Sundays at Noon (Concorde)

On Sunday 22 November Concorde present five pieces written between 1979 and 2009. Korean composer Sungji Hong will travel to Dublin for the Irish premiere of her work, Shades of Raindrops—an evocative work for flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello and piano. It was awarded second prize in the 2008Salvatore Martirano Awards international competition and was performed at the 2008 ISCM World Music Days. Sungji Hong’s travel to Dublin has been kindly supported by the Korean Embassy, Dublin.


Also on the programme is the world premiere of Into the Night, for soprano and ensemble by Hugh Boyle. This piece was awarded the IMRO Composition Prize at the 2008 Dublin Feis Ceoil. Originally from Donegal, Boyle is now completing his PhD at Queens University Belfast.


Concorde’s programme introduces the music of Massimo Davi to Irish audiences— Davi has been living in Killarney since 2000 and was active as a musician in Italy before then. From Finland, a work for solo accordion by Erkki Jokinen—a virtuoso work widely performed and recorded but new to Irish audiences.


Irish composer Judith Ring was commissioned by Concorde for a sextet with tape, within an egg of space . This work was premiered at the National Gallery of Ireland in June. Audiences now have a second chance to hear this music at the Hugh Lane Gallery—inspired by the sounds created by the musicians themselves, each performance of this work is a unique experience. Following the premiere the Irish Times wrote that this piece ‘offers an inviting sound-world of curious instrumental colours, including what may be bird calls and small animal sounds, subtly backdropped by judicious stroking and striking of the piano strings from inside the lid it is not merely a sound-world, but a work with structure a strong sense of completeness.’


Concorde, formed in 1976 to promote the performance of new music, encourages the creation, performance and enjoyment of new music. Concorde connects composers, performers and listeners.


Concorde has performed in a dozen countries worldwide and has worked with international artists including Harry Sparnaay, Garth Knox, Elsbeth Moser, and Jane Manning. Concorde undertakes educational work as Ensemble in Residence at DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama. Concorde is part of an international network as a member of the European Conference of Promoters of New Music (ECPNM).


Over the past year Concorde has premiered works by Alejandro Castanos, Judith Ring, Stephen Gardner, Ana Lara, Fumiko Miyachi, Alyson Barber and Emma O’Halloran. In December 2008 Concorde joined worldwide celebrations of the 100th birthday of Elliott Carter and earlier this year presented two concerts of contemporary Mexican music. Concorde is supported by Arts Council.