Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin on Geantraí TG4

Pádraigín performed recently on TG4′s flagship traditional music programme, ‘Geantraí’ alongside Macdara Ó hUallacháin Graham (viola d’amore) and Dónal O’Connor (fiddle). She performed her own composition, ‘An tAmhrán Geal’, which is a re-working of and old Oriel prayer, ‘An Paidir Geal’. For a limited time, you can watch the episode on the TG4 Player, keep an eye out on Pádraigín’s video page over the coming days!

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Ceol ón Chlann explores six musical families: the Keanes, the Blacks, the Ó Snodaigh’s, the McPeakes, the Pattersons and the Sands Family – famous Irish families who have brought their music to the four corners of the world. This new series, produced by Stirling Film and Television Productions Ltd. in association with the ILBF for TG4, gives an insight into the musical journey that each family has taken and the influence that previous generations have had on the rich heritage of each family.

Each story, narrated by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, is presented through rare footage from the archives of the BBC, UTV and RTÉ, and previously unseen private family footage.

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STEVE VAI Records New Track Inspired By Irish Song For Next Album and sent the following message to Ní Uallacháin:

“I have to say how absolutely moved I have been through the years whenever I would listen to your astounding version of ‘Mullach a’ tSí’. I decided to record a version of that song with the main melody being played on the electric guitar. It is inspired by your vocal performance. I would love to send it to you when I am done. I very much hope to record something with you someday.”

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PADRAIGÍN NÍ UALLACHÁIN: vocals & shruti, DÓNAL O’CONNOR: fiddle viola, vocals & MACDARA Ó hUALLACHÁIN-GRAHAM: fiddle, viola d’amore, overtones, vocals.

Dónal is my nephew and godson, and Macdara is my son which gives the music an intimacy, depth and knowingness which is unique to blood relatives who understand each other musically, who are receptive to each other’s musical and creative ideas and who love making music together. They are also fluent Gaelic speakers from Oriel who intuitively understand the vocal effect I seek to achieve, not only in music but in lyric as well. I am also attracted to the lack of ego in the playing of these two young men, who have a soulful and sympathetic approach, and who can create quite exquisite harmonic effects together. I have begun to use the shruti box, which I bought in India some years ago, to great effect under the strings.

This next turn on my musical journey is very exciting, and I am going into studio with them during the summer to record a new album inspired by ancient material that I have been working on, editing and rewriting and composing music for.”

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Two gala concerts were held in the city of St. Gallen, Switzerland in April 2012 to celebrate Songs of the Scribe and the Swiss connection with Gall of Bangor. Performing at the concerts in the beautiful city were Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin (song), Sir James Galway (flute) and Dónal O’Connor (fiddle).

Pádraigín has spent time studying many manuscripts now housed in the Abbey Library of Saint Gal, which have inspired her latest album, ‘Songs of the Scribe’.

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- Theo Dorgan (Aosdána)

The 7th Song, The Incantation of Amergin with Pádraigín on vocals and Helen Davies, harp.

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SONGS OF THE SCRIBE, Ceoltaí Éireann ****

The contemplative side of our music has been overshadowed by its (unquestionably visceral) dance tunes and big songs, with their emphasis on the social. On Songs of the Scribe , Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin, traditional singer-in-residence at Queen’s University’s Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry, delves deep into the history of our monastic tradition to dramatic effect.

Her bell-clear voice serves a rich repertoire of incantations, love songs and lamentations, and her choice of Tibetanbowl and harp (from Helen Davies), drones and bells for accompaniment is pitch perfect. Works by both Seamus Heaney and Ciaran Carson are lovingly honed by Ní Uallacháin’s voice: in particular, her treatment of the iconic poemThe Blackbird of Belfast Lough is a minimalist treasure. Switzerland’s St Gallen’s monastery yields many riches, which singer and harpist pick with great delicacy, melding poetry and music across millennia with a sinuous grace and elegance.

— Siobhan Long, The Irish Times

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