Kilkenny Rhapsody

A rhapsody is defined as an ”instrumental composition of free folkloristic form”. In his ”Kilkenny Rhapsody” Kees Vlak takes yet one step farther, as it is intention to portray the nature of both the land and the people, and, in addition to that, he uses certain geographic peculiarities in terms of musical expression. As far as a rhapsodic approach is concerned, Ireland is a true treasure vault, as next to melodious songs like ”The Foggy Day” or ”The Gentle Maiden”, popular dances like the jig, the reel or the hornpipe which often rely on the exclusive use of the flute and the drum, must not be neglected.

A shadowy ”Green Island” emerges from dense fog – this is the very beginning of the rhapsody which testifies to the composer’s musical use of specific phenomena caused by the warm Gulf stream and the mild climate. Alternating songs and dances of an unmistakable Celtic attire follow, and finally lead to an effective apogee. Fog sets in again: the motif of a dance resounds softly. The rhapsody, however, ends with one of those melancholic Irish songs that come from the many pubs in the country.