Colloquium - Presenters

ABSTRACT

The Irish harp tradition holds a central place in Irish cultural identity, evolving over
centuries while remaining deeply connected to its historical roots. Today,
performer-composers are expanding this tradition, blending the old with the new and
challenging conventional boundaries between traditional and contemporary music.
In this lecture-recital, I draw on my research into the work of leading Irish harp composers
such as Michael Rooney, Alannah Thornburgh, and Aisling Lyons. Through performance and
analysis, I explore how these artists develop new musical languages while staying grounded
in Irish traditional music.

Building on this research, I present the premiere of my latest composition, In Ómós Abhainn
Myoshoji / 妙正寺讃歌. Written in response to my experience living in Japan during the
early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the piece combines Irish traditional elements with
influences from Japanese music, inspired by composer Michio Miyagi.

​

KEYWORDS 

Ireland, harp, tradition, innovation, composition

​

BIO

Matthew Tran-Adams is currently a PhD Candidate at York University in Toronto, Canada
studying ethnomusicology, specializing in Irish music, the Irish language and
decolonization. As a former Lecturer at OISE/University of Toronto in Education and a
secondary teacher/department head in the Toronto District School Board, Matthew
specialized in developing equitable and anti-racist music curriculum. He is an Associate
Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and has recently won first the North American
Guild of Carillonneurs Arrangements and Transcriptions Competition. Matthew has studied
the Irish language in various Gaeltachts and universities and performs on Irish harp, Irish
flute and tin whistle.