Aidan O’Rourke
Composer recipient 2024
“For many years I’ve witnessed the extraordinary things fellow composers have achieved thanks to the support of Paul Hamlyn Foundation. This award gifts us what all artists are after: space. The permission to make breathing room around our work. To let ideas percolate. To take risks. To explore. I’m a new parent so time is an especially precious thing. And we’re all dealing with extreme anxiety around public arts funding – a climate which strangles creativity and will mean only independently wealthy people can afford to be artists. The generosity of this award could not be more appreciated. Thank you.”
Aidan O’Rourke is a composer, fiddler and producer who is rooted in Scottish and Irish traditional music and tests the edges of those forms. He joined Blazin’ Fiddles in 1998, co-founded the trio Lau in 2006 and the quartet Kan in 2010. In 2016 he formed a duo with jazz pianist Kit Downes; together they worked on an epic tune-cycle 365 and a work for Scottish Ensemble – according to The Herald, “rarely has this land’s musical community spoken as eloquently of an outward and forward looking approach to its roots and heritage.” Aidan performs with piper Brìghde Chaimbeul and recently formed a duo with guitarist Sean Shibe. Film scores include The Ballad of a Great Disordered Heart with directors Mark Cousins and Becky Manson, and the first Gaelic cinematic documentary, Iorram, which the Guardian described as “a feast for the ears”. Aidan is currently guest curator at Kings Place in London.
Examples of work
ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK OF IORRAM (BOAT SONG), 2021
Taken from the soundtrack from the Gaelic documentary, score by Aidan O’Rourke. Aidan O’Rourke Fiddle, Brighde Chaimbeul (Scottish smallpipes), Graeme Stephen (guitar), Thomas Gibbs (harmonium, piano), Adam Kinner (saxophone), Lucy Railton (cello). Complete work 4 minutes 30 seconds.
RIAD, 2019
Composed by Aidan O’Rourke, performed by trio Lau from their album Midnight and Closedown. Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle), Martin Green (accordion), Kris Drever (guitar). Complete work 5 minutes 20 seconds.
NOBODY COULD BE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SURE ABOUT THE LAST TIGER, 2018
Composed as part of Aidan’s 365 tune series from 2016 where he wrote a piece of music each day for a year inspired by James Robertson’s short story collection 365:Stories. By Aidan O’Rourke and Kit Downes. Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle), Kit Downes (piano). Complete work 2 minutes 40 seconds.
I MET HIM ONLY ONCE, 2019
Composed as part of Aidan’s 365 tune series from 2016 where he wrote a piece of music each day for a year inspired by James Robertson’s short story collection 365:Stories. By Aidan O’Rourke and Kit Downes. Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle), Kit Downes (harmonium). Complete work 3 minutes 3 seconds.
