COMPOSITIONS BY MÍCHEÁL Ó
SÚILLEABHÁIN

Irish traditional music
/Classical Music:

Along with the development of a uniquely Irish piano style out of a traditional music base, much of his composition to date has explored the the dichotomy of orality and literacy through the opposition of classical music and traditional music. Typical of these are his short piano pieces developing Irish traditional themes.

Piano pieces
/string orchestra:

The first piano pieces appeared on the album The Dolphin's Way (Virgin 1987)  as expanded 3 to 5 minute pieces, and these manifest themselves in piano and string orchestra versions from the album Oilean/Island (Virgin 1989) onwards. The compilation album Between Worlds (Virgin 1995) collects examples of these piano and string orchestra pieces. 

Evolving from his debut album on the Gael Linn label (entitled Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin 1975) which explored Irish traditional music performance on five keyboard instruments (piano, harpsichord, clavichord, harmonium, and mini Moog synthesiser), his piano style also contains classical influences as well as those of Jazz. Free form jazz is his chosen voice whenever that genre reaches into or out of the mix. 

As a result his concerts, directed by the composer from the piano keyboard, can bring classical orchestral groups, traditional musicians and dancers, and jazz musicians together in a unique manner. 

A seminal work entitled Oilean/Island (1989) - available on the album of the same title - is scored for Irish traditional flute and string orchestra. A rewrite of an earlier work entitled Concerto for Traditional Musician and String Orchestra (1979)  it was written with the flute player Matt Molloy (known to many from his role in The Chieftains traditional ensemble) in mind. It is in a three movement fast/slow/fast format. In the first and third movements the strings and soloist avoid any intrusion on the other's tradition, while in the middle movement the two are allowed to overlap. 

In HUP! for String Orchestra and optional traditional percussion/solo step dance, commissioned by the Irish Chamber Orchestra in 2000, the traditional soloist figure has been removed. The second movement, entitled Streetwalk, and the third movement, entitled Session, may be heard on the album Templum (Virgin 2001).

Classical composer
/Chant:

In Maranatha for SATB choir (commissioned by the Cork International Choral Festival in 2000) an influence of Chant can be heard. A version for choir, strings, and horns performed by the National Chamber Choir of Ireland and the Irish Chamber Orchestra directed by the composer may be heard on the album Templum (Virgin 2001).

He has also written The Sun has Risen, an electronic piece for tape (1991), and Eklego for tape and traditional musicians (1984).  

Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin's music is published by Peer Music (www.peermusic.com).