Spin: New Music For Violin & Orchestra From Northern Ireland
Resonus, 2026
9/10
Listen to Spin: New Music For Violin & Orchestra From Northern Ireland
The Irish violinist Darragh Morgan is joined by the Ulster Orchestra and conductor David Brophy for 4 involved selections that pull from Northern Irish musical heritage and are executed with meticulousness.
Bill Campbell’s “Swim” opens the listen with Morgan’s stirring strings amid dreamy winds for the rich 15+ minutes that weaves in and out of gorgeous textures, and Brian Irvine’s “A mon seul désir” follows with 2 chapters that illustrate tension and turbulence across very dynamic and busy bouts.
On the back half, “Violin Concerto”, by Ryan Molloy, unfolds over 3 segments of unpredictable and gripping strings from Morgan that align with a cinematic quality, while “Spin 3” sees the string gestures aligning with booming percussion via the Frank Lyons original.
A contemporary outing that’s diverse and detailed, Morgan’s violin prowess is first rate as always, and the intense moments, atmospheric bouts and orchestral influence takes us on a journey we won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Darragh Morgan- For Violin And Electronics Volume II; Josh Modney- Near To Each