Martin Hayes
A Note from Martin Hayes
Thu 19 Feb 7.30pm IRELAND
Traditional Irish music is a grounded and earthy music vernacular that is also capable of expressing something universal and timeless. It carries within it both joy and sorrow, the dance and the lament, it mirrors life itself. When I play, I’m trying to connect with that emotional truth, and when audiences respond to it, whether in Clare, New York or Australia, it’s a reminder that this music transcends geography. It’s a language of the heart, and for me, playing it is its own reward. Our concerts are intimate journeys in search of the many possibilities that the melodies of Irish traditional music offer. There will an improvisational element and a conversational quality that will hopefully keep each performance feeling spontaneous. In my opinion, the most important quality that any performance should have is ‘aliveness’; I feel it is important to take risks and attempt to find something new in every performance. Listeners can expect to hear familiar traditional tunes that will sometimes go on journeys of variation and improvisation. Over the course of an evening, you can hopefully expect to experience moments of stillness, exuberance, wildness and reflection. Kyle and I first played together in New York more than a decade ago and over the years we have played together in the Common Ground Ensemble. Kyle is a multi-faceted musician who brings a deep harmonic awareness, a sensitivity to mood and powerful improvisational skill to every performance, while I bring the melodic and rhythmic language of traditional Irish music. What makes it work is our mutual trust: we leave room for the music to breathe, to change, to surprise us. Each performance feels alive and conversational, like a dialogue that keeps unfolding.
Image: Laura San Segundo
16
17
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker