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A marriage of classical and trad loses the sheet music

THE CLARE CHAMPION

A memorable night with Dave’s orchestra

PRESS QUOTES


​'Composer Dave Flynn has assembled a formidable collective of musicians, composing critically acclaimed music especially for them. . the IMO are steadily garnering a reputation for melding traditional and classical music with a twist' . THE IRISH TIMES
They made astonishing music. Composed by their founder Dave Flynn, their long piece ‘Music for the Departed’ was simply unforgettable. I’ve never seen musicians work  so brilliantly together and with such intensity. . . If you ever get a chance to see them together, pay any price you can afford!'  
​THE IRISH EXAMINER
'A bold, visionary undertaking'  THE IRISH TIMES
Picture a game of polo. Now picture hurling. Picture an orchestra playing a concerto.  Now picture the Memory Orchestra playing The Clare Concerto.'  TRAD REVIEW
“The music performed gave a cutting edge quality that also proved challenging to the musicians and entertaining to the audience who responded to their efforts with a standing ovation at its conclusion.”  THE IRISH VOICE (NEW YORK)
''If when you first hear Dave Flynn’s music in general, you find yourself drawn in by a sense of warmth, playfulness, and vitality, you won’t be alone. Some of Ireland’s top musicians – Martin Hayes, Vyvienne Long, Niwel Tsumbu, Mick O’Brien, Aoife Ní Bhriain, Máirtín O’Connor, to name a few – have come under its spell and happily perform Flynn’s music' . RTE.IE
'a great night at Cadogan Hall with Dave Flynn’s Irish MemoryOrchestra’s brilliant performance, 20 young musicians who play entirely from memory. Amazing energy, innovative sounds from fiddle, flute, concertina, guitar'  THE IRISH WORLD (UK)
Audiences seeing the Irish Memory Orchestra for the first time may be astounded at the informality and communication between the musicians. Feet tapping, vibrato is nowhere to be heard and the absence of sheet music means musicians connect with one another on the fly. Then there’s the appearance of Irish instruments such as the pipes, concertina, whistle and bodhrán, alongside the oboe and silver flute.  THE IRISH TIMES
'..a uniquely Irish orchestra founded by composer Dave Flynn, who has combined some of Ireland's leading traditional and classical musicians to create a distinctive new sound. . . , it truly is an All-Ireland group with musicians coming from all corners of the country'  THE CORKMAN
'It’s as if someone with a Flann O’Brien-like imagination and sense of humour had taken the baton from Seán Ó Riada in re-imagining Irish music'  RTÉ.IE
'It's sepulchral brass opening has a touch of Richard Strauss with a later rasping American ring to it. A lengthy fiddle solo visits an atmospheric landscape, which Martin Hayes depicts with impassioned sincerity. Flynn’s score then bursts with energising force before reaching its electrifying conclusion.' IRISH INDEPENDENT
'The Clare Memory Orchestra began as a gleam in the eye of Composer/Guitarist Dave Flynn. His dream has grown to an orchestra of musicians who can play and help develop a new Irish orchestral repertoire that draws on Irish “trad” and classical traditions equally' . ITHACA COLLEGE NEW YORK