The Irish Memory Orchestra (formerly Clare Memory Orchestra) is the first and only orchestra in the Western world to play exclusively from memory.
Visionary founder and Artistic Director Dave Flynn has enlisted some of Ireland’s leading traditional, classical and jazz musicians to create a kaleidoscopic new sound around his award-winning music; A string section infused with the sound of Irish fiddles; a wind section mixing Irish flutes, whistles and uilleann pipes with the haunting tone of the oboe; a harmonic background of Irish harp, mallet percussion and guitar; and a dynamic rhythm section mixing rumbling double bass and ticking percussion.
Add to that crooning concertina, triumphant trumpet, sax, trombone and spectacular Ancient Celtic bronze-age horns, and you have a thrilling new uniquely Irish phenomenon that has brought audiences to their feet at every concert the orchestra has played from Dublin to Moscow.
How many times have you played it in 12 days, I found it in November and must have played it at least 30 times since! It's just so uplifting, joyous... not just how it sounds but how the musicians look while they play.. the way it's filmed, everything.
Just awesome start to finish - rare to hear Carolan's Fairwell to Music. Martin Hayes plays it as descriptive as the story goes that Carolan was in his last days, composed/payed it and then went to bed and passed away. Great set through all the tunes!
How come so few views? This is enthralling! It's like hearing Irish Traditional Music filtered through the minimalism not of the New York more highbrow scene but of European post-punk and industrial bands. I sense Einstürzende Neubauten in the air... Maybe it's just me. Beautiful, anyway.
Thank you for your kind word Lucas, we are as baffled as you as to why we don't get more views, but it's lovely to know we are reaching people across the world nonetheless.
Again. I listened again. And again. Oh, and also I listened again. And while I was at it, I listened again. I think I will listen to it again, too. My daughter has listened to it too. Again. And again. My wow just broke I think 💖🎉🙏🙏🙏🙏💕💯❤️💖
is it possible to wear out a you tube track the way i used to wear out records???? cannot listen to this while i'm working - end up jumping around the room. Absolutely superb. The other one is just incredible also.
The first 5 minutes I can hear Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Wounded knee, Auschwitz or any great travesty of our times. Martin and Denis are capable of bringing us anywhere with ease and their humility is mind blowing.
I had never heard of this amazing orchestra. Am planning a visit to Cork Folk Festival and saw that you're playing there so I googled and found this clip. Loved it from the description only - loved it even more after listening. Looking forwards to seeing you live!
Thanks James...we're not sure if Martin Banks is being sarcastic or not, either way it's important to state this is 100% new music, no old traditional melodies involved. Yes, it's Irish, however it's not trying to replace or compete with traditional Irish music. It's just something new that is inspired by aspects of various music traditions including Irish music traditions. It's as much new classical music as it is new traditional music.
Cel mai frumos cântec irlandez pe care l -am auzit până acum. L-am ascultat cred că de peste 100 de ori.Felicitări orchestrei care poate cânta fără să vadă notele pe portativ! Superb cântecul acesta !👏👍
Cel mai frumos cântec irlandez pe care l -am auzit până acum. L-am ascultat cred că de peste 100 de ori.Felicitări orchestrei care poate cânta fără să vadă notele pe portativ! Superb cântecul acesta !
The title of the tune is 'Bell Harbour Droneys' it's an original tune composed by Dave Flynn which is part of the Clare Concerto. It's all in the title of the video at the top.
A premier penny whistle player and an chamber orchestra, consisting of both chromatic and diatonic instruments, a guitar and a drum set, playing from memory not sheet music...a uniquely Irish phenomenon. It would be interesting to know what role the gentleman in center with his back to the audience is playing, and from where they are playing. Pretty stuff.
