Irlandiani: Smock Alley
CD launch concert: Sands Music Room, Rotherhithe, Thursday 14 September 2023
Carina Drury & Poppy Walshaw, cellos, John-Henry Baker, violone, percussion
CD: First Hand Records, FHR144
plus Nathaniel Mander, harpsichord, Eimear McGeown, Irish flute

Following her earlier CD, Irlandiani (reviewed here) comes this latest recording from cellist Carina Drury and her collective group, also called Irlandiani. It is based on the musical life in and around the Smock Alley Theatre in 18th century Dublin. It features cello duos in the Galant style by the Neapolitan composer Tomasso Giordani who moved to Dublin in 1763 as musical director at the Smock Alley Theatre. As well as arrangements of 18th-century Irish melodies by musicians linked with the Smock Alley Theatre and its surrounds, the launch concert and recording also features music by Roseingrave, Scarlatti and Geminiani and a new piece by Carina Drury based on the Irish air Caoineadh Na Dtri Muire. If you are quick and live close enough, you can even catch the third of the laun

The first of the three launch concerts was held in the delightful Sands Music Room in Rotherhithe, a little theatre built as a film set that since the Covid lockdowns has been used for live concerts, livestreams and recordings.. The livestream recording of the concert can be viewed (for a well-deserved donation) via the Sands Music Room website – the music starts after about 20′ after an introduction to the music room. Performing a slightly reduced version of the recording, with just three players rather than the five on the recording, it was beautifully intimate introduction to the music. Some of the pieces illustrated by images from the artist and animator Matthew Robins who also designed the CD cover.

The Tommaso Giordani Duos for Two Cellos (Op18. c1780):were split into two-movement Sonatas, with Carina Drury and Poppy Walshaw making an exquisitely well-blanced duo partnership. For the first launch concert they were joined for some of the pieces by John-Henry Baker, playing violone and some sensitive percussion, including a spectacular demonstration of playing the spoons. For the recording, there are joined by harpsichordist Nathaniel Mander who adds some solo pieces, and Eimear McGeown whose Irish flute adds colour to the ensemble.

The recording reveals a fascinating peek into the little-known musical life of Dublin and is well worth a listen. It is available on all the usual streaming channels as well is as a ‘proper’ CD. The recording and launch concerts were funded by the excellent musical charity, the Continuo Foundation.