Listen: Faoiseamh - The Rolling Wave presents ten new trad tunes

Earlier this year, The Rolling Wave on RTÉ Radio 1 commissioned ten traditional musicians to write a new piece of music for the programme - listen to the remarkable results above, and listen to the tracks individually below...

The brief was very open. The only strict limit was duration because the pieces were to be broadcast over two editions of The Rolling Wave, accompanied by an interview with each musician.

However, as the music was submitted it became clear that many people were reflecting on the changing circumstances of their lives, on the things that mattered to them now and on the challenges and unexpected joys of lockdown. The final project was called Faoiseamh, because it describes the solace which music has given to so many people over the past few months.

Initially, many of the recordings were made on whatever form of technology people had available to them- phones, iPads, mini recorders. As soon as the restrictions eased in the summer, The Rolling Wave began re-recording the tunes and now it's a great pleasure to be able to present a final Faoiseamh playlist.

Watch: The Rolling Wave's Aoife Nic Cormaic introduces Faoiseamh

The project has also had huge support from the Irish Traditional Music Archive and we're very excited to be able to invite you to explore the new compositions on the ITMA website. Here, you'll find lots of information about the music and the composers as well as transcriptions and audio files of all the tunes.

It is our hope that these tunes, which were written in such stressful times, will develop and thrive in the hands of new musicians.

Listen to the Faoiseamh playlist below...

Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh - An Grianstad/The Halting Sun

Performed by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh and Manus Lunny

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Bryan O'Leary - I'll Meet You On A Day That Never Ends/The Ballinahulla Butterfly/Tranquility In Tureencahill

Performed by Bryan O'Leary and Brian Mooney

Emer Mayock - An Smólach

Performed by Emer Mayock

Tommy Fitzharris - Give Her The Rest She's Earned

Performed by Tommy Fitzharris and Colm Ó Caoimh

Charlie Lennon - The Lockdown Slipjig /Rising Out of Lockdown

Performed by Charlie Lennon

Josephine Marsh - Into A Brighter Day

Performed by Josephine Marsh and Andrew Kinsella

Eoin Dillon - Tearmann

Performed by Eoin Dillon and Anna Mary Donaghy

Edel Fox - The Glint In Her Eye/ An Solas Sa Dorchadas

Performed by Edel Fox and Caoimhín Ó Fearghail

Liz Carroll - Mouse and Shrew/ The Flute- Friendly Reel

Performed by Liz Carroll and Jake Charron

Johnny Óg Connolly - An Páistín Fiach

Performed by Johnny Óg Connolly

The Rolling Wave, Sundays at 9 pm on RTÉ Radio 1 - listen back here. Find out more about the Irish Traditional Music Archive here.

Listen: Faoiseamh - The Rolling Wave presents ten new trad tunes

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