Composer Andrew Hamilton meets singer, songwriter and dance artist, Aoife McAtamney, to discuss Andrew's composition, 'Friendly Piece', composed in 2023 for Crash Ensemble.

Friendly Piece was recently part of an installation at the Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray, co. Wicklow.

Find out more about Aoife McAtamney at www.daughterofadrum.com

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Music

Andrew Hamilton - Friendly Piece (available on Bandcamp)

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Host: Andrew Hamilton

Guest: Aoife McAtamney

As part of Kilkenny Arts Festival 2024, Crash Ensemble spent a day in Shee Alms House recording and performing seven Postcard pieces that had been commissioned by Crash Ensemble. Olga Barry, the Director of Kilkenny Arts Festival, hosted one of the performances for this live podcast episode, featuring live performances and conversations with some of the composers and audience members.

With thanks to Kilkenny Arts Festival and The Arts Council.

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Music:

Paul Scully - Escape Velocity

Emmelle Wadding - Junk

Jenn Kirby - Waves

Maeve Kelly - X-change of Flames

Dani Larkin - Lighthouse

Michael Sullivan - Through Worlds of Fog

Neil O’Connor - The Last Broadcast

Title Music: Ed Bennett - Accel

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Host: Olga Barry

Crash Violist Lisa Dowdall chats to her brother-in-law Brian about one of her favourite Crash recordings, A Wild Furze by American composer Julia Wolfe.

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Music

Julia Wolfe - A Wild Furze

Ed Bennett - Accel

Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp.

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Transcript

Available here

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Crash Musician: Lisa Dowdall

Guest: Brian Guilfoyle

Producer: Matt Rafter

As part of Musictown 2024, Crash Ensemble collaborated with four different artists for four unique performances: Elaine Howley, Mohammad Syfkhan, Rachael Lavelle and E the Artist. On this special episode, we hear from the artists themselves about working with Crash. We also hear from attendees of our listening groups, who attended sessions with Elaine Howley and E the Artist.

With thanks to Dublin City Council Culture Company and the Blow the Dust Orchestra.

Artists:

Elaine Howley

Mohammad Syfkhan

Rachael Lavelle

E the Artist

Recorded live at National Concert Hall, Dublin.

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Music

Title Music: Accel. - Ed Bennett

Outro Music: this is the space between your hand and mine - Rachael Lavelle

Available on Bandcamp.

Flautist Lina Andonovska meets with author Ciara Geraghty for the first time, and together they listen to excerpts from The Last Hotel, which Lina joined Crash for in 2015.

Lina performs alongside Crash Ensemble on Sunday 30th June 2024 for a performance at Sundays at Noon in the Hugh Lane Gallery.

Find out more about Ciara Geraghty at ciarageraghty.com.

With thanks to the Offbeat Ensemble and Cantaloupe Music.

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Music

Ed Bennett: - Accel

Donnacha Dennehy - The Last Hotel (Available on Cantaloupe Music)

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Host: Lina Andonovska

Guest: Ciara Geraghty

Composer Bekah Simms recently marked the end of her two years as composer-in-residence with Crash with a world premiere at New Music Dublin 2024. While in Dublin, Bekah met for the first time with dancer, choreographer and geologist Silver Kezir, and listened to Crash's most recent release metamold.

With thanks to Dublin City Council Culture Company.

metamold was commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition at Brigham Young University.

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Music

Bekah Simms - metamold
Ed Bennett - Accel
Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp.

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Host: Bekah Simms

Guest: Sylvester Kezir

Produced by Matt Rafter

The first instalment of Season 2 of Open Ears is a special episode, featuring Crash Ensemble's cellist and Artistic Director Kate Ellis chatting with Principal Conductor Ryan McAdams, and listening to the Free State recording of Amanda Feery's It's in the trees, it's coming.

Crash Ensemble return to Ireland's foremost new music festival, New Music Dublin, with 3 not-to-be-missed concerts and an installation, from 26–28 April 2024. Visit newmusicdublin.ie for tickets and more information.

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Music

Amanda Feery - It's in the trees, it's coming

Ed Bennett - Accel

Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp.

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Host: Kate Ellis

Guest: Ryan McAdams

Produced by Matt Rafter

Crash Ensemble pianist Eliza McCarthy chats to her friend Amy and listens to Crash's most recent release, Children In The Universe by Sam Perkin.

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Music

Sam Perkin - Children In The Universe

Ed Bennett - Accel

Released on Crash Records. Available on ⁠Bandcamp⁠.

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Crash Musician: Eliza McCarthy

Guest: Amy Houldey

Producer: Matt Rafter

Crash Ensemble guitarist Barry O'Halpin sits down with his neighbour David Ball, and listens to Crash's recording of Barry's piece Wingform.

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Music

Barry O'Halpin - Wingform

Ed Bennett - Accel

Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp.

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Transcript

Available here.

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Crash Musician: Barry O'Halpin

Guest: David Ball

Producer: Matt Rafter

Crash Artist-in-Residence Diamanda La Berge Dramm sits down with her cousin Max LaBerge, and listens to the Crashlands recording of Ann Cleare's Fiáin.

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Music

Ann Cleare - Fiáin

Ed Bennett - Accel

Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp.

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Transcript Available here

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Crash Musician: Diamanda La Berge Dramm

Guest: Max LaBerge

Producer: Matt Rafter

Crash Bass Player Malachy Robinson chats to writer and actor Mark Doherty about music for donkeys who like music, written for Crash by Andrew Hamilton and featured on our CrashLands album.

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Music

Andrew Hamilton - music for donkeys who like music

Ed Bennett - Accel

Released on Crash Records. Available on Bandcamp.

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Transcript

Available here

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Crash Musician: Malachy Robinson

Guest: Mark Doherty

Producer: Matt Rafter

In this second episode of Open Ears, Alain McFadden talks to Laura Quirke - Musician, songwriter and one half of folk duo Lemoncello.

Together they listened to two movements of Lipids by Barry O'Halpin.

Barry O'Halpin is a composer and performer based in Dublin, merging approaches and formative influences from contemporary classical, experimental rock, electronic music and jazz contexts. Lipids charts the evolution of Barry O' Halpins inventive and exploratory writing for both chamber ensemble and solo electric guitar, as composer in residence and guitarist with Crash Ensemble.

Find Out more about Barry O'Halpin at https://barryohalpin.com/, and more about Laura Quirke at https://www.lemoncelloireland.com/

This episode is presented by Alain McFadden

Music: 'Lipids' and 'Lethargarian' from Lipids by Barry O'Halpin.

Host: Alain McFadden

Guest: Laura Quirke

In this first episode of our third season, Alain McFadden speaks to Brían MacGloinn - songwriter, radio host and one of the brothers that make up Irish folk-darlings Ye Vagabonds. Together, they listen to extracts from Jonathan Nangle's Blue Haze of Deep Time.

Jonathan Nangle draws inspiration from his field recordings of the sea, made during walks near his home. These sounds form the foundation of the piece, marking the start of a musical journey. Blue Haze of Deep Time was commissioned by Crash and premiered at New Music Dublin Festival in 2025.

Find out more about Jonathan Nangle at https://jonathannangle.com, and more about Brían MacGloinn and his music at https://yevagabonds.com.

This episode is presented by Alain McFadden, the new host of Open Ears.

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Music

‘Inbhear Glás’ and ‘Where Grey Waves Rise and Fall Unseen’ from Blue Haze of Deep Time by Jonathan Nangle

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Host: Alain McFadden

Guest: Brían MacGloinn