Chamber Music on Valentia 2026 (Premiere)
Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Mary Dullea, a wonderful pianist and founder of the Chamber Music on Valentia festival. Mary is a huge advocate of contemporary Irish music and I was delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate with her as she explores new piano music in the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland’s catalogue (a project supported by Arts Council Ireland).
From A Railway Carriage is a 10-minute work for solo piano which I composed for Mary and this year’s installment of the Chamber Music on Valentia festival. Named after Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1885 poem and inspired by my own rail experiences, this piece attempts to bring the listener on a colourful and turbulent train journey. From the much sought-after window seat, one scenic view fades into the next; sudden mood changes and external commotion briefly rise to the fore before inevitably giving way to non-stop mechanical motion. At the interchange, a few minutes of floating in limbo, the trance-like effect slowly wears off as life’s stresses begin to seep back into consciousness. However, once aboard the bumpy new transfer train, the exhilarating journey recommences and jolts towards the final destination.
The 2026 Chamber Music on Valentia festival will taking place from August 13th to 16th, with From A Railway Carriage being premiered on Saturday the 15th at 9.30pm at the Church of Immaculate Conception, Knightstown. For more information and tickets, visit the link below!
