“Music,” says Fionnuala Cawkhill, “like all the arts, needs to keep reinventing itself.” Cawkhill is director of the Hilltown New Music Festival, a relatively new arrival on the summer scene, which takes place on July 18th-19th.
The beauty of Hilltown doesn’t just lie in the latest in new music from composers and performers from around the world, but in the setting itself. Found in the grounds of an 18th-century Palladian country house are walled gardens, stables and the remains of a medieval castle, all of which play host to performances, film screenings, talks and art installations. See and hear “just how energising new work can be”, says Cawkhill, with sounds by Dan Dediu (Romania), Marko Ciciliani (Croatia), Anat Spiegel (Israel), and Ireland’s Ear Ensemble, Jami Byrne and Antonio Cafolla, and many more. Bring a picnic, go camping and soak up the sounds and atmosphere. Perfect for aficionados and those who just fancy doing something different at the weekend. Sunday is Family Day, with under-18s attending free. Hilltown House, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath. Tickets are €15 for one day, €25 for two. Contact Fionnuala Cawkhill on 086-0637648, or see www.hilltown.ie.
