Art in Action is a three-day arts festival organized in Townley Hall in the Drogheda area (County Louth, Ireland) supported by the School Of Philosophy of Dublin. Top artists from all over the world participate by invitation and demonstrate their work. It includes an excellent range of activities like, craftwork, liberal arts (music, drama, dance, storytelling and lectures), painting. Most of the art and craftwork on show is available for sale directly from the artists while visitors have the ability to chat with the artists and ask them questions about their work, skills etc. It is a non-for-profit event. Its main goal is to honor the role of the artist in society and the participation is on voluntary basis.
It is also an ideal place for relaxing, for children to spend time in a green scenic countryside environment and for everyone who is a friend of the arts, a splendid range of artistic and aesthetic opportunities to participate in. A wide range of practical painting classes (and children catered for separately) is also available each day.
Wichael R. Willow had the pleasure to participate in Art in Action for the second year, performing classical guitar pieces on Sunday 31st of May and 1st of June (see press release). He was also invited in the “Artists Supper” on Sunday where after the performance all the participants are gathered for a special dinner.
There are a lot of things that somebody could say about Michael’s performance. Firstly the variety of compositions of despite that most of them belong to the late Romantic, early Modern era. There were pieces not very famous which worked good in order to attract the curiosity if the audience. Not very famous international composers like the Greek “Dimitris Fampas” with the composition “Reviere” and some of Michael’s compositions became very well accepted by the audience. Jose Ferrer and the Irish folk song “Danny Boy” translated for classical guitar made the difference.
In all the videos we choose to include clips from the best performed pieces. The warm reaction and acceptance of the audience was most encouraging for the artist.
Recuerdos De la Alhabra. A piece composed by Francisco Taregga and one of the most important in the classical guitar history. Taregga was the first who introduced the guitar with the Spanish shape as a classical instrument. Before him, it was mainly used in folk and Spanish – Flamenco music while the classical repertoire was mainly performed in lute and medieval guitars something completely different from the Spanish shape as we know it today. “Recuerdos de la Alhambra” has been used in the legendary movie “The Killing Fields”.
Heitor Villa Lobos was another important classical guitar composer who has been named as the “Bach of guitar”. His compositions are very complex and the European influences are present in almost every piece due to his travels in Europe. In the video the piece demonstrated is the “Mazurka Choro”, the first from the collection “Suite Populare” which includes a variety of influences, from central European to Hispanic and Latin.
Sunday was the busiest day in Art in Action. It was amazing that a considerable number of people gathered to listen to classical guitar music in a very warm and wet room. In fact, everybody was participating in the recital paying particular attention.
The video of the second day contains Michael?s compositions. 1) Whispers in the Wind: The original version of this piece will be included in the album “Forever Moving And Still” but due to high demand from the audience of the festival, this second version will be produced and uploaded soon. (Check the press release page for updates). The main inspiration for that composition is the weather, the four seasons and the changes. There are various musical influences, from Spanish to English and European folk. 2) I belong to you: As mentioned in the video, this is not a love piece but it was written based on personal events and in cooperation with a friend of Michael (Peter Petkakis).
The second day the recital room was bigger which made the performer feel more confident. Despite that it was scheduled just one hour before the close of the festival, the number of the attendants was not less than on Sunday. It was another successful performance. In general the Irish classical music audience knows how to accept the different, the new and unknown without judging it and rejecting it as something that cannot be compared with the already successful compositions. A polite acceptance from a society who appreciates the arts and gives to the artist, whatever he/she is, the green light to continue to this creative world that welcomes everyone, but includes only few.
The third video is the “Artist’s Supper’. Michael performed once again the “Recuerdos de La Alhabra” as it became very popular among the other artists. The next composition is “Love and despair“. Michael was inspired by the Spanish poet Federico Garcia Lorca who has been excecuted by the Nationalist Army of Fascist Franco. The last one is “Danny Boy” which was an order of the chairman Michael Ryan.
General outlook of the festival.
With the unusual sunny for Ireland weather as a support, the festival despite the very negative current climate of the economy, gathered a lot of visitors (around 7.000), slightly better than last year. All the artists demonstrated good skills and creations. Very distinguished was the performance of Jan Muyllaert (an Irish Harp constructor) with his 11-year-old daughter in the Artist?s Supper who played the harp accompanied by Jan in guitar and mandolin.
Other important events were 1) Harp Recital of 10 harpists, organized by the Meath Harp Ensemble (Monday). 2) Indian Classical Dance for children (Sunday) 3) Cello and Piano recital by Oonagh Ni Chanainn (Cello) and Reamonn Keary (Piano) (Sunday).
Generally Art in Action was very well organized; its variety of artistic events satisfy all the art lovers in a unique atmosphere that respects the freedom of expression and diversity. It was undoubtedly a very enriching creative and enjoyable experience impressive organization and friendly atmosphere. “Art in Action is the Olympics of the Arts where everybody wins a gold medal”. (Participant artist). Let’s hope next year will be even better.
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June 21st, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Thanks everyone!!!
June 6th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Beautiful guitar playing Michael!
June 6th, 2009 at 3:45 am
nice site… some good stuff going on here..
jose,
June 5th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Love the classical guitar, wish my video player worked better. enjoy pjc
June 4th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
hey hi interesting posts you have here!
June 4th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Nice playing, especially the last video.