Feeny strikes chord with US composer
One of America's most accomplished composers has said he feels like he is "living out a dream" after re-establishing contact with people in his mother's home village of Feeny.
Paul Glass, winner of six Emmy awards, recently paid his second visit to the area since his mother, Betty Hampson Glass, died in 2007. His first visit was with his wife Ameryilla and their four children in November of that year.
"In the short time since my mother's passing, Feeny has become such an important part of our lives. Somewhere we have made connections with people that have now become as close as family. The motivation for that first trip was to learn more about my mother's life and I felt that was very important for me and my family.
"To stand with the kids looking at the fields that my grandfather worked as a shepherd and where my mother walked as a child was incredible. I believe what we experienced has had a huge impact on our lives and given us memories we will treasure forever."
The Glass family's most recent visit was also marked with a presentation to the composer by Limavady Borough Council.
"William Houston contacted me last year after finding my music on the internet. I could never thank Mr Houston enough for what he has done for me, while bringing my new piece 'The Hampson Fields of Feeny' into the open and exposing it to a wider audience. To receive a plaque from Limavady Council is such a huge honour for me.
"It is another part of this story that makes me feel as if I am living out a dream," he said.
Paul has written 'The Hampson Fields of Feeny' in memory of his mother, who left for the US on April 14th, 1955. She made one visit back but then wasn't able to get to her mother's funeral in 1962. She vowed never to return to Ireland.
"If I can't be there for my mother's funeral, I won't be there at all," she told family and friends at the time.
Paul said the new piece of music is a perfect way for him to remember her.
"She had a wonderful sense of humour and also a tremendous amount of independence and determination," he said. "I think this was exhibited in her picking up at a young age and making the trip to the US with her cousin. I always admired this courage and, although she would never get into very much detail of her life in Ireland, we did hear stories about life on the farm and going to work in Derry.
" I was determined to write a piece that would serve as a tribute to her. I wanted to celebrate her life and felt that a trip to Feeny would also help us heal."
" I knew my grandfather was a shepherd in Feeny; The Hampson Fields of Feeny was my inspiration. I began with a melody that I thought captured her personality -- bold, defiant and a little quirky. She hated sad music so I didn't want it to feel too sombre but at the same time I wanted it to reflect what I was feeling.
"I wanted the piece to have the essence of Irish music but, at the same time, music that is my own. I knew that I wanted it to be a concert piece containing pipes and drums...a sound she loved more than any other."
The piece, which can be heard online at paulglassmusic.com is now an integral part of what Paul calls his "immeasurable" connection with Feeny.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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