Dulra
Artist Details Caitríona O'Leary and DúlraCategory: EnsemblesThis unique ensemble is made up of musicians from both Irish traditional and early music genres. It performs authentic Irish music from both the oral tradition and from 17th and 18th century sources. BiographySinger Caitríona O'Leary formed Dúlra in 1998 to perform Irish song in a new way. Using her performance experience of medieval music, she has applied many of its principles to her own native music. The result is a shimmering liquescence of melody, unhindered by a rigid tempo or conventional harmony, structured, rather, on the rhythm of the Irish language and the flow of the modal line. The stark simplicity of this delicately floating melodic line is enhanced by the uncluttered accompaniment by the distinguished instrumentalists of Dúlra. BIOGRAPHY Dúlra, is one of Ireland’s most exciting and groundbreaking Traditional music bands. Dúlra brings to the world stage an exotic and powerful new dynamic for Traditional Irish song. Sources from the renaissance to the present day create the soundscape for a unique and compelling approach to Traditional Irish music. ReviewsEcstasy (Heresy 002 / Naxos)
The recommendation on the back-cover states: “File under Traditional /World Music”. This target-group-definition for the pop market might obstruct the path to a larger audience for Dúlra (fiddle, cello, flute, percussion and other acoustic instruments), because with her Gaelic songs from the 16th to 18th century, the Irish singer Caitríona O’Leary is able to please fans of classical “Lieder”, too. Her natural voice comes without frills and sounds at all times effortless. As well, there is never a danger that the archival material on the album is performed in an academic way.
Although this repertoire calls for it, the ensemble is not tempted to pander to the esoteric scene. Instead fans of Celtic Folk-Rock will get their money’s worth - when the urge for dancing and celebration rises up - in the rousing instrumental pieces performed by this band of soloists.
In addition to the performances, the production team has made a perfect choice by recording in a church, which leads to an ideal balance between translucent delicateness and lush substantial sound impression. Therefore, the recommendation “File under Audiophile” should be added to the back cover.
Winifried Dulisch, HiFi & Records (July 2012) Das Magazin für hochwertige Musikwiedergabe
It was in [Caitriona O'Leary's] performance of Carolan’s lamentation for his dear friend MacCabe that O’Leary revealed a mastery of Irish singing, achieving Andrew Lawrence King’s ambition for the ensemble of taking the audience ‘on a journey- not just to a place, but also to a time.’
Jennifer Gall, The Canberra Times (May 2010)
REVIEWS
… sung with haunting grace by Caitríona O’Leary. Steve Moffat, The North Shore Times (May 2010)
Clive O’Connell, The Age (May 2010)
Peter McCallum, Sydney Morning Herald (May 2010)
Gillian Wills, The Australian (May 2010)
Le Monde de la Musique
“[O’Leary’s] caressing tones…fit seamlessly into a consistent fabric of sound and expression” The Wall Street Journal
“The gentle tones of Caitríona O’Leary were lovely” The Boston Globe
“Do not hesitate for a second! Caitríona O’Leary has one of those incredibly crystalline voices that roots you to the spot” La Vie
“downright angelic” St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Her singing style, clear articulation, and beautiful soprano voice – with or without accompaniment – are brought to great effect in these and all the songs in Dúil” Irish Music Magazine
“I relished the flavors of the individual voices and characters…the focused calm of Caitríona O’Leary” Boston Bay Windows
“Spreading a poignant pall over the proceedings, O’Leary’s lamenting voice rose and fell flawlessly, entrancing the audience with heart-wrenching songs.” The Irish Echo
“Vocal grace, majestic formal fluidity, from traditional Irish ballads to early music: a disc (Dúil, Irish Songs of Love and Nature), which unites tradition and sensuality” Geo
“Here is a disc (Dúil, Irish Songs of Love and Nature) that revels in the joy of singing and of making music and the joy of being alive” La Marseillaise
“Wonderful interpretation by Caitríona O’Leary and her band” Femme Actuelle
“The clear voice, like a flowing river, and gracious silhouette, of Caitríona O’Leary has also accompanied the ensemble Sequentia and the Harp Consort” Valeurs Actuelles
“[O’Leary] creates an elegiac atmosphere with her clear voice and authentic Gaelic pronunciation” The Plain Dealer DiscographyCaitríona O’Leary and Dúlra Ecstasy Catalogue # HERESY002 Heresy Records
A new and unique approach to Irish song from Caitríona O’Leary and Dúlra In an album that unites tradition and sensuality.
DÚLRA’s debut album for Heresy features a scintillating selection of rarely heard and newly discovered Geantraí, Irish songs of joy and rapture. True to its name, Ecstasy, explores the diverse shades of happiness from exuberant full-throttle songs such as A Stór, a Stór and Spellsong to the most personal and intimate expressions of love and passion Sín Síos Suas Liom and Ceann Dubh Dílis. DÚLRA’s combination of ancient Irish mythic sounds and contemporary, early and world music fusions make Ecstasy a unique and fresh musical experience.
Tracklist 01. Spellsong Musicians Caitríona O’Leary, Voice Special Guests Deirdre O’Leary, B-flat Clarinet, Bass Clarinet Directed by Caitríona O’Leary
© Heresy Records Ltd DISCOGRAPHY
Caitríona O'Leary and Dúlra Upcoming EventsDúlra perform Ecstasy St. John's Smith Square, London, June 2013
Caitríona O'Leary and Dúlra perform the Geantraí or Irish songs of joy and rapture from their Heresy-released album Ecstasy.
Caitríona O’Leary – Singer Adrian Hart - Fiddle Eamon Galldubh - Flute/Whistle lioba Petrie - Cello Frank Torpey – Bodhrán Andrea Piccioni - Frame drums
Dúlra at Beethovenfest 2013, Bonn 26 September 2013: Ecstasy 27 September 2013: Ansacht na nAnsacht
Bonn's annual festival host two concerts by Caitríona O'Leary and Dúlra. The first is Ecstasy, a bouquet of songs and dances that express an irrepressible joy of life. The second is Ansacht na nAnsacht or Love of Loves, a programme of rarely-heard, passionate traditional Irish songs.
Wexford Carols 6 December 2013, Droichead Arts Centre 7 December 2013, Glór
In 1684 Luke Wadding, Bishop of Ferns, published A Smale Garland of Pious & Godly Songs in Ghent. Fr. William Devereux in 1728 composed A New Garland Containing Songs for Christmas. These two collections along with the famous Enniscorthy Carol form the basis of the repertoire of Wexford carol singing (particularly in the parish of Kilmore) and, more significantly, the greatest body of Irish folk carols.
The Wadding and Devereux garlands contain lyrics for 22 Christmas songs. Approximately half of these carols are presently sung and many of them are sung to the same 3 tunes, for only 6 of the original melodies are extant.
The music for the remaining 16 carols is considered lost and unknown. Through her own research over the past 15 years, Caitríona O’Leary has discovered 4 additional melodies for the lyrics from the two garlands, she expects to find several more. Her research and exploration will be the basis of Wexford Carols. The programme will bring this overlooked and remarkable repertoire to the attention of the general public and result in public performances of the carols, many of which have not been heard for perhaps the past 200 years. EVENTS ---
Past Events
In their first Irish Tour Caitriona O'Leary and Dúlra performs music from their new CD ECSTASY (HERESY Records) – a spellbinding journey into a world of passion, joy and rapture. Thrilling instrumentals, hauntingly beautiful singing and arrangements that bring the past alive creating a new dynamic for Trad.
Venue: Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork |
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