Parallel Lines is an Irish/US programme, celebrating the diversity of music in each country. We explore the juxtaposition of hypnotic tonal works often featuring driving rhythmic elements vs tone based works that extract elements from electronic music to create a new acoustic framework and sense of timelessness.

We feature local composers Frank Lyons and Peter O’Doherty, while marking the 90th birthday of legendary minimalist composer Steve Reich with a return to one of his most treasured works Double Sextet.

We also look at Reich’s influence on younger generations of American composers, and give premieres of works by Scott L. Miller, Sarah Kirkland Snider and Juhi Bansal. Originally from India and Hong Kong, Bansal’s music is always driven by storytelling, with a particular focus on stories of strong women, wilderness, and celebrating cultural and ideological diversity.

PROGRAMME

Frank Lyons (1964) Kid Gloves (1997) - flute (piccolo), clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano, percussion
Juhi Bansal (1994) Love, Loss and Exile (2022) (Irish premiere) - soprano, violoncello, piano
Scott L. Miller (1966) Juxtaposed Lines (2024) (World premiere) - flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano, percussion
Peter O’Doherty (1973) Cartographies of Resistance II (2025) (World premiere) - flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano, percussion
Sarah Kirkland Snider (1973) Parallel Play (2019) (arr. Adam Sliwininski) - flute, percussion
Sarah Kirkland Snider (1973) You Are Free (2015) (Irish premiere) - flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion
Steve Reich (1936) Double Sextet (2007) - flute, clarinet, violin, violoncello, piano, vibraphone, fixed media