About the residency
Blue Windows
Music inspired by Harry Clarke
Composed by Peter O'Toole
This year is 90 years since Harry Clarke's passing at the tender age of forty-one. The composer and Musician Peter O Toole has been interested in Clarke's stunningly detailed jewel-like work, which is so rich in detail and narrative for several years.
In a residency here, at The Dock, Peter composed music inspired by the stunning narratives to be found in Clarke's church windows around the country. Since the beginning of 2020, Peter has been studying Clarke's work in detail with the intention of visiting some of the windows in towns around Ireland and responding to these windows through new compositions. Using Zhongruan and piano, O'Toole composed four new songs in response to Clarke's windows, collaborating with musicians, Oisín Hennessey on guitars, and Maitiú Ó Casaide on Uileann Pipes and fiddle. The pieces were performed against a backdrop of live projections and filmed in The Dock.
That performance was broadcast on The Dock's Facebook and YouTube channels on Thursday 31st March at 8pm as a free concert. You can watch it below.
The stories behind the artwork are mostly from the Bible’s ancient stories and themes that pertain to modern-day emotions and experiences; such as love, betrayal, travel, searching, loss and questioning.
Later this year 2022, Peter plans to develop the project further by adding new songs and touring the show to venues in Ireland and abroad.