist Cormac McCarthy, cellist Kate Ellis, “Brooklyn Rider” guitarist and arranger Kyle Sanna, as well as “Tulla Céilí Band” musician Brian Donnellan, who plays the bouzouki, concertina, and harmonium.
Martin Hayes is considered one of the most significant talents in the world of Irish traditional music. He is the founder of the musical supergroups “The Gloaming”, “The Common Ground Ensemble”, and the “Martin Hayes Quartet” – having modernized and popularized this musical genre worldwide. The musician has performed at such prominent venues as the Barbican, the Philharmonie de Paris, Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, the Cologne Philharmonie, Usher Hall in Edinburgh, and elsewhere. He has collaborated in the fields of classical, folk, and contemporary music with artists such as Bill Frisell, Ricky Skaggs, Jordi Savall, the group Brooklyn Rider, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. He has shared the stage with musicians like Sting and Paul Simon, and has recorded music with Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project. Alongside his active career as a performer, he is the artistic director of the annual “Masters of Tradition” festival in Cork, Ireland, as well as co-curator of the “Marble Sessions” concert series at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in Ireland.
The concert “An Irish Celebration. Martin Hayes and The Common Ground Ensemble” was organized by SIA “Lielais Dzintars” with the support of the Liepāja municipality and the State Culture Capital Foundation.
Sitemap 
Contacts
Requisites
Back
