Music Migrations

Taraf de Haidouks

Project Partner:
Curators: Bryn Ormrod, Philip King

Project Description:
Throughout 2005, Cork played host to four individually curated series of concerts that shed an illuminating light on some of the world's most compelling voices and musical accents. This specially tailored series took audiences on a journey through an enthralling mix of musical expressions, which have all played their part in shaping the musical landscape of Ireland today.

The series launched with ‘A Continent Undivided’, a tantalizing taster of the diverse music and cultures of Europe in 2005. With everything from wild gypsy brass from the mountains of Macedonia to the sublime sound of the polyphonic Bulgarian women’s choir, this was the most comprehensive festival of European music ever staged in Ireland.

May witnessed the World Premier of 'Daughters of Albion', a specially commissioned concert that lent a fresh pair of ears to the idiosyncrasies of the English voice from the earliest folk ballads through to rock ‘n’ roll and today's urban electronic pioneers.

‘Soul Of The Mountains’ in July demonstrated that there's much more to Country music than clean teeth, cowboy hats and achy-breaky hearts with a series that showcased Americana and some of its many musical forms – from bluegrass to alt. country and much in-between.

Finally, a wide-ranging celebration of Ireland's rich musical expression 'Irish Voices' traced Ireland's musical heritage from the raw bar of the pure tradition to the new and vital 'Other Voices' of 2005.

A Continent Undivided
Date: 11 – 30 March 2005

Daughters of Albion
Date: 6 May 2005

North of the River: Soul of the Mountains
Date: 21 – 25 July 2005

North of the River: Irish Voices
Date: 23 – 26 November 2005