From the soft lilting of the Celtic harp to melodies of the fiddle and flute, followed by bellowing chants, which call back to the monasteries from whence they were born, there is something truly unique about the music of Ireland.
It is the magical quality of Ireland’s music that co-founders of Utopia Early Music Emily Nelson and Christopher LeCluyse are hoping to bring to the Salt Lake City music scene through “Harp of Éire: Six Centuries of Irish Music.”
With the concert representing Utopia Early Music’s fourth season in presenting classical music from around the world, Nelson said the group wanted to focus on the music of Ireland this year.
“This is our first Irish concert,” Nelson said. “Two years ago we did a similar concert with Scottish music, and that was so much fun that we thought that we wanted to do the same thing with Irish music.”
Nelson said one of the defining characteristics of Irish music rests in the way much of the music was composed and recorded over the ages. As a result of the unique way in which the music was preserved, this year’s concert will be a little different from much of what Utopia Early Music has covered in the past.
“There is a lot of folk music with this program,” Nelson said. “Usually we have a lot more stuff in the classical vein [at these concerts], but there’s such an important oral tradition with Irish music that a lot of it just wasn’t prepared and published in the same way as other European classical music.”
That is not to say folk songs are all that will be performed at the event. For those who choose to attend, there will be a number of musical styles from throughout early Irish history. People can expect to hear 19th century classics such as “Danny Boy,” but also a broad range of performances from the earliest Irish chants to mouth music, a unique type of lilting Irish Gaelic vocals. In all, the music is set to allow attendees to engage in 600 years of Irish music history.
While some might feel a bit intimidated by the idea of experiencing such a broad spectrum of music, Nelson believes much of what the event has to offer can be a great experience for everyone, especially students who have never been to anything similar in the past.
“I think this would be a good introduction for someone who hasn’t really been to a lot of classical music concerts,” Nelson said. “When you’re a student, it’s such a great time in your life to try new things and experience what the world has to offer. What you are doing as a student is really figuring out what type of things you like, and with music especially, it’s just that. It’s a chance to come out and hear something new and see if maybe it’s something you’d like to listen to.”
Utopia Early Music’s “Harp of Éire: Six Centuries of Irish Music” will take place at the Holy Family Catholic Church at 8 p.m. tonight. Additional performances will take place at the Cathedral Church of St. Mark, March 9 at 8 p.m. and March 10 at 5 p.m. The event is free, with a suggested donation of $10 for students.