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Contemporary Traditional Celtic Music Orchestral Program

Los Angeles, CA -- Long respected for their intriguing instrumentation and contemporary approach to traditional Celtic music, Craicmore’s newly commissioned orchestral arrangements transcend cultural boundaries. (More info click here.)

Presenters have called Craicmore “the most outstanding and memorable” performance at their venue and raved that they “sold the most individual tickets we've ever sold for any series concert.

The global explosion of enthusiasm to see and hear Celtic entertainment is truly a cultural phenomenon as evidenced by the popularity of Irish music and dance companies who have in excess of $500 million in tickets sales globally and have sold out shows in over 45 countries on all continents.

Celtic music, primarily an oral and auditory tradition, is now poised to interlace classical music idioms with roots music in a fresh way. Craicmore engaged Luke Hannington, whose mentors include Dick Grove, Henry Mancini, and David Raksin, to create orchestrations for the haunting, memorable Celtic tunes that have been handed down for centuries.

“These orchestrations are lean and muscular. I've shied away from overly lush arrangements and chosen to compliment the more aggressive, up-tempo aspects of Craicmore's energetic repertoire choices”, says Harrington

Craicmore’s adaptations of traditional Celtic tunes also epitomize our twenty-first-century global culture, incorporating the classical symphony orchestra, the electronic bass guitar and instruments from cultures as diverse as those of India and Australia. They combine the bodhrán, a large circular drum struck by a small double-headed stick, with a wide variety of percussion instruments from various cultures. The Irish uilleann and Scottish bagpipes provide both drone and melody in Gaelic music. Not surprisingly, drones and drone-like instruments have been a part of musical cultures worldwide since ancient times. Instruments like the Didgeridoo, a long end-blown pipe, from the indigenous societies of Australia, and the Shruti Box, a bellows instrument from the classical Indian music, naturally compliment the musical sensibilities of Craicmore.

Along with these brisk and dramatic orchestrations Craicmore brings a wealth of resources to the communities served by symphony and pops orchestras. Celtic Connections, Craicmore’s Arts in Education outreach program, promotes the positive aspects of cultural diversity. Experienced by over 50,000 public school students in the United States, Craicmore also offers college level master classes. In addition, The Craicmore quartet ensemble performs concert and festival appearances of traditional Scottish and Irish music and frequently works with Irish dance companies.

Presenters' Reviews

Connie O’Henley, Executive Director of the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande, California touts Craicmore’s saying, “Craicmore was great to work with. Band members were fun, easy-going and true professionals. After two standing ovations, folks left thanking us and wanting to know when Craicmore was returning to the Clark Center.”

Adding praise is Mary Tanner, Performing Arts Manager, Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Lancaster, California, "I want to express my appreciation for your wonderful concert. The superb musicianship of Craicmore was thoroughly appreciated by our audience, all of the feedback was positive. From a presenters point of view I appreciate the ease of booking Craicmore, your willingness to work with me to make the concert happen was really a joy. Craicmore was a huge financial as well as artistic success. I hope that you will consider a return engagement."

Craicmore Orchestral Program Repertoire

1. Humours of Ballyloughlin / Scatter the Mud 4:13

2. Rocky Road To Dublin / Butterfly / Foxhunters 3:58

3. Star of the County Down 4:19

4. Didgeridoo / Curlew 2:40

5. Brose and Butter / Kid on the Mountain 3:04

6. Cape Clear Set 9:58

7. Crescent Moon (Kangding Qingge) 2:52

Total run time 31:07

Please note:

Craicmore’s guitarist and musical director John MacAdams encourages all orchestra’s to allow spoken word introductions of a number of these pieces from the stage. He, along with Nancy Johnston the group’s vocalist, will address either the history of the music, or the relevance of a traditional instrument from another culture. With this in mind, the spoken word will add an additional 4 – 7 minutes to the presentation.

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Posted: Dec-3-2014
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