News 2010

 

A rough idea of what the final Óg gig for 2010 may sound like. This track features a 'Pocket Saxophone' a simple system plastic pipe with a reed and a max/msp patch. The concert is part of Music Network's Gala Concert in Dublin Castle's Throne Room. Solo woodwinds and live electronics. [The Throne Room by Seán Óg] 

 

 

'FreePlay’ the inaugral winner of the arts@DIT award, is a multidisciplinary multimedia performance, that will happen over two lunchtime concerts in the unique surroundings of the Crypt in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 8.

In 'FreePlay’ audio-visual output is uniquely generated by physical movement, through the use of Maria Coleman's 'Body Response System' (BRS), which she is developing as part of her Ph.D. at the DIT’s School of Art, Design and Printing. In this piece, the movements of dancer Niamh Condron will initiate sound material for the musician Seán Óg to respond to, flipping the conventional ‘dancer responds to the music’ set-up on its head, and allowing expressive movements to have a leading compositional role.

Christchurch Cathedral | 1pm | Nov. 25th and 26th | FREE

Maria Coleman: http://vimeo.com/mariacoleman
Seán Óg: http://www.sean-og.com
Niamh Condron: http://www.thistorsion.com

 

 

"An Táin" by Lorcán Mac Mathúna (vocals) featuring Seán Mac an Fhirléinn (bass clarinet, live electronics), Martin Tourish (accordian), Eoghan Neff (fiddle) & Flaithrí Neff (pipes).

A modern composition to the 12th century Book of Leinster readaction of An Táin, the epic formative tale of the Gaelic nation, in which the Ulster hero Cú-Cullain faces the combined forces of the rest of Ireland.

17th William Kennedy International Piping Festival | St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh | 2pm | £7

 

 

Bottlenote Festival 10
Morla with The ConTempo String Quartet
October 3rd 2010 | Peppercanister Church, Dublin 2 | 8pm | €10/8

"Undeniably powerful and at times beautiful improvisation" - All About Jazz

“Two of the most original voices on the Dublin scene” – The Sunday Tribune

Morla return to Dublin for a special performance as part of this year's Bottlenote Festival. The performance will present a duo set from Morla (Seán Óg - clarinets, saxophone, live electronics: Simon Jermyn - guitars, live electronics), a piece for ConTempo Quartet (Bogdan Sofei (violin), Ingrid Nicola (violin), Andreea Banciu (viola), Adrian Mantu (cello)), and a new work recently premiered at The Sligo New Music Festival and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 for Morla plus string quartet.

Taking place insde one of Dublin's most iconic churches, this is a sumptuous opportunity to experience Morla's trademark slow motion electronics and impassioned improvisation working with one of Europe's great string quartets. " … Amazing technique and rhythmic homogeneity … great intensity and fervour." - Süddeutsche Zeitung

Programme: New work for Morla & String Quartet, Sabin Pautza Games 2, Maya Badian Music in Square and a duo performance from Morla.

Tickets available on the door - check www.bottlenotemusic.com for more festival info

Click here for video and more info about Morla

 

 

 

Four on The Fringe Of Folk
Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Seán Óg, Petter Berndalen, Nic Gareiss
ABSOLUT Fringe Factory at The Grand Social, 35 Liffey St. Lwr (AKA Pravda)
Saturday 18th September | 9pm | €16 | Book Now!

Four sonic explorers are bracing the edge of folk music in this extraordinary performance. With a reputation as one of Ireland’s most creative traditional musicians, Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and his array of curious fiddles find new and wonderful soundscapes to traverse. Saxophonist Seán Óg also sits at a crossroads between free improvisation, avant-garde composition and contemporary jazz, creating notes that range from the delicate to the brash. Petter Berndalen takes all the corners of Swedish fiddle music and grafts them onto his snare drum to create new rhythmic contours. And adding a whole other element to this gathering, Nic Gareiss incorporates footwork vocabulary from a multitude of step dance styles to create beautiful sounds & textures with his feet. Like Sigur Rós bumping into Martin Hayes on a twisty mountain path. This is a standing concert.

 

 

Seán Óg's SHOWSTOPPER live at The Electric Picnic.
Body & Soul Stage, The Electric Picnic, Stradbally, Co. Laois | Friday 3rd | very late
New set of lullabys and 'gentle music' to wind down night one of The Electric Picnic for solo saxophone and Max/MSP, taking in music from Armenia, Ireland, 12th Century chant and Sufi Whirling Dervish traditions.

 

 

 

Morla broadcast on 'Hear & Now' BBC Radio 3 - 31/07/2010

Does music have to be composed, or can it be made up on the spot? Ed McKeon introduces new works that combine both approaches, recorded at festivals in Huddersfield and Sligo:
Morla live at the Sligo New Music Festival, performing new piece for Morla and String Quartet (performed with The Smith Quartet).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006tnsx

 

 

 

Delighted to work with artist Michelle Browne on a new video piece Pregnant With Infinte Possibility. The sountrack is scored for four bass clarinets, soprano clarinet and electronics. This was screened recently over two nights, outdoors in the Galway docklands. www.michellebrowne.net

 

 

 

THE TRAILER OF BRIDGET DINNIGAN

Set on a present day halting site The Trailer of Bridget Dinnigan follows matriarch Bridget and her family in the period after her husband's death. Fiercely protective, Bridget will stop at nothing to ensure that her family's reputation remains intact. Tensions rise when the eldest daughter announces her engagement and family secrets are revealed, which lead to tragic consequences.

