Each of the four continuous movements of Strings A-stray
has its own strong dance characteristic. In the opening Mr Mani,
four pitches, comprising of a specific intervallic shape, are juggled with
irregular rhythmic combinations associated with South Indian percussion
music. This slowly melts into the next section Sway, whose
expansive phrases allows the music to quietly breathe. In the following
Mazurka familiar rhythmic and phrasal shapes play around with the
placing of accents and the juxtaposition of previously heard material. The
final dance Bouree provides contrast with its smooth and pulsating
manner and restricts itself to the earlier four-note mode. This pulse
travels through varying textures, solo lines and noticeable quotes before
building up energy prior to an abrupt end.
Strings A-stray was commissioned by the Irish Chamber
Orchestra for performance at the Two Cathedrals Festival in Derry in
1994. Since then it has enjoyed numerous performances by the Irish
Chamber Orchestra around the world, most recently at the Konzerthaus
Berlin in 2013 where they opened the concert with Strings
A-stray to celebrate the German launch of Ireland's Presidency of
the Council of the European Union and broadcast live throughout the EBU.
It was also performed by the Ulster Orchestra with conductor Ken
Montgomery during the BBC Radio 3 Invitation Series at the Ulster Hall in
Belfast and by the Ivernia Orchestra in Manchester Cathedral in 2012.
Strings A-stray was originally recorded by the
Irish Chamber Orchestra by Black Box Music and is due for release on
the RTÉ lyric fm label, performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra as
part of the Composers of Ireland series, promoting the orchestral works of
Irish composers.
