In this Film Ireland podcast, Gemma Creagh talks to event organiser Tim Burden about From The Quiet Man to The Quiet Girl – An Irish Film Music Journey, a celebration of Irish film music, and the role played by music in telling the great stories of Irish cinema over the past 100 years at Belfast’s iconic Strand Arts Centre.
Followed by Pius Ojo talking to Composer Sarah Lynch, who features among the panel of speakers at the event.
From The Quiet Man to The Quiet Girl – An Irish Film Music Journey takes place on Thursday, 26th October 2023 as part of the Belfast International Arts Festival (12th October – 5th November 2023).
From The Quiet Man to The Quiet Girl – An Irish Film Music Journey
Join top award-winning composers from the Screen Composers Guild of Ireland and host Hugh Odling-Smee (Film Hub NI) as they explore seminal Irish films, and how their scores reflected the culture of the day. Featuring the music of Stephen Rennicks, John Williams, Mark Gordon, James Horner, Sarah Lynch, Elmer Bernstein, Cater Burwell, Van Morrison, Henry Mancini, Hannah Peel and Glen Hansard.
The literary backgrounds of films such as Cal (Bernard McLaverty), The Field (John B Keane) and An Cailín Ciúin (Claire Keegan) are explored, with live piano, violin and vocal performances interspersed throughout.
Featuring performances from soloists Michelle Baird (Soprano), Daryl Simpson (Tenor) and Frank Gallagher (Violin).
Sarah Lynch
Sarah Lynch is an IFTA winning composer who has scored an array of films, TV series, documentaries, commercials and games.
Latest projects of Sarah’s include “Joan Baez I am a Noise” (Magnolia Pictures); the searingly honest, psychological portrait of legendary folksinger and activist Joan Baez, directed by Karen O’ Connor, Maeve O’ Boyle and Miri Navaskey.; “Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes”, the feature documentary directed by Sam Shahid, and “Sound & Vision” (dir: Emma Foley of Palerebel Productions). Earlier in 2022, Sarah scored the 8-part comedy-drama series ‘The Dry,’ produced by Element Pictures for Britbox and ITV Studios, directed by Paddy Breathnach, for which Sarah won an IFTA for Original Music (2023), and Season 2 on the way.
Sarah also collaborates with composer Stephen Rennicks, working on feature films such as ‘Death of A Ladies Man’ starring Gabriel Byrne and the Bafta-winning, Emmy and Golden Globe nominated BBC3/Hulu series ‘Normal People.’
As a classically trained violinist and pianist, Sarah brings that influence along with a background steeped in folk, experimental and rock to her intuitive and dynamic scores.
Over the years, she has performed live and recorded with a host of artists including Hozier, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Glen Hansard, Paul Brady, Shane McGowan, Mundy, Mumford and Sons, and Ed Sheeran. She has also composed orchestral arrangements for prominent artists such as the legendary Mary Black.
Sarah’s talent has earned her an array of awards: In July 2019, Sarah was chosen as 1 of 12 film composers worldwide to participate in the prestigious ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop, which culminated in a 65-piece orchestral recording session at Fox Studios. She was the 2019 recipient of the Michelle and Dean Kay Award, which was presented to her in December at the Lincoln Centre in New York, by the ASCAP Foundation. She was also nominated for the Peer Rabin Music Award at the prestigious Soundtrack Cologne Festival as well as being nominated for a Jerry Goldsmith Award for her composition, Transient Thoughts. Sarah is represented by Juliet Martin of Silverstream Music.
Tim Burden
Tim Burden is a voice artist, arts professional and radio presenter based in Northern Ireland.
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Tim also works with various arts organisations and produces film related events. Some of these include a concert of music from the films of Sir Kenneth Branagh, a Music from the Star Wars Saga concert series across the UK including the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London, An Evening with George Fenton, themed screenings, drive-in movie events and he coordinates and hosts many Q&A / film music workshops for Cinemagic, Belfast Film Festival and Poland’s Transatlantyk Festival. Tim passionately produced a special project in association with the Leonard Bernstein Estate of Humphrey Burton’s Mahler 2 concert film at Ely Cathedral for Bernstein’s 100th Birthday.
Pius Ojo
Pius Ojo is a musician/writer director and actor. His latest short film Omozé has recently screened at the 35th Galway Film Fleadh and will screen next on the 21st of October at Fuse, hosted by GORM and the GALPAL Collective. The song in Omozé touches on Pius’s African roots and has recently been released on all streaming platforms, Pius takes inspiration from Hans Zimmer for this track. Pius can also be seen acting in the latest Frank Berry film, Aisha.
Instagram @iuseyes or @pius____