Dublin-born composer Andrew Hamilton and Irish contemporary music group Crash Ensemble have released their new work, Friendly Piece. We asked Andrew the BIG questions . . .
Andrew studied in Ireland, UK and The Netherlands with Kevin Volans, Anthony Gilbert and at the Koninklijk Conservatorium with Louis Andriessen.
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Recently he has had works performed by Irish National Opera, Alarm Will Sound, Musarc, Manchester Collective, Crash Ensemble, An assembly, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Choir Ireland and was recently elected to Irish association or academy of artists Aosdána.
Commissioned in 2019 and written during Andrew's time as composer in residence with Crash Ensemble, Friendly Piece explores "friendliness and loving kindness".
Speaking about the new work, Andrew says: "The sound of a bird's wings flapping in Monaghan, a sacred text that helped so much to get through dark times, memories of a childhood obsession with The Sound of Music and much more are cut up and thrown into a grid to allow all these elements to intermingle - simplistic answers to be destroyed.
"Can music be kind? I set that as an impossible question at the beginning of the process, it is good to have no idea what you are doing sometimes. It allows room for freedom and the expanded heart to seep in when your back is turned."
Kate Ellis, Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble, says: "Friendly Piece is one of the happiest soul nourishing pieces we have played.
"It’s been a pleasure watching Andrew’s ideas unfold through workshopping in the early stages of the piece and then coming to life in front of audiences at New Music Dublin and Kilkenny Arts Festival.
"Friendly Piece is the result of Andrew’s fruitful residency with Crash. He is a brilliant human and it has been a joy to work with him during his residency."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I still don't know how to drive at the age of 47 (I need to sort this out asap). I've realised I'm a naive, idealistic, realistic human (I think they all cancel each other out which probably means I am no thing). I know most of the scripts of the TV show Veep by heart.
How would you describe your music?
Precise, not polite, messy loops, not ironic, empty/full.
Who are your musical inspirations?
Mozart, Enya, Couperin, Schumann (Robert), Tríona Ní Dhomnaill, Kevin Volans, Whitney Houston, Gerald Barry, Purcell, Louis Andriessen, Erin Gee, Ravel, Meredith Monk, Handel, Rameau, Kristen Wiig and Stockhausen.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My Dad brought me to hear/see Yehudi Menuhin playing Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the European Union Youth Orchestra in the National Concert Hall when I was around 11.
What was the first record you ever bought?
I saved up and bought a double cassette of Mozart's last four symphonies conducted by Karl Böhm. I was serious 13-year-old.
What’s your favourite song right now?
The Barrel - Aldous Harding.
Favourite lyric of all time?
I don't usually remember lyrics but I'm going through a Robert Schumann phase and I love Frauenliebe Und Leben Op. 42: Seit Ich Ihn Gesehen because he miraculously balances the shock and pain of love in the lyrics (by Adelbert von Chamisso) with intensely beautiful music- the translation is: "I think I am blind, Wherever I look, Him only I see; As in a waking dream, His image hovers before me, Rising out of deepest darkness, Ever more brightly, All else is dark and pale, Around me, My sisters’ games, I no more long to share, I would rather weep, Quietly in my room; Since first seeing him, I think I am blind."
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would try and extend one song to a whole opera and say Cosi Fan Tutte, my favourite piece of music.
Where can people find your music/more information?
My Soundcloud and my website.
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Alan Corr
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