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Ireland’s Premiere Female Vocalist IRISH

Reimagines 11 Of Her Classic EXAMINER

Recordings With Newly-Created |

Orchestrations November

ary Black, long and other less known gems. I 13th,
c o n s i d e r e d couldn’t imagine how great
MIreland’s premiere they would turn out with 2019
female vocalist, has been Brian Byrne composing beau-
bringing contemporary tiful orchestral arrangements
Irish music to a global that have breathed new life
audience throughout her into these songs. Hearing the
stellar 30-plus-year career. RTÉ Orchestra perform them
In an innovative undertak- during recording in the NCH
ing, 11 of Black’s favorite was truly moving for me. I’m
songs selected from her size- really excited for the fans to
able catalogue of recordings hear this album.”
have been reimagined as For Mary Black, it has
‘Mary Black—Orchestrated’ always started with a great
with the backing of Ireland’s song. Throughout her career,
celebrated RTÉ National she has mined fresh material
Symphony Orchestra. from a wealth of contempo-
Mary Black—Orchestrated rary composers, both well- Mary Black (center front) surrounded by members of the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra during recording
will be released in the U.S. on known and unknown, and sessions for Mary Black—Orchestrated at Dublin’s National Concert Hall
November 22, presented by then put her unique spin on Blake’s poem and sings on the A dominant presence in called ‘Mary Black: No
independent Gifthorse the material she has chosen. recording culled from Mary’s Irish music, Mary Black has Frontiers.’
Records. On Mary Black— track from the ‘A Woman’s made 12 studio albums, all of The program details her
The album is orchestrated Orchestrated, she revisits Heart—A Decade On’ album. which have achieved plat- life from her childhood
and produced by world songs written by prominent Joni Mitchell’s timeless inum sales status in Ireland, marked by an early love of
renowned musician and com- Irish songwriters such as “The Urge for Going” and and has performed all over singing with her talented sib-
poser Brian Byrne, who also Jimmy McCarthy (“No Richard Thompson’s “The the world. lings through the beginnings
conducts the orchestra in Frontiers” and “Adam at the Dimming of the Day” as well While she has chosen to of her career in Ireland with
stunning reinterpretations of Window”), Noel Brazil as “Turning Away,” written curtail her international tour- groups such as General
classic Mary Black recordings. (“Summer Sent You” and by Scottish singer-songwriter ing, she maintains a busy live Humbert and De Danann to
“What a great honor to “The Loving Time”), Steve Dougie MacLean, round out performance schedule in her international success as a
have some of my favourite Cooney (“Bless the Road”), the unique collection. Ireland and, earlier this year, solo artist who has brought
recordings orchestrated by Paul Doran (“Poison Words”) Mary Black will perform also hosted the popular week- Irish music to the world.
the National Symphony and Thom Moore (“Carolina “No Frontiers” with the RTÉ ly television series, “Ireland’s It also includes behind-the-
Orchestra conducted by Brian Rua”). Also included is National Symphony on Favorite Folk Song.” scenes footage from the
Byrne at the National “Poison Tree,” written by Ireland’s top late night talk Recently, she was the sub- recording sessions for Mary
Concert Hall,” Black says. Australian songwriter Marcia show, “The Late, Late, ject of a landmark documen- Black—Orchestrated at the
“I’ve picked songs that mean Howard, who based the song Show” on Friday, November tary made by Ireland’s nation- National Concert Hall in
a lot to me, some well-known on British poet William 15. al RTÉ1 television network Dublin. C