Symphonic Waves create new version of U2 classic
Galway’s Symphonic Waves Youth Orchestra has recorded a new, classical version of the U2 hit With or Without You, arranged by award-winning composer and musician Glen Austin.
A co-presentation with Galway 2020, and Music Generation Galway County, it premiered on YouTube on Monday night.
Symphonic Waves Youth Orchestra was established in 2017, to allow young musicians from Galway City and County to perform in an orchestral environment. It came under the auspices of Music Generation Galway County – part of Ireland’s National Youth Music Education Programme – the following year.
In 2019, the artistic team, including its then conductor-in-residence, Professor James Cavanagh, decided to commission an arrangement of With or Without You, partly in tribute to U2 who had contributed €5 million to help establish of the Music Generation initiative.
Composer and arranger Glen Austin was enlisted and his arrangement of ‘With or Without You’ was first played in October 2019 during Symphonic Waves’ performance at a Baboró music festival in Ballinasloe. This new recording was made during in January during residential course in Kilkenny College and was a joint collaboration with the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland – some of its members joined Symphonic Waves for the event. It was conducted by James Cavanagh.
Glen Austin describes U2’s With or Without You “as a perfect example of a modern classic both in its composition, performance and production”. It’s unique in that it doesn’t follow a traditional verse-chorus form, he adds.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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