Super-Hero Set-Dance

by Roderick O'Connor

The great loves, lives and woes of six couples from ancient Irish stories have inspired the latest album by musician, producer, composer and academic Maire Breatnach. She Tells Roderick O'Connor about a set dance with a mythical difference.

Unlike previous albums, classical forms (Breatnach learned classical and traditional music at the same time) do not feature on Celtic Lovers. 'Given that I was dealing with our own stories, I thought our own native musical forms, such as jigs, reels, slow airs and polkas, in particular would be appropriate.' However, classical disciplines helped when it came to writing arrangements.

Despite the explosion in 'Celtic' musics these days, none can claim to be genuine Celtic music: the Celts lives so long ago, it's impossible to know what their music sounded like. She says themes are useful tools for inspiring ideas when composing.

'It's not possible to trace our musical forms past the sixteen hundreds. Before that, it's mainly conjecture. The new album is my perception, creative recreating. It's probably always been that way, everything is layered up over the generations.'

'I wanted the music to be anchored as much as possible in the tradition but also to have a new twist to it. There's a very narrow line between the old and the new and for it to fit and seem part of what has gone before is the challenge really. It's like working in miniatures: people will recognise little quirks of individual musicians and composers but in outline it's similar to other such works.'

'There's more scope in the slow airs in particular for an individual voice. The dance music will always be energetic and lively and you can try new twists, but it's the slower music which lends itself to exploration. But you can't just confine yourself to slow airs. The challenge is to apply yourself also to the likes of polkas and slides.

She says creative exchanges with musicians such as Steven Cooney and Mairtin O'Connor (two of a long list of top musicians on the album) helped her create her own musical landscape.