Branjo, filmed and recorded live in Swynnerton Lodge.
Composed, arranged and performed by Alannah Thornburgh
Filmed by Ryan Hoban
Recorded and mixed by Cian Hamilton
Produced by Lauren Varian
"I wrote this tune four years ago as a gift for a friend of mine who happens to be one of the finest musicians I know. I wanted to create a dissonant and unresolved sound, an audible tension that reflected the headspace I was in at the time of writing."
Considered one of the rising stars of the Irish harp world, Alannah has recently embarked on an anticipated solo venture after several years of touring with ensembles such as Alfi and collaborating with David Keenan, Varo, and more. A devout student of the Irish harping tradition, Alannah uses the voices of the past as well as a wide range of modern influences to create ‘Branjo’, a fresh yet timeless addition to the tradition.
This is our arrangement of traditional song The Whistling Thief, which was written by Samuel Lover from Grafton Street in Dublin, in the 1800s. Fiachra learned this song from the singing of Seán Mac Donnchadha on the album 'The Lark in the Morning', which was collected by Fiachra's grandmother, Diane Hamilton.
A homage to the late minimalist piano composer Conor Walsh by Mayo harpist Alannah Thornburgh.
Arranged and performed by Alannah Thornburgh
Composed by Conor Walsh
Produced by Cian Hamilton
Filmed & Edited by Ruth Clinton
Additional footage by Lauren Varian
To mark the fifth anniversary of Conor’s passing Alannah teamed up with producer Cian Hamilton to record The Front in Swynnerton Lodge, Navan. As fellow Swinford natives, Alannah and Conor shared a close relationship. Alannah commented:
“As a young musician, I was always a huge admirer of Conor’s work. Growing up in Co. Mayo, Conor and I shared similar musical styles, both heavily informed by the rural landscapes and rich heritage the west of Ireland has to offer. He was a profound influence on my musical development and his words of advice and encouragement still resonate with me today. Learning ‘The Front’ was a difficult yet deeply fulfilling challenge for me, Conor made it sound so easy, which epitomises just how great of a composer he was. I hope that I have managed to do it justice.”
The single is now available on Bandcamp, Youtube and all other streaming platforms with all profits from Bandcamp being donated to the Musical Youth Foundation, who are dedicated to providing children in Ireland with a music education.
A homage to the late minimalist piano composer Conor Walsh by Mayo harpist Alannah Thornburgh.
As a young musician, I was always a huge admirer of Conor’s work. Growing up in Co. Mayo, Conor and I shared similar musical styles, both heavily informed by the rural landscapes and rich heritage the west of Ireland has to offer. He was a profound influence on my musical development and his words of advice and encouragement still resonate with me today. Learning ‘The Front’ was a difficult yet deeply fulfilling challenge for me, Conor made it sound so easy, which epitomises just how great of a composer he was. I hope that I have managed to do it justice.
Filmed in Swynnerton Lodge, Navan by Ryan Hoban
Audio recording by Cian Hamilton
Editing and additional footage by Lauren Varian
To celebrate the bloom of late spring, Alannah Thornburgh released her bright and airy single ‘Eddie & Noah’.
“I wrote ‘Eddie and Noah’ last spring in response to the birth of my two nephews,” Alannah explains. “At the time of writing I was admiring the resurgence of nature - the daffodils, cherry blossoms, wild flowers - and noticed the parallels between these joyous events. This composition ‘Eddie and Noah’ represents a celebration of new life.”
Filmed & edited by Ryan Hoban
Recorded and mixed by Stephen Doherty