Cormac McCarthy
Murus [2021]
Commissioned by the National String Quartet Foundation and Cork Orchestral Society with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland
Performed by the Carducci Quartet
Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin, 13th March 2022
Score and parts may be downloaded here
Murus (Wall) is informed by the concept of walls, their relevance in today’s world and how they will ultimately break and fall. It reflects the symbolism of walls as a means of division, exclusion and punishment and of their destruction as a signifier of liberation and integration. An initial rigidity in the piece dissolves over time into a more fluid conversational texture. The stylistic crossover in the work reflects communication, integration and harmony between different cultures, races and nationalities, all achievable by the dissolution of the Murus.
The first movement begins with a repeated homophonic figure, rigid and subdued in nature, shrouded in resignation. An expressive melancholic melody emerges from the initial statement, after which a variation and expansion on the opening figure is heard. This ‘development’ increases in energy, striving to break free of the established rigiditiy. Alas, the opening motif reemerges, signalling the seemingly inescapable barrier of the Murus.
The second movement introduces the triplet feel, which will become prevalent through the rest of the piece. And initial sense of unease and uncertainty leads to a cello and viola (psuedo) ostinato, establishing a sense of momentum and direction for the first time. The movement becomes more conversational and playful as it progresses, signifying a newfound sense of freedom. There is a momentary reflection on what was, before the final bars prepare for the concluding movement; a jazz waltz of sorts, interspersed with further moments of reflection referencing thematic material from the first movement, but always returning back to the contented and joyous nature of the waltz. Integration and hope have prevailed; the end of the Murus.
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Cormac McCarthy is a pianist, composer, arranger and conductor from Cork, Ireland. Noted for a diverse stylistic palette, and equally at home in a variety of genres, his music is said to "defy categorisation" (Lyric FM). In 2010, having completed his Masters degree in composition at the MTU Cork School of Music, Cormac received the prestigious Bill Whelan International Music Bursary, an award earmarked for young Irish composers studying abroad. He spent a number of years living in Chicago, where he completed a Masters in Jazz Studies at DePaul University.
His compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by artists including Phil Woods, Jeff Hamilton, Mick Flannery, Martin Hayes, Andrea Corr, Gavin James, Niamh Regan, Jack O'Rourke, The DePaul Jazz Ensemble, The RTÉ Concert Orchestra, The Crash Ensemble, The New Irish Jazz Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.
As a pianist, he has performed extensively at concert venues, clubs and festivals throughout Europe and the US, sharing the stage/recording studio with artists across a wide musical spectrum, including Peter Washington, Nell Ní Chróinín, Billy Drummond, Liz Carroll, Donal Lunny, The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra & The RTÉ Concert Orchestra. In 2015, Cormac released Cottage Evolution, his debut LP as bandleader, to widespread critical acclaim. He is also a member of Martin Hayes' most recent project, The Common Ground Ensemble. As a conductor, he has led the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra.
Cormac continues to be in demand as a composer, arranger and orchestrator in tandem with maintaining an active performance schedule. He lectures in piano, arranging and composition at the MTU Cork School of Music, and is director of the Cork School of Music Jazz Big Band.