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A fermata in musical notation is a pause or a hold extending the length of the note played, literally a breathing space.
This collection of poems and prose writings closely engaging with music, from classical to trad, jazz and blues to rock music, is a chorus of diverse and lively voices in response to the most beloved of all the arts.
We invite you to help us create this breathing space and listen to the music of words inspired by singers, composers, musicians, dancers and the music of “what happens”: from Bach, Shostakovich, Saint Saëns, Fauré and other favourite composers, to a lullaby in a dead South African language, from a practice session in a community centre to the melodious litany for a wagtail, from elegies for Elvis and a lament for Johnny Cash, from an old LP found in the barn, the bass roar of the ocean and airborne tunes with a ghostly provenance to young Irish immigrants in 1920s New York visiting the Metropolitan Opera, all this and far more can be found in Fermata.
Vincent Woods and Eva Bourke, the editors, are delighted by the response to their call for contributions, the enthusiasm and the stunningly beautiful and original works provided so generously.
We, in Artisan House Connemara, were immediately interested in Fermata, poems and prose from established and emerging writers on the universally appealing theme of music. We are looking forward, with your support, to designing and publishing a book that will be good to look at, satisfying to hold and a match for the rich and marvellous writing it holds. We aim to launch this book in Autumn 2016.
This collection was formed by the editors from a passionate belief in the Irish tradition of music and word, a connection that will be embodied in this magnificent and entertaining compilation of writings on music in poetry or prose, the first to be published in Ireland. If music is the literature of the heart, as Lamartine has said, then these writings are musical transcriptions arising out of the true passion which is at the heart of good literature, the closest kin to music.
We appeal to you to help us fund the production of this book because we know that it will be a source of great enjoyment for all lovers of poetry and music. Amongst the poets/writers included are: Leland Bardwell, Ken Bruen, Moya Cannon, Ciaran Carson, Harry Clifton, Theo Dorgan, Paul Durcan, Peter Fallon, Leonita Flynn, Hugo Hamilton, Kerry Hardie, James Harpur, Seamus Heaney, Rita Ann Higgins, Pearse Hutchinson, Thomas Kinsella, Michael Longley, Joan McBreen, Paula Meehan, John Montague, Sinéad Morrissey, Dennis O'Driscoll, Mary O'Malley, Justin Quinn, Gabriel Rosenstock, Peter Sirr, Colm Tóibin, and David Wheatley.
