Scrúdaíonn “Between Worlds” an saol agus an oidhreacht ag an gcumadóir ceannródaíoch agus an fear léinn, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin (1950-2018).
 

Mar chumadóir ceannródaíoch le stíl Ghaelach pianódóireachta dá chuid féin, a nasc gnéithe den cheol clasaiceach, den snagcheol agus den cheol dúchasach Gaelach le chéile, agus mar an té a bhunaigh Dámh Chruinne Éireann Rince agus Ceol ag Ollscoil Luimnigh, níl dabht ná gur athraigh na saothair ag Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin cúrsa an cheoil Ghaelaigh agus an oideachais ceoil in Éirinn, agus thar lear.

 

Chomh maith lena ghairm saoil ag seinm agus ag cumadh ceoil, ba oideachasóir go smior é Mícheál. Thosnaigh a chuid foghlama Ceoil i gColáiste na hOllscoile, Corcaigh agus ina dhiaidh sin le tréimhse sabóideach ag Boston College, áit ar bhunaigh sé cartlann iomráiteach faoin ainm Irish Music Archives ag Leabharlann John J. Burns ann.

 

Chaith Mícheál a shaol ag cruthú deiseanna do cheol agus do cheoltóirí na hÉireann ar stáitsí an domhain. Bhí dúil aige i gcoincheap an “global village” agus chreid sé go daingean go raibh suntas domhanda ag baint le scéal na hÉireann, mar an gcéanna le scéal cultúrtha ar bith. Ambasadóir iontach a bhí ann d’Éirinn agus dá muintir, agus thapa sé gach deis dá bhfuair sé, trína cháil mar cheoltóir agus mar chumadóir, le ceol na hÉireann a chur chun cinn ar bhonn domhanda. B’eisean an chéad Chathaoirleach ar Chultúr Éireann agus bhí baint nach beag aige leis an múnla a roghnaíodh chun ealaíon agus cultúr na tíre a léiriú don domhan.

 

Mar chuid d’fhuaimrian an chláir seo tá míreanna speisialta ceoil ullmhaithe agus taifeadta ag an Irish Chamber Orchestra, Dámh Chruinne Éireann, agus ag seanchairde agus comhghleacaithe ceoil Mhíchíl. Ina measc seo tá David Brophy, Mel Mercier, Neil Martin, Nóirín Ní Riain, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Vincent Woods, chomh maith lena bheirt mhac, a dheartháir, agus a bhean, Helen Phelan, atá ina stiúrthóir anois ar Dhámh Chruinne Éireann Rince agus Ceol.


 

"Between Worlds” explores the life and legacy of the pioneering Irish composer and academic Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin (1950-2018).
 

From his ground-breaking developments as a composer with a unique Irish piano style fusing classical, jazz and Irish traditional elements, to his creation of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick, Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin’s output undoubtedly changed the course of Irish music and musical education.

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As well as maintaining a prolific career both performing and composing music, Mícheál was, at his core, an educationalist. He started lecturing in Music at University College Cork followed by a successful sabbatical at Boston College where he founded the renowned Irish Music Archives at the John J. Burns Library.

 

Mícheál dedicated his life to creating opportunities for Irish music and musicians on the world stage. He embraced the idea of the “global village” and became convinced that the Irish story, like any cultural story, had global resonance. He was an incredible ambassador for Ireland and the Irish people and used every available opportunity through his prolific playing and composing career, to showcase and promote Irish music on a global scale. He was the first Chairperson of Culture Ireland and until his death in 2018 he became instrumental in shaping how Ireland could best promote its arts and culture worldwide.

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The soundscape of the documentary includes specially curated and recorded musical performances from the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Irish World Academy, and long-time musical colleagues and friends. Contributors include David Brophy, Mel Mercier, Neil Martin, Nóirín Ní Riain, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Vincent Woods, as well as his sons, brother, and wife, Helen Phelan, the current Director of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.