Sean Dooley ’28
News Editor
This past Monday, Holy Cross hosted two Irish Music Concerts in the least likely music venue on campus…the library. A space dedicated to quiet study for students became the setting for two vibrant performances of traditional Irish music.
Diarmuid Ó Meachair is a professor in the music department at Holy Cross, and plays the button accordion. For these performances, he was accompanied by his guitarist, Nathan Gourley, and accordion student, John Hanagan ‘28. This trio performed in the reading room of Dinand Library from 12:00pm to 12:30pm, and then again from 2:00pm-2:30pm. I was lucky enough to watch the first performance. They played songs from three different genres of traditional Irish music. They began with Hornpipes, then played a few Reels, and then finished off with Jigs. These different styles, while each evoke a distinctly Irish sound, are defined by different characteristics and musical patterns. Hornpipes, for instance, are songs with a 4/4 time signature and swung rhythms in the melody. Reels differ from Hornpipes as their melodies are straighter, or less swung. Jigs, on the other hand, are commonly played in 6/8 time signature, and are more comparable to waltzes. However, they differ from waltzes in that they are played at a much faster tempo. Meachair’s commentary in between songs enhanced the performance by adding an educational element. He made sure to explain the nuances of traditional Irish music, which are often unnoticed by American ears.
In addition to the musical diversity, the setting of the performance helped set the tone. I noticed confusion on many of my peers’ faces when the trio played their first notes. It is safe to assume that most students in the library were unaware of this performance, but despite their surprise, most of them stuck around for the show. I even noticed a few students who looked as if they planned on leaving the library, but decided to stay a few minutes longer to watch the performance. After the trio finished their first song, Meachair told his audience to stay for 30 minutes of Irish music, or not. Such an open invitation to listen, or not, is uncommon in the live music world to say the least, and definitely contributed to the friendly atmosphere that attracted so many listeners.
Needless to say, these performances were a great success. Make sure to stay tuned for more information regarding Diarmuid Ó Meachair’s upcoming concerts on campus!
Featured images courtesy of Holy Cross’s Ignite page and Holy Cross Libraries
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