Scenes That Are Brightest: Ennis Brass Band & Friends

Soloist Clodagh Power and  Ennis Brass Band

 Scenes that are brightest                              
 May charm awhile

 Hearts which are lightest,
 And eyes that smile;   from Maritana libretto by Bunn

Scenes That Are Brightest  WV Wallace
A Iosa Mhic Mhuire   trad arr McDonagh
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen   Vincent di Palcido 
Coro nGrata                               

The Christmas Song       
Ave Maria Caccini                               

Zither Carol  Czech Carol       

Seasonal selection from Ennis Brass Band 

  Ennis Brass Band gave a concert of seasonal music  in St Columba's on Saturday night.  I was thrilled  to be invited to perform for a second year at this gathering along with singer Vincent di Placido .  I had the privilege of  opening the programme with a number from the opera Maritana by WV Wallace in honour of  the Waterford born composer's bicentenary year.  Wallace's father was a bandmaster and  noting the dates of the memorials on the candlelit walls it seemed an appropriate choice of period for this space. Vincent has a beautiful lyric tenor voice and his delivery of my favourite  Neopolitan song Coro n Grata (aka Catari) was gorgeous .  I was joined by Fiona de Buitleir on clarinet for my final selection of an Ave Maria attributed to Caccini but thought to be a modern composition and the jaunty Zither carol.  Both Vincent and I were expertly  accompanied by Nigel Bridge, Master of Music  at St Columba's on the house boudoir grand  piano complete with candlabra. 

Members brightening the streets earlier in the day 

This is a wonderful space to play in . The accoustic is rich and warm and the many candles create a magical ambiance. The Ennis Brass Band played a selection of seasonal favourites. Clodagh Power featured as cornet soloist on 'Chestnuts Roasting' In a charming finale children in the audience came front of house to play percussion and conduct the band. The Ennis Brass Band are a treasure and Daragh McAllister  and Nigel Bridge made eloquent opening and  closing remarks on the wonderful contribution this ensemble make to musical life of the town of Ennis . 

Related posts Cornets & Candlelight with  Ennis Brass Band 2011

Jovial Judges, High Heels and Emotions: Clare's Got Talent at Glór

Judge Brian Flynn

Time! To Face ! The Music! Part X Factor, part Macra na Feirme Talent Competition, the Clare FM event pitted dancers actors and singers against each in their bids to secure a coveted  place in the final of Clare's Got Talent 2012. In the  full  Glór auditorium, partisan supporters and family members witnessed a show of 12 acts performing one turn each followed by comments from the judging panel of broadcaster and entertainer, Brian Flynn, Tracy Crawford of Ballyo Promotions and musician & entertainer Nigel Bridge fresh from playing in Cahercalla

Happily, there were no Cowellesque  histrionics here with all acts getting a well deserved verbal pat on the back  and no wrangling among the trio. The event was compered by Gavin Grace of ClareFM

The evening opened with a montage of clips of video images but no sounds from the audition process, the audio element sadly replaced by pulsating rhythmic backing track. Female vocalists were the largest category of entertainer with  trio Skilled Mulah, and singer Dan O'Halloran adding some gender balance. Most  vocal acts opted for backing tracks over  live accompaniment.

Judges and sponsor 

A J.B. Keane  monologue, a dance troupe and a junior comedy routine added the variety show element.
The winners were Louise O Rourke from Kilkee and the Breakthrough Crew from Ennis with the Lissycasey Lunatics voted best by the audience.

Judge Tracy Crawford

Partisan supporters

A tough job to choose but did the judges get it right?  There was no question that the dance troupe had to go through. The largest group of the evening and bursting with energy, one felt exhausted looking at their high octane routine. I realised with a twinge of regret that among the things I will not get around to in this life is hip hop dancing. The audience prize is a great incentive for an act to bring in a crowd and while the juvenile comedy routine was not my pick one couldn't argue with a large Lissycasey contingent taking up a sizable proportion of the stalls.

Regarding the singers I had two issues. One of the best things about the evening is that it is in live entertainment and I feel the use of a live accompaniment should be rewarded and encouraged.  How lovely to see Claire McDonnell accompanied by fellow student Caoimhe ( a Lissycasey lass herself) at the piano.  In general, I found the collaborative efforts more entertaining than the solo voices. The best costume award had to go to the AbbaTribute act Sub Zero from Newmarket on Fergus in their charming  retro paisley dresses and knee high white boots. Skilled Mulah added a bit of contrast with three chaps on guitar on beat box and proper grand piano and the Burke Sisters accompanied by dad had potential. My pick  were trio Bel Canto, Mary and Alice Healy accompanied by Jillian Bridge. The ladies looked glamorous and sophisticated, were accomplished vocally and in contrast to most of the other girls, they could walk in their high heels!

Sponsored by Clare FM and St Francis Credit Union, this is a great  initiative, providing a platform to encourage local  entertainment and getting people out to support  live acts. It was good to see it attracting a wide range of genres and I was  heartened to see the wide range of ages participating.  Now in its second year, it seems set to become an annual fixture. The final takes place at the weekend. Check out  Glór website for details
Maybe I'll have a go myself next year. Now where did I put those tap shoes....!

1 Skilled Mulah Beat Box  Rolling in the Deep Piano Guitar Vocal harmony 

2 Singer  Aisling Shannon Valerie                   Backing Track

3 Singer  Ciara Normoyle Hey Soul Sister   Backing Track 

4 Singer Dan O Halloran Guitar 

5 Breakthrough Dancers   

6 Singer Claire McDonnell     Ar Eirinn Ni eosfhainn Ce Hi Live Piano Caoimhe accompanying

7 Bel Canto       Mary &Alice Healy  Jillian Bridge accompanist

8 Singer Louise O Rourke     Backing Track 

9  The Field  Drama Pat Cusack O Brien's Bridge

10 Sub Zero Trio  Singers  Backing Track Mamma Mia

11 Lissycasey Lunatics

12 Burke Sisters Dad on guitar   Duo

listen to an appraisal of ‘Clare's Got Talent at Glór’ on Audioboo

St Patrick's Day Serenades at Cahercalla

John Gavin and daughter Pauline  photo by  John Kelly

Singer, Maret O Hehir put together a lovely programme of entertainment for a concert  for patients at Cahercalla Hospital Co Clare yesterday. There were singers, dancer,s flutes fiddle, harmonica  and a harp for the day that was in it .  Fr Fergus McEveney sang one of my favourite numbers  Kreisler's The Old Refrain. John Gavin , ace harmonica player had them up dancing with a selection of waltzes. Sineid White visiting from Cork gave us a lovely version of Red is the Rose and  my selection included the queen of Irish airs, an Culfhionn.  The happy feet of Lissycasey Set Dancers gave us all a lift  and the versatile musician and 'Clare's Got Talent' judge, Nigel Bridge was accompanist.