The first recording of Donnacha Dennehy‘s The Hunger—performed by Alarm Will Sound led by Alan Pierson, soprano Katherine Manley, and sean nós singer Iarla Ó Lionáird—will be released on Nonesuch Records this Friday. Ahead of its release, Alarm Will Sound has shared a short film in which the composer and performers tell the story behind the piece. The Hunger explores Ireland’s […]
Due to some scheduling conflicts, I recently found myself in the very unusual position of being in the audience at an Alarm Will Sound concert, instead of performing in it. The opportunity to observe the way my colleagues interact with each other, with composers, and with audiences was fascinating, if slightly disorienting. The band was […]
A few weeks ago a former student of mine asked for advice about recording. Her quintet was heading into a professional recording studio for the first time and they were wondering what to expect. My first response was: “Expect to get tired and frustrated!” Upon reflection, I was a little taken aback that my first […]