Album

Dublin-born Donnacha Dennehy (1970) is one of the most prominent composers to emerge on the nascent new music scene in Ireland. The pieces represented here show an impressive expressive range. His music is not identifiable with a single aesthetic, but it has a definite urban sensibility and sounds connected to the industrial aspect of Bang on a Can, with an added element of amplified grunge, while being compositionally sophisticated and virtuosically demanding. Glamour Sleeper, for mixed ensemble and electronics, instructs the performers to "attack violently but with panache," and that's a pretty good indication of the mood and effect of the piece. Junk Box Fraud inhabits much the same aggressive and explosive sound world, but with vocals, a strong techno ambience, and an off-kilter zaniness. Paddy, a colorful and kinetic percussion solo expertly performed by Tatiana Koleva, relies heavily on the metallic resonance of pipes and industrial scrap. Elastic Harmonic, for violin and orchestra, is the most impressive piece on the collection, and the most lyrical, but it has its share of turbulence and drivenness and minimalist repetition, with moments that call to mind a heavily caffeinated John Adams. Dennehy's music receives committed and energetic performances from Ensemble Intégrales, violinist Darragh Morgan, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gavin Maloney, pianist Joanna MacGregor, and Dennehy's own Crash Ensemble. NMC's sound is immaculate. The dynamism and inventiveness of Dennehy's voice make him a composer with strong potential to become a significant presence on the international music scene.

© Stephen Eddins, Rovi

CD 1
Donnacha Dennehy Composer Glamour Sleeper, for chamber ensemble Work Recorded 2003 Ensemble Integrales Ensemble
1	Glamour Sleeper, for chamber ensemble	10:23			$1.99
Donnacha Dennehy Composer Paddy, for percussion Work Recorded 2003 Tatiana Koleva Percussion
2	Paddy, for percussion	7:42			$1.49
Donnacha Dennehy Composer Junk Box Fraud, for chamber ensemble Work Recorded 2000 Crash Ensemble Ensemble
3	Junk Box Fraud, for chamber ensemble	12:31			$1.99
Donnacha Dennehy Composer Elastic Harmonic, for violin & orchestra Work Recorded 2007 RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Darragh Morgan Violin, Gavin Maloney Conductor
4	Elastic Harmonic, for violin & orchestra	13:02			$2.49
Donnacha Dennehy Composer pAt, for piano & tape Work Recorded 2001 Joanna MacGregor Tape
5	pAt, for piano & tape	10:52			$1.99
Donnacha Dennehy Composer Streetwalker, for chamber ensemble Work Recorded 2004 Crash Ensemble Ensemble
6	Streetwalker, for chamber ensemble	11:07			$1.99