Liz Carroll- Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design, 1690-1840: a meeting of past and present

Much is made of how past and present collide and coalesce, particularly in the current climate of remembrance, but this collection renders invisible the space and time that separates music from a distant era from contemporary tunes. Music of the 17th to 19th century evolved during a vibrant period when Continental influences (including those from operatic and dance music) coloured melodies in ways which were markedly different to those played today. Chicago fiddler and prolific composer Liz Carroll and fiddler and hardanger d'amore playerLiz Knowles collaborate on this remarkable collection to create an accompaniment to the titular design exhibition, staged at the Art Institute of Chicago last year. Carroll's new compositions shimmer alongside their elder cousins, and the intuitive playing of Catriona McKay, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill and Kieran O'Hare are a joy. A multi-layered delight. irelandcrossroads.com