This contemporary adaptation of the Spanish classic The House of Bernarda Alba, by Federico García Lorca, is the result of two years of research and collaboration between theatre-maker/writer Dylan Tighe, Traveller activist Catherine Joyce and eleven women from the Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group. Sound design by Seán Óg.

17 - 19 JUN 2010 | €20/18

Preview, 16 June 2010, €15

 

The RIVERRUN Project will take its audience on a unique bi-lingual sonic, visual and literary voyage through the city of Dublin. Poets Dermot Bolger, Biddy Jenkinson, Máighréad Medbh and Liam Ó Muirthile will read new work in English and Irish, evoking Dublin past and present, from Viking Dublin to the surreal landscapes of post Celtic Tiger Dublin, its ghostly apartment blocks and deserted housing estates. The poets will read to new music created by acclaimed musician and composer Seán Óg; graphic designer and artist Margaret Lonergan will create on-screen images of modern Dublin to accompany the performance.

The Sugar Club | June 2nd | 8:00pm | €10.00/€8.00 Concession

 

 

FreshAir is a music festival that will be transmitted directly into your ears via The Small Hours on Today FM. Donal Dineen has chosen his pick of the best new irish sound makers to take part in a month-long celebration of great new music, live on your radio.

The first Fresh Air took place in November 2009, and it’s making a return for a second series in May 2010. As with the November series Donal will have a different guest artist live on air for The Small Hours to play live, chat to Donal and play a selection of their own favourite tunes, effectively co-presenting the show for the night.

Fresh Air features an impressive selection of acts all of whom are Irish, or based here. Chosen by Dineen the festival represents his selection of the most exciting and experimental sound makers working today. The aim is to bring to light the sheer diversity and calibre of music being made on these shores, and to bring new music, live or recorded, to air.

Tune in tonight (12.05.10) to listen to Donal's guest Seán Óg. The Small Hours is on Today Fm from midnight – 2am and the FRESH AIR shows will be available to listen back to all month here.

 

Bray Jazz Festival - Double Solo Bill: Seán Óg Solo + Justin Carroll Solo
Town Hall, Saturday 1st May, 6.30pm, €10

Two of the most compelling and interesting performers in contemporary Irish jazz and improvised music team up for what is certain to be a fascinating exploration of sound.

On Seán Óg :
"[His] pieces are highly original, creative, packed with incident and show a determination to avoid any hint of the clichéd or the safe." - The Irish Times

On Justin Carroll:
Carroll develops complex lines – and rhythmic and harmonic opportunities with considerable ingenuity and imagination - The Irish Times

 

Project Brand New :: Project Arts Centre :: 29th April 2010

The ‘Body Response System’ (BRS), is a multimedia tool being developed by Maria Coleman as part of her Ph.D. research at the DIT. It invites people to generate the audio-visual content themselves, through moving their bodies. Enabled by an interface that registers steps and gestures, this ‘media playground’ attempts to offer an opportunity to loose oneself and experiment in a playful way that opens possibilities for expressive communication, creativity and fun.

For the Project Brand New the BRS will be used as an improvisational dance tool by Emma Martin, and the resulting 'composition' will be responded to by Seán Óg.

 

Seán performs with Morla, The Smith Quartet and Solo at the 2010 Sligo New Music Festival. Featuring work by Gavin Bryars and a new commission for Morla and string quartet as well a performance of Sacred Chants, Seán new show for solo reeds and live electronics.
Visit the festival here.

 

Másu Óenadaig Atbir / Ordeal by Cohabitation

From the Early Irish (9th Century). Tragic love story of Liadán and Cuirithir.
In a severe test of their religious vows of chastity the Abbot, Cummine of Clonfert, orders the star-crossed lovers to share a bed.

Lorcán Mac Mathuna - vocals
Martin Tourish - accordian
Seán Óg - alto saxophone

 

 

Bottlenote presents a double bill this wednesday:
Sir Richard [Justin Carroll - piano & Ed Rosenberg - tenor saxophone] + Seán Óg Solo
Kevin Barry Room, National Concert Hall, Dublin
8.30pm | €10/8

 

New Release (March 2010) United Bible Studies - A Shatner Observatory.
Another great release of reverb drenched organics for the Perhaps Transparent CDr series.

"After thirty minutes, the first track winds down and floats us back to earth. At this point my favorite Irish band could have hung it up, instead they respark the hash and bring us back home with a sobering yet short dreamscape that at first seems like a menacing tremolo haze but quickly falls to a simmer as the ash cools." Order online

 

 

The Stomach Box presents No Worst There Is None.
Documentation online now. The show has been awarded Best Production by The Irish Times Theatre Awards 2010. Seán Óg's original score for boys choir and multiple installation was nominated for Best Sound Design. Visit the stomach box site

 

New release (February 2010):
"The Soup & The Shilling" by The Magickal Folk Of The Faraway Tree.

The Long-awaited, long-whispered about Magickal Folk Of The Faraway Tree album has finally arrived. Those of you who have been asking for a reissue for a long time and are now being rewarded with a double CD. "The Mildew Leaf" and "The Cat's Melodeon" cdrs have long been out of print. Along with a track from the Gold Leaf Branches comp they make up Disc One. Disc Two is all new recordings, further exploring the Peter Kennedy songbook and beyond.
This is a Deadslackstring/Deserted Village split release. Visit desertedvillage to buy.

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