Aisling Lyons: Journeys

Written By Maureen Buscareno
Aisling Lyons with her harp Promo Pic.jpg

I came across Aisling Lyons’ music while reading through some posts from my alma mater, The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at The University of Limerick. We did talk a bit about  UL during our chat..  The track playing in the background is Aisling’s composition, ‘Buíochas’, which translates to “Thank You” in Irish,  was composed as a thank you to UL and it is also a  track from her new album coming out later this year. You can find this opening track on  Spotify, iTunes & Apple Music, and Bandcamp ahead of the album’s release later this year.  Artists joining her on this track are: Fiddle & Viola: Fergal Scahill, Double Bass: Paul O'Driscoll, Guitar: Seán Lyons and the beautiful album artwork was created by County Clare artist Sorrell Reilly.

“I find music is so powerful in that you can channel your expression of, if it’s grief or obviously if it’s happiness, if it’s excitement, if it’s love, you can channel all those emotions.”
— Aisling Lyons

Aisling grew up with music, in fact her parents met through Irish music. Unfortunately, Aisling’s father passed away while she was studying for her masters degree.  She decided to take a year off from her degree and focus solely on music.   Working on the material for her newest album became a form of therapy for her and helped her with the grieving process.  

 

Along with composing and performing on harp and concertina Aisling is also a harp tutor at UL and most recently collaborated with Tolü Makay to perform for Irish President Michael D. Higgins’ 80th birthday.  

We chatted about her work with visual artist Aideen Barry. They are working together on a project called, “Oblivion” that you can read more about on Aisling’s IG page.

“The Bunting Commission” 

“The idea behind the project is, what if we are the last of the artists and what if it was our responsibility to protect the art that is around us now…in that way of thinking you are also thinking back to is this how Bunting thought back in the day as well?  Did he think, ‘I’m the last chance here. I need to protect what we have here and these tunes.”

-Aisling Lyons

Aisling will also be participating in the annual Lá na Cruite | Harp Day 2021.

And for all of your harpers out there be sure to check out Harp Ireland’s website for more information on how you can participate.  

From the Lá na Cruite, Harp Day 2021 website:

Lá na Cruite, Harp Day 2021 takes place on Saturday 16th October where harpers all over the world will celebrate Ireland’s 1,000-year-old harping tradition. Harp Day 2021 will combine live events and virtual broadcasts on Facebook and on our YouTube channel.

This year’s theme is HARPS ALIVE; it is our response to a renewed sense of awareness of the beauty of the world around us over the past 18 months, when we paused to listen and to look around us with a new perspective; hearing bird song, getting out and about, walking on our beautiful hills and coastal areas, and relating to nature in a different way.

So this year, we are calling harpers to reconnect with nature, let their harp music reflect the beauty in their favourite outdoor spaces: on hills, beside lakes, on the coast, in forests or even in their own back gardens.

Harpers’ Call is back. Join us by recording a video of yourself playing a tune in your favourite outdoor setting. All standards are welcome from every corner of the world. For more information click here.

Contact them at info@harpireland.ie if you are planning an event in your area.

 

Enjoy my fun chat with Aisling Lyons.

 LINKS: 



Maureen Buscareno
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