Lorcán

My music comes from an unaccompanied singing tradition. In this style of singing the singer carries the entire melodic line of the song in his or her voice. It is a challenging task and a hard one to achieve with satisfactory control over the melody of the tune. I have diversified from this tradition a little by adding musical arrangements to the vocal melody.
Using the basic melody of these traditional songs as the foundation of our music we (that'd be me and people who play with me by the way) have put complimentary arrangements together which don’t undermine or distort the melodic structure of the music of this tradition.
"Well good for you, give yourself a slap on the back" I hear you say, but it's not as easy to do as it sounds. It may sound like a piece of cake (especially to a traditional musician who plays by ear) to play a tune you hear someone else playing, but don't be tricked, it's a trickier trick than it sounds. Because the music of this tradition doesn't fit easily into classical western musical conventions you can't just apply standard accompanying formulas. It's a bit different alright because it comes from a source that developed along different lines to classic western styles. But sure isn't it great to have an auld change all the same.
Anyway I am happy to say with a little pride, that what we have developed is innovative and very pleasing on the ear. So good man myself! -not ommitting my able conspirators listed on my album sleeve. Good men (men in the collective sense of the human race of course, the female persuasion have not been overlooked) yourselves as well.
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“There’s a weird sensation caused by Lorcán’s double-tracking some passages from the text of the eerie 18th century elegy Tuireamh Mhic Finín Dhuibh, only accentuatin the sheer other-worldly nature of its melody line, which is at once epic and highly disorientating… it sounds truly extraordinary… personally I’ve found this one of the most captivating discs of sean-nós singing I’ve encountered in recent years.”
David Kidman - The Living Tradition
“Spine-tingling
3Roots magazine CD roundup -who gave it a thumbs up
It seems I have encountered for the first time an album with a feel of sean-nós that is so full of love of songs and that is at the same time so originally and deftly arranged. At any rate, there are a good many of songs that will keep you fascinated so that you might find yourself listening to them over and over again.
Mícheál - Tigh Mhicil, Irish cultural blog
“He delves so deeply beneath Saileog Rua that he scarcely remembers to come up for air, his voice creaking and groaning with the weight of one long-immersed in the spirit of the song.”
Siobhán Long - the Irish Times
“Have a listen to a master at work.”
Allcelticmusic.com
“I will be listening to this CD again, and perhaps changing my mind about this song or that, and I am certainly looking forward to hearing Lorcán Mac Mathúna again, singing with all the unwavering commitment of his best work.”
Barra Ó Séaghdha - The JMI
“…But the cold vanished instantly with the opening song, Tuirimh Mhic Fhinín Dhubh. Mac Mathúna’s performance of this unusual eighteenth-century song was commanding. A young man with a Dublin accent and a musical heart based deep in Múscraí, Mac Mathúna has, on this evidence, both the voice and the attitude to place him in the first rank of the new wave of traditional singers.”
Pat Ahern - The Journal of Music in Ireland
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Would you believe I lashed in a load of immages from the new CD in here as well
I'll be distributing it through CDWorld and Claddagh records in Ireland and through CDBaby in America if you want to buy it. it will be out in August.
Don't know who these blokes and lassies are who turn up on the end of this widgitumy thingumyyoke -a lucky bag sort of thing so to speak.
This you have got to see
and once you have seen it you have got to try it
A bloke called Nic Gareiss
Clip from concert in Birr theatre: It's a Lament called Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire, an Easter hymn - very nice with the piano and all
the big vote