- Fall Performance Series presents Seanma
-
- By Caroline de Souza
Assistant Living Arts Editor
-
- This past Monday, FSC students and friends
enjoyed an afternoon with relaxing ancient Irish music by the pair Seanma as
part of the Fall Performance Series.
- Seanma, which means “music” or “musician”
consists of two performers: Melanie Everard, who plays the harp, and Alison
Aldrich, who plays the concertina and recorder.
- Professor Mark Evans, the organizer of the Fall
Performance Series, introduced the pair. “If you think you know Irish music,
maybe you don’t. This is ancient Irish music,” he said, getting a round of
applause from the audience.
- Along with their music, Everard and Aldrich gave
brief historical explanations about the origin of each song.
- The combination of the harp and the concertina
had a soothing, calm rhythm which resulted in a positive response from the
audience, which applauded after every single song.
- After many songs played with the harp and
concertina, Aldrich took out the recorder and explained that she couldn’t find
lyrics that would go with ancient Irish music. So she chose the recorder as an
alternative because it feels as if it talks.
- Many people closed their eyes in order to feel
even deeper the peaceful sound of the songs.
-
- Everard explained that the type of music they
play is different and older than the jigs and reels most people are familiar
with when thinking about Irish music today.
- It definitely sounded a lot different. The
majority of the songs had no lyrics and were much less upbeat than
contemporary Irish music. The songs they played had origins in the 18th and
19th centuries by collectors such as Edward Bunting, Patrick Weston Joyce and
George Petrie.
- Aldrich clearly showed enthusiasm and passion for
what she does. “At one moment, I just thought: I love what I do,” she said
enthusiastically after her performance.
- Aldrich explained that the reason for this
passion for ancient Irish music was her fiancé’s death. He used to play the
concertina, so playing his instrument was a way of healing.
- Everard has been playing this type of music for
20 years.
- Aldrich and Everard gave a great, touching
performance. The pair will be playing on Saturday, Nov. 5th at Northeast Music
and Dance Festival (www.nomadfest.com)
and Dec. 17 at the Nelson Solstice concert (www.monadnockfolk.org).
It will be great opportunity to check out Seanma.
|
