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Aire - Lunchtime Concert, The Irish World Academy, Limerick, September 26th, 1.15pm.
Aire - Lunchtime Concert, The Irish World Academy, Limerick, September 26th, 1.15pm.
Performers: Dr Óscar Mascareñas and Tony Monahan
AIRE is an invitation to sit and listen. A conversation beyond words
through shared sound, silence and space. AIRE (from the Irish
‘attention’) is a practice, developed by Óscar Mascareñas and Tony
Monahan, that has its origins in the idea of inter-being (promoted
by Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh), and is grounded
in observation through silence, stillness and sound. It is a practice of
silence. But not always silent. Of observing (in) silence. But not always
silently. An action of poetry, towards poetry. From/in/into stillness.
Not entirely an acoustic practice (John Cage – ‘silence is not acoustic,
it is a change of mind, a turning around’), it is centred in attention, it
is a space for recognising the inter-connection and inter-being of all
things. AIRE is observing as one practices observation. It beckons
one to behold.
Tony Monahan is a guitarist, composer, producer and educator
exploring the connection between space and the free-flowing
sounds of our surroundings.
https://www.irishworldacademy.ie/event/lunchtime-concert-aire/
Aire - Captain's Room, The Hunt Museum, Limerick, August 14th, 7pm.
Aire - Captain's Room, The Hunt Museum, Limerick, August 14th, 7pm.
An invitation to sit and observe.
A conversation beyond words:
With every sound an accompanying silence.
AIRE (from the Irish ‘attention’) is a practice developed by Óscar Mascareñas and Tony Monahan that has its origins in the idea of inter-being (promoted by Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh), and is grounded in observation through silence, stillness and sound. It is a practice of silence. But not always silent. Of observing (in) silence. But not always silently. An action of poetry, towards poetry. From/in/into stillness.
Not entirely an acoustic practice (John Cage – ‘silence is not acoustic, it is a change of mind, a turning around’) it is centred in attention, it is a space for recognising the inter-connection and inter-being of all things.
In this practice what lies outside the observers is re-cognised as something (with)in them (Alan Watts – everything you see you create) and that becomes the state of being, the action from which all other actions emerge.
AIRE is observing as one practices observation.
It beckons one to behold.
Info and tickets: https://www.huntmuseum.com/whats-on/aire/
AWAKEN ALBUM LAUNCH AND SOUND INSTALLATION MAY 3rd 2024, SPACECRAFT ARTIST STUDIOS, LIMERICK.
I hope you can join me to celebrate and experience my first solo release of ambient compositions, my album 'Awaken'.
The launch will be both a sound installation and an ambient freeform improvisation featuring myself and vocalist, sound artist,
composer and writer, Óscar Mascareñas.
Followed by a drinks reception and discussion.
The installation will represent the album with a generative sound installation.
A constant evolving re-composition of the album 'Awaken' with visuals.
The launch at 7pm is a ticketed only event due to limited capacity. Tickets available here
The installation will also run from 3pm - 5.30pm on the 3rd of May and is free to all (no tickets required).
Debut ambient album 'Awaken' to be released April 26, 2024. Pre-order CD or digital download here
I was inspired to compose 'Awaken' as a gift and an escape for someone I deeply care for, someone who had gone through some very difficult times. To use as a form of meditation, to get lost in, to ground and re-connect. 'Awaken' was composed by reflecting and observing the sounds around us, the sounds we encounter on a typical day, as well as those on a non- typical day. How those sounds appear random but have a rhythm and connection to each other. It was also influenced by images taken around the time of the albums creation and the memories in those images.
I hope 'Awaken' gives the listener a sense of calm but also a sense of mystery and wonder. A complement to their day, a companion to new thoughts and ideas. Not unlike the often unrecognised companionship to our day by the ever changing sounds and colours of our environment and nature.
'Awaken' is also a quiet homage to the electric guitar. An instrument that constantly surprises and inspires me with its sonic capabilities and the wonderful layers and textures it can bring to compositions. Most of the sounds you hear on the album are generated by quitars with the exception of some underpinning bass synths and generative lead synths on some of the tracks. It was mostly improvised (sometimes to self generating loops) with some overdubs added later. The only exception being 'Conflux' which features the wonderful voice of Oscar Macarenas. This was a live improvisation with no overdubs, merging guitar with the voice to the point where it is difficult to distinguish which is which.
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