DANCING AT LUGHNASA SK60585

Dancing At Lughnasa tells the story of five colourful sisters, barely surviving on a hardscrabble farm in 1930's Ireland, and the powerful moment that changes their lives forever.

This is director Pat O'Connor's version of the International stage success by Irish playwright Brian Friel. Whelan's score for Dancing At Lughnasa combines the texture and strains of traditional Irish music with a sensibility singularly informed by both classical and popular musical styles.

Most of the music for the film is an orchestral score performed by the Irish Film Orchestra under the direction of Proinnsias O'Duinn, with the final song, Whelan's setting of the poem "Down By The Salley Gardens" by WB Yeats sung by Dolores Keane.

The title track, "Dancing At Lughnasa" is composed for traditional ensemble and features such talented artists as Nollaig Casey, fiddle: Mairtin O'Connor, accordion: Davy Spillane, pipes and low whistle: Martin Murray, banjo: Sean D Halpenny, bodhrán: and the composer himself playing drums and percussion.

TRACK LIST

Click track names to listen to 30 sec MP3

1. Prologue
2. The Kite
3. The Road to Ballbeg
4. Jack's Arrival
5. The Gander
6. Gerry and Christine
7. Monsignor Carlin
8. A Kiss in the Forest
9. A Black Bike
10. Our Secret
11. The Picnic
12. The Blackberry Bush
13. The Lughnasa Fires
14. Lough Anna
15. Dancing at Lughnasa
16. Don't Leave Me Yet
17. The Spendid Hat
18. Epilogue
19. Down by the Sally Gardens

WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

"Bill Whelan is responsible for the film's excellent soundtrack" The Examiner

"The musicianship, courtesy of the Irish Film Orchestra, is impeccable" Evening Herald

"Pearson is to be commended for getting Bill Whelan of Riverdance fame to compose the haunting soundtrack music. It also features Dolores Keane singing a version of The Salley Gardens that won't leave a dry eye in the cinema" Sunday World

"Bill Whelan's music is haunting" Irish Independent