Light of Shore, by Anselm McDonnell

Light of Shore by Anselm McDonnell, released 08 October 2021 1. Ceaselessly into the Past: I. Red Branches 2. Ceaselessly into the Past: II. Lorica 3. Ceaselessly into the Past: III. Fomorian Columns 4. Ceaselessly into the Past: IV. Alban Hefin, Light of Shore 5. Shards on a Beach 6. Eyewitnesses of His Majesty: I. Bartholomew, the Scholar 7. Eyewitnesses of His Majesty: II. Simon, the Zealot 8. Eyewitnesses of His Majesty: III. James, Son of Thunder 9. Eyewitnesses of His Majesty: IV. Peter 10. Eyewitnesses of His Majesty: V. John, Son of Thunder 11. Eyewitnesses of His Majesty: VI. Judas, who betrayed Him 12. Eyewitnesses of His Majesty: VII. Thomas, Didymus 13. On a Stone Pillow, Jacob Dreamt of Salvation 14. Three Words for Light: I. Tine Shionnaigh (Fox’s Fire) 15. Three Words for Light: II. Saighead Ghealáin (Bright Arrow) 16. Three Words for Light: III. Bánú an Lae (Whitening Day) The debut album from composer Anselm McDonnell featuring a selection of pieces for solo instruments from his most recent work. "Light of Shore is an album about renewal and contrast, rooted in stories of the past. It examines themes of faith, heritage, environment, and folklore through the lens of contemporary music. It is a snapshot of solo works from my recent compositions that includes suites for piano, guitar, and cello/live electronics. The music seeks to explore two types of expressive materials offered by these instruments: their capabilities for rich, singing melodies and their more intimate side of intricate and delicate timbral sounds. In a similar fashion, the soundworld of the album often wavers on the threshold between two worlds: a murky and unsettled state of menace and moments of fragile hope and stability. It is this threshold that the title Light of Shore refers to: shores suggesting to me a visible destination that still holds the anticipation of some further journey. The album is quite a personal project: the stories on this album, particularly the first piano suite Ceaselessly into the Past, draw on the melting pot of influences that have formed the culture and landscape of my home country - Northern Ireland. Our little country has a troubled past of conflict and warring factions, often fueled by a potent mix of culture, religion, and politics. The diverse communities of Northern Ireland have been shaped by the legacies of the British empire and Irish heritage, the rich histories of both Christanity and Paganism in Ireland, and also more recent shifts in the political landscape such as Brexit, that have prompted deep questions about the future and identity of NI. Light of Shore is, in a way, my attempt to grapple with and examine some of those aspects of identity in my own music, reflecting on the past that has formed who I am as a person and as a composer."