Interview conducted by Guy Hazlewood for Scenic Rim Media QLD.
Living the Tradition explores the origins of Irish airs and traditional music. What first inspired you to undertake this journey and create the documentary?
I moved to Ireland 25 years ago and felt immediately at home. My parents lived here, and my grandmother was born in Limerick. As I immersed myself in the music scene, I discovered how many beautiful slow instrumental tunes existed. I had only ever learned one slow air, as they are called, during my travels, and here I was discovering a whole new world of sound.
They were played on fiddle, uilleann pipes, concertina and guitar, but it was rare to hear them performed on cello. Every time I played them, people were moved and excited to hear them on the instrument. They are a perfect fit for the deep tone and resonance of the cello.
Cellists began asking for the music, so I decided it was time to bring these airs to the cello community and write them down. That led to three years of listening, researching, arranging and composing. Some pieces remain close to their traditional forms, while others became fully developed works featuring new techniques, harmonies and variations.
Cellist and filmmaker Maarten Roos was one of the thousands of cellists who bought the book, and he became interested in turning the music and history behind these pieces into a documentary exploring their roots.
During the filming process in Ireland, was there a particular story, location or musician that had a lasting impact on you personally?
Filming with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin was amazing. He was such a scholar and a beautiful pianist, and his home was in the very area connected with one of the stories behind Éamonn an Chnoic (Ned of the Hill), a kind of Irish outlaw figure.
I often performed with Mícheál, and he was a major influence on my life. He has since passed away, which makes that segment of the film particularly poignant.
Visiting Lillis Ó Laoire, the renowned scholar and singer, was also a highlight. I was expecting scholarly insights and historical information, but there in his office he suddenly broke into song in the most naturally Irish way of expression. It’s a beautiful scene in the film.
Audiences will experience both the film and a live performance on the same afternoon. What can people expect from the concert, and how does it complement the themes explored in the documentary?
The film explores a living tradition and its roots. It is about connecting land, music, people and the past as they are experienced in the present.
In the live performance that follows, we explore music from many traditions. Inspired by melody and rhythm, we create compositions and arrangements drawn from both well-known and lesser-known gems, bringing them into our cello-and-guitar world while honouring their traditional influences.
Your music blends Celtic, jazz, world music and classical influences. What is it about Irish traditional music that continues to resonate with audiences around the world?
I think it is part of the DNA of so many people. Irish roots have spread throughout the world, creating a vast network of people who hear Irish music and somehow feel a sense of coming home.
Even for those without Irish ancestry, Ireland has had such a profound influence on global culture that many people connect instinctively with its rhythms and melodies.