MUSIC The Linenhall hosts unique homage to traditional music

From cradle to stage


This Thursday, The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, is hosting a unique show that brings traditional instruments to life – literally. Through music and film, The Music Makers celebrates the creativity and skill involved not only in traditional music-making, but also in the tradition of making musical instruments, here in Mayo.
In an interesting twist, a live performance of traditional Irish music will be interwoven with film footage of craft workers as they fashion the instruments actually being played on stage – with some of the craftworkers playing the instrument themselves.
The footage, shot by award-winning filmmaker Myles O’Reilly, was taken in the workshops of four Co Mayo-based instrument makers – violin-maker Graham Wright (Cuilmore, Newport); bow-maker Gary Leahy (Melcomb, Newport); mandolin- and guitar-maker Brian Lofthouse (Castlebar); and uilleann-pipes maker John Butler (Achill). O’Reilly’s previous projects include music films for and featuring Lisa Hannigan, Julie Feeney, James Vincent McMorrow and other big music-industry names.
Lofthouse and Butler will play on the night alongside fellow traditional musicians Julie Langan (fiddle) and Finbarr Naughton from Cross (fiddle, mandolin). Brian Lofthouse will play guitar, mandolin, while Butler will play the uilleann pipes.



The Music Makers is an innovative, intimate performance piece, presenting the breadth of skill and creativity involved in music-making.
It is not a feature-length film with a sound track, nor is it a guide to instrument making; rather, it’s meant to be an artwork in itself, a visually and aurally stunning celebration of instrument and music-making.
The film is a window through which the audience views the instrument makers’ workshops,  giving some insight into the skill involved in bringing an instrument into being.
In so doing it promotes a greater understanding of the wider context in which traditional music is made possible.
The Music Makers also showcases some of the highly skilled traditional musicians and instrument makers based in Mayo today.
Throughout the show, there will be glimpses of the instrument makers carving, planing, bending, stretching and gluing with patience and skill, while the instruments created are plucked, bowed, strummed and played. A visual feast for the eyes and ears.
Speaking about the production, Linenhall Arts Centre Director Marie Farrell said “We’re very excited to be creating this wonderful production, celebrating the fantastic craftsmen and musicians living around us.
This is a perfect opportunity for music lovers to get a greater insight into music-making and the skills that are involved at every stage of the process.”
The performance will be followed by a 15-20 minute question-and-answer session with the instrument makers.
The Music Makers was devised and developed by the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, with the support of an Arts Council DEIS award.

The Linenhall Arts Centre, Castlebar, will present The Music Makers this Thursday, November 10 at 8pm. For more information and to book book tickets, call 094 9023733.