Music Rooms: Discovery Trail 6 Apr 2019

We have asked a number of musicians who play different types of music to come up with a new idea for a music performance for children and this is your chance to see what they’ve come up with! On the trail you’ll get to see all three mini-performances as well as some interesting spaces in The Ark’s neighbourhood so it will be a walking musical adventure.

We are delighted to be working with our neighbours The Gallery of Photography, National Photographic Archive and Temple Bar Gallery + Studios and to present these 3 fun and fresh mini-concerts as part of a walking music discovery trail through Temple Bar.

• Location 1: Toy Piano and Music box mini-concert
  The toy piano is an intriguing instrument - a really small piano which has a whimsical look and sound. The famous American composer John Cage brought the instrument into the public eye. It has become popular again with many contemporary composers writing music for it. Our concert is performed by pianist and composer David Bremner and also has some extra instrumentation in the form of a mechanical music box.
  
• Location 2: Trad Music with The Buzzy Bees duo
  A dynamic fiddle and bodhrán duo create a performance full of all the energy you’d expect from traditional Irish music. Get ready to tap your toes to fast reels and jigs, some of which can be found in the collection available in the National Library archive, and be sure to bring your singing voices too.
  
• Location 3: The Smashing Red Kite's Blues
  This performance uses the children’s story ‘The Smashing Red Kite’ story by Ann Lorraine Mack to bring the blues to life. The music follows the red kite as he leaves the toy shop for a life of adventure.
  
  The Smashing Red Kite’s Blues was originally devised as part of Fun Size Jazz 2018 which was a musicians’ development programme by The Ark and Improvised Music Company enabling jazz and improvising musicians to develop skills, understanding and experience in performing for young audiences.