Dave Flynn is the first of three Musicians-in-Residence for 2020, under a scheme jointly funded by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the Arts Council and managed by Music Network. During the course of his residency, which began on 12 May, Dave Flynn has been collaborating online with musicians from Dún Laoghaire Guitar Training Centre and their tutor Ciarán Swift, to compose an exciting new composition for guitar ensemble Dún Laoghaire Guitars. The residency culminates on 20 August with an online premiere performance of the composed piece.
Commenting on the residency, CEO of Music Network Sharon Rollston said: “We have followed Dave’s residency with great interest and enjoyment over the past few months. All the collaborative elements of the project have taken place online and we’ve no doubt Dún Laoghaire Guitars will attest to the extra dedication demanded of each of the musicians involved. We’re very much looking forward to hearing it for the first time on 20 August.”
Commenting on the new composition, dlr Musician-in-Residence Dave Flynn said: "When I was a teenager I regularly took trips into Dún Laoghaire town. The sounds I heard by the harbour and train station formed a musical picture in my mind that I vowed one day to turn into a piece of music. That day arrived when I was appointed Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Musician in Residence.
“For the residency I've composed a new piece in two movements, called Dún Laoghaire Guitars. Originally this music was meant to be premiered in concert at the DLR Lexicon Studio. Covid-19 put a stop to that, but it won't stop the music being heard. Over the past few months I have worked with Ciarán Swift and his students from Dún Laoghaire's Guitar Training Centre to produce a video for Dún Laoghaire Dart. Before that you will hear Dún Laoghaire Harbour, which I recorded myself over-dubbing eight guitars creating almost orchestral textures.
“It's been a very rewarding residency and I'd like to thank Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Arts Office, Music Network and the Arts Council for making it happen. Hopefully in the not too distant future we'll be able to have the live concert premiere of the piece, but for now I hope viewers enjoy the videos we've made for Dún Laoghaire Guitars.”
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council’s Arts Office has responsibility for the annual Musician-in-Residence Scheme and said: “We’re delighted to have Dave Flynn as the first Musician-in-Residence for 2020. Dave is from the area and has drawn inspiration from it to create this new music. It’s fantastic to have the involvement of young musicians from the County through the Dún Laoghaire Guitar School.”
Dave Flynn works with some of the world’s best musicians across several genres and his music is acclaimed internationally. He is also a virtuoso guitarist who has toured worldwide. Recent work includes being the first Composer-in-Residence at Ireland's state guest-house Farmleigh and the ground-breaking world premiere of The Vision Symphony by the Irish Memory Orchestra and 26 blind/vision-impaired musicians in glór. Praised in the New York Times for the “power and grittiness” of his music, Dave has redefined the possibilities of orchestral music by creating the cross-genre Irish Memory Orchestra, a “formidable collective of musicians” (The Irish Times) who perform exclusively by memory.
The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Musicians-in-Residence Scheme provides opportunities for performers and composers to develop and showcase new work and cultivate new artistic collaborations. The residencies also serve to enrich the cultural environment of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown through engagement with local community groups.
Previous Musicians-in-Residence have included percussionist and composer Éamonn Cagney, improvising pianist and composer Izumi Kimura, composer, sound designer and multi-instrumentalist Lara Gallagher, vocalist and songwriter Susan McKeown, pianist and composer Conor Linehan, sound artist and composer Craig Cox, musician and composer Sebastian Adams, The Eidola Trio featuring Malachy Robinson (viola de gamba) Eamon Sweeney (baroque guitar, lute) and Anita Vedres (baroque violin), Elizabeth Hilliard and Grainne Mulvey (Opera), Matthew Jacobson (Jazz Drummer) and Metier (Jazz Quintet led by Ronan Guilfoyle).