Sunday, May 15 at 5pm
Irish Fiddle with Richard Mandel, Guitar
Gerry O’ Connor is one of the best and most subtle fiddlers in Ireland. He has performed and recorded with the best of the traditional Irish musicians (Chieftains, Bothy Band, Boys of the Lough, Planxty, De Danann, Irish Rovers, etc) for a reason – he is brilliant! His playing is not overtly flashy; rather, it quietly and sweetly leaves you in awe, especially if you are a fiddler – your jaw will drop at some of the moves he executes while making it sound and look effortless. (Fiddlers will know it is not, especially the Irish ornamentations, and variations!!) Gerry also won the prestigious Comhaltas Bardic Award for his contribution to Traditional Arts, and the bodies of work he has made over the years are proof of that; for one, his solo CD Journeyman was rated in the top five Albums of 2004 by The Irish Times, and was heralded as a milestone in the recorded music of the Oriel region of South Ulster. Gerry also teaches at the famous Willy Clancy Week/School and master classes globally, is a four-time winner of the demanding Fiddler of Oriel competition, which he now adjudicates, and builds his own fiddles. The concert will include pieces from his book of dance music from the Donnellan Collection, “The Rose In The Gap,” from his home region of Oriel, lovely pieces which have barely been heard since the turn of the century. It is a chance to see a living true master of Irish traditional music in action!