Liffey Light Orchestra
Liffey Light Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels | Legal Records |
| Members |
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| Past members | |
| Website | liffeylight |
The Liffey Light Orchestra is a musical group based in Dublin, Ireland, known originally for its performances of the music of English composer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield,[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] including the first live performance of his Ommadawn in 1977 [6] [7] . More recently it is known for showcasing the playing of certain leading Irish musicians.[8] From 1976 into the 1980s it regularly performed Oldfield’s Tubular Bells and other pieces.[1] The Liffey Light Orchestra is now primarily a recording group, performing music composed by its founder Paul Egan, which blends progressive rock and folk influences along with Irish traditional music.[9] Egan’s music has been compared to that of fellow Irish composers Bill Whelan and Shaun Davey.[10]
History
[edit]The Liffey Light Orchestra was founded in Dublin, Ireland, in 1974 as a pit band for shows at Dublin University Players, the drama society at Trinity College Dublin (TCD).[2][9] In 1976 it expanded to perform Tubular Bells for the first time outside the United Kingdom in a week-long sell-out run of concerts at TCD.[1] In 1977 it expanded its repertoire to include Ommadawn, which it performed for the first time on 1 May 1977. [6][7] It subsequently added the music of Jean-Michel Jarre,[11] performing his Oxygène as part of the 1978 Dublin Theatre Festival.[12] It continued playing live into the 1980s. It resumed playing in the 2000s as a studio group, releasing a series of albums: Filaments (2011),[9] Le French Album (2017)[8], Lekeila (2020), and Jigs and Other Stories (2025)[13] .
Members
[edit]The Liffey Light Orchestra does and has featured several notable musicians, who have played crucial roles in shaping the group’s sound: Anto Drennan, guitar, a founding member of the group and performer on all the group’s albums Mick O'Brien, uilleann pipes and whistles Robbie Harris, bodhrán and other percussion Brian Dunning, flute, piccolo, and David Agnew, oboe and recorder.
Musical Style and Influence
[edit]
The Liffey Light Orchestra’s musical style is heavily influenced by Mike Oldfield’s works, particularly his early album Tubular Bells and Ommadawn.[14] [15] [10]
Discography
[edit]Filaments
- Released: 2011
- Format: CD
- Label: Legal Records
- Writer: Paul Egan
- Producer: Paul Egan
- Tracks: Sixteen
- Bonus tracks: Two
- Singles: O Together, released 2011
Le French Album
- Released: 2017
- Format: CD
- Label: Legal Records
- Writer: Paul Egan
- Producer: Paul Egan
- Tracks: Eighteen
- Bonus tracks: Two
Lekeila
- Released: 2020
- Format: CD
- Label: Legal Records
- Writer: Paul Egan
- Producer: Paul Egan
- Tracks: Twenty
- Singles: Lekeila (vocal track) released 2019, Lekeila 2, released 2020
Jigs and Other Stories
- Released: 2025
- Format: CD
- Label: Legal Records
- Writer: Paul Egan
- Producer: Paul Egan
- Tracks: Fourteen
- Bonus tracks: Four
"O Together" from the album Filaments
- Released: 2011
- Format: CD
- Label: Legal Records
- Writer: Paul Egan
- Producer: Paul Egan
- Tracks: Three
"Lekeila (vocal track)" from the album Lekeila
- Released: 2019
- Format: CD File, AIFF, WAV, MP3
- Label: Not on label
- Writer: Paul Egan
- Producer: Paul Egan
- Tracks: One
"Lekeila 2" from the album Lekeila
- Released: 2020
- Format: CD File, AIFF, WAV, MP3
- Label: Not on label
- Writer: Paul Egan
- Producer: Paul Egan
- Tracks: One
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Hodnett, G.D. (19 October 1976). "Lunchtime concert at Players". The Irish Times. p. 16.
- ^ a b Sterne, John (May 1977). "Who are the Liffey Light Orchestra". Scene. Vol. 2, no. 5.
- ^ Sterne, John (May 1977). "L.L.O. Do Oldfield". Scene. Vol. 2, no. 5.
- ^ Hodnett, G.D. (5 May 1977). "Liffey Light Orchestra Concert". The Irish Times. p. 12.
- ^ Graham, Bill (28 October 1979). "Liffey Light Orchestra, South County Hotel". Hot Press.
- ^ a b Stewart, Ken (28 May 1977). "From the Music Capitals of the World". Billboard. p. 70.
- ^ a b Elements – The Best of Mike Oldfield. Elements_–_The_Best_of_Mike_Oldfield (sleeve notes).
- ^ a b Hayden, Jackie (12 June 2018). "Album Review: Le French Album, Liffey Light Orchestra". Hot Press. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ a b c Clayton-Lee, Tony (23 December 2011). "Music: Liffey Light Orchestra, Filaments, Legal Recordings". The Irish Times. p. 48.
- ^ a b Hayden, Jackie (27 May 2020). "Album Review: Liffey Light Orchestra, Lekeila". Hot Press. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ^ Denieffe, Michael (16 September 1979). "Musical Success Story". Sunday Independent. p. 7.
- ^ Byrne, Donal (4 October 1978). "The Liffey Swings". Evening Press. p. 6.
- ^ Clayton-Lee, Tony (17 June 2025). ""New Irish albums reviewed and rated: Van Morrison, 49th & Main, Baba, Liffey Light Orchestra, Kean Kavanagh and A Smyth"". The Irish Times.
- ^ Nix, Des (27 November 1979). "Feedback". Evening Press.
- ^ "Mark Radcliffe's Music Club". Mark Radcliffe's Music Club. BBC. Radio 2. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
External links
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