Peadar Ó Ríada (b.1954)
Son of the legendary Seán Ó Riada, Peadar Ó Riada has established himself as a fine composer in his own right.
Primarily known for his work with the choir Cór Cuil Aodha, Peadar's tune compositions are beginning to enter the repertoire. His most famous tune Spórt has been recorded by many musicians including Altan and it can now be regularly heard in sessions.
In 2009 a collection of his tunes was released on the CD Triuir sa Dainghean which he recorded with Martin Hayes and Caoimhín O'Raghallaigh.
The following biographical information was sourced from http://www.bar-none.com/bios/peadar-winds.html
To say that Peadar Ó Riada is a busy man would be a vast understatement. Along with being married with four small children he's also a composer, musician, film-maker, choir leader, radio-broadcaster, bee-keeper, and all around keeper of the cultural flame in his local community. There aren't enough hours in the day for this man.
One can hardly speak about Peadar without mentioning his father, Seán Ó Riada, who single-handedly brought traditional Irish music into the twentieth century. He was a man for all seasons; a composer trained in the art music of Europe, who immersed himself in the oral music tradition of Ireland. Seán was aware that traditional Irish music was in danger of disappearing unless Irish people were re-introduced to it in a way that was meaningful. Ceoltóiri Chualann were the group of traditional musicians Seán gathered together who were entrusted with the mission of restoring Irish traditional music to popular appeal. Under his directive they achieved this objective. Ceoltóiri Chulalann was essentially a folk orchestra which in time would become The Chieftains.
In 1960, Seán was commissioned to write the music for a film called "Mise Eire" ("I Am Ireland"). The film and the music took Ireland by storm. It made Ó Riada a household name and raised the status of Irish music amongst a section of society who had never taken any interest in it before. Peadar tells the story of his grandmother's reaction, "[she was] scared stiff in case it wouldn't work. The premiere was at the Cork festival... she was invited but refused to go, in case he made a mess of it! But then her impatience got the better of her and she got her hat and stick and gloves... and went down to Patrick Street. When she got off the bus she could hear the newspaper boys whistling the tune of "Mise Eire" so she knew it was a success. She just turned back on the next bus and came back to her husband and said 'the boy's done fine'."
Around 1960-61 Seán decided to move the family from Dublin to Cuil Aodha, an Irish speaking area of West Cork. He bought a home on the banks of the Sulan river, a stones throw from his own mothers' birthplace, which is exactly where Peadar and his family live today. Seán died in 1971 and thousands poured into the little community to pay their respects.
Seán's spirit lives on in the person and work of Peadar. Traditional Irish music is the foundation on which Peadar builds his compositions, using classical, Eastern and European Avant-Garde and nature itself to further his musical vision.
As leader of the Cuil Aodha choir since 1971, he has seen several generations pass through its ranks. "What happens is when somebody gets married and has kids, they bring them along in their arms, first to mass and then to choir practice, they become members instinctively." Peadar then shapes their characteristic sound making them stretch their range in ways they're hardly aware of and in the process getting a consistent sound whether there are six, ten, sixteen or twenty people performing.
Primarily known for his work with the choir Cór Cuil Aodha, Peadar's tune compositions are beginning to enter the repertoire. His most famous tune Spórt has been recorded by many musicians including Altan and it can now be regularly heard in sessions.
In 2009 a collection of his tunes was released on the CD Triuir sa Dainghean which he recorded with Martin Hayes and Caoimhín O'Raghallaigh.
The following biographical information was sourced from http://www.bar-none.com/bios/peadar-winds.html
To say that Peadar Ó Riada is a busy man would be a vast understatement. Along with being married with four small children he's also a composer, musician, film-maker, choir leader, radio-broadcaster, bee-keeper, and all around keeper of the cultural flame in his local community. There aren't enough hours in the day for this man.
One can hardly speak about Peadar without mentioning his father, Seán Ó Riada, who single-handedly brought traditional Irish music into the twentieth century. He was a man for all seasons; a composer trained in the art music of Europe, who immersed himself in the oral music tradition of Ireland. Seán was aware that traditional Irish music was in danger of disappearing unless Irish people were re-introduced to it in a way that was meaningful. Ceoltóiri Chualann were the group of traditional musicians Seán gathered together who were entrusted with the mission of restoring Irish traditional music to popular appeal. Under his directive they achieved this objective. Ceoltóiri Chulalann was essentially a folk orchestra which in time would become The Chieftains.
In 1960, Seán was commissioned to write the music for a film called "Mise Eire" ("I Am Ireland"). The film and the music took Ireland by storm. It made Ó Riada a household name and raised the status of Irish music amongst a section of society who had never taken any interest in it before. Peadar tells the story of his grandmother's reaction, "[she was] scared stiff in case it wouldn't work. The premiere was at the Cork festival... she was invited but refused to go, in case he made a mess of it! But then her impatience got the better of her and she got her hat and stick and gloves... and went down to Patrick Street. When she got off the bus she could hear the newspaper boys whistling the tune of "Mise Eire" so she knew it was a success. She just turned back on the next bus and came back to her husband and said 'the boy's done fine'."
Around 1960-61 Seán decided to move the family from Dublin to Cuil Aodha, an Irish speaking area of West Cork. He bought a home on the banks of the Sulan river, a stones throw from his own mothers' birthplace, which is exactly where Peadar and his family live today. Seán died in 1971 and thousands poured into the little community to pay their respects.
Seán's spirit lives on in the person and work of Peadar. Traditional Irish music is the foundation on which Peadar builds his compositions, using classical, Eastern and European Avant-Garde and nature itself to further his musical vision.
As leader of the Cuil Aodha choir since 1971, he has seen several generations pass through its ranks. "What happens is when somebody gets married and has kids, they bring them along in their arms, first to mass and then to choir practice, they become members instinctively." Peadar then shapes their characteristic sound making them stretch their range in ways they're hardly aware of and in the process getting a consistent sound whether there are six, ten, sixteen or twenty people performing.
