Martin Hayes and The Common Ground Ensemble – Peggy’s Dream (251 Records, 2023)
Martin Hayes, the acclaimed Irish violinist and composer, has brought forth a new project called The Common Ground Ensemble, whose debut release is “Peggy’s Dream.”
Hayes is undoubtably one of the finest fiddle players in the international trad music scene. He demonstrates it once more on “Peggy’s Dream.” Although his music is still deeply grounded in Irish folk traditions, Hayes has created a masterpiece where Celtic music of immense beauty meets exquisite neoclassical chamber music.
Over the past few years, Hayes has curated concerts for various festivals, which has helped him envision the concept of the Common Ground Ensemble. The group is a product of Hayes’ growing comfort and familiarity with multi-genre collaboration and his desire to create an ideal and versatile musical combination.
Hayes’ vision for the Common Ground Ensemble was to assemble a group of musicians from different backgrounds who share a connection to Irish music. The lineup features Cormac McCarthy on piano; Kate Ellis on cello (Artistic Director of Crash Ensemble); Kyle Sanna on guitar (known for his work with Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile); and Brian Donnellan on bouzouki, harmonium, and concertina (The Tulla Céilí Band).
The Common Ground Ensemble seamlessly intertwine various genres with the core elements of tradition, giving each musician plenty of space to present their remarkable talents. As Hayes puts it, “I want this to be the most fun I can have while I’m on stage.”
Reflecting on his creative process, Hayes explains that he typically gathers people together and allows the music to unfold naturally. However, after years of performing and collaborating, he has developed a stronger sense of what brings him the most joy and captures the essence of the music. This clarity has assisted him in shaping the vision for the project.
Hayes is the driving force behind the overall mood, feeling, harmonies, and arrangement of the music. He begins with a rough sketch of the arrangement, which the ensemble then collectively builds upon. One of his primary objectives is to create space for each musician’s unique musical personality, style, and genre to be expressed freely within the band. Hayes believes that the ensemble’s full potential is realized when each musician’s capacity is utilized to the fullest.
In essence, the Common Ground Ensemble is a collaborative effort, shaped by Hayes’ vision and the unique contributions of each musician. The result is a musical tapestry that celebrates tradition while also embracing contemporary experimentation.
Hayes adds: “The journey never reaches a conclusion. Every new project is the result of possibilities and ideas that begin to appear in the course of developing previous projects.”
Buy Peggy’s Dream
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.