With Manannan mac Lir, Richard Carr presents a work that feels elemental—rooted in tradition, yet shaped by a lifetime of musical exploration. Named after the Celtic sea god, the piece unfolds with a sense of motion and mystery, echoing tides, weather, and long journeys rather than conventional song structures.
Carr’s background is unmistakably present. As a violinist, composer, and educator with deep roots in classical training and decades of experience across jazz, experimental, and world music, he brings a rare breadth of perspective to the music. The violin is not merely a melodic instrument here; it becomes a narrator, shifting between lyricism and abstraction, calm and intensity. The composition balances structure and freedom with remarkable ease. There’s a feeling of wide open space—music that breathes, expands, and contracts like the sea itself. Carr avoids excess, allowing tone, phrasing, and silence to carry meaning. The result is immersive without being indulgent, contemplative without becoming distant. What sets Manannan mac Lir apart is its sense of lived experience. Carr’s decades of collaboration with artists across genres—from jazz legends to avant-garde innovators—inform the music subtly rather than overtly. You don’t hear stylistic borrowing so much as a distilled musical language, one that feels personal, seasoned, and quietly confident.
There is also a physicality to the piece that mirrors Carr’s life beyond music. As an avid mountaineer who has traversed some of the world’s most demanding landscapes, Carr seems attuned to scale, endurance, and patience. The music unfolds like a long ascent—never rushed, always intentional, rewarding close attention. Manannan mac Lir is not a work designed for casual listening. It asks for presence and offers depth in return. Richard Carr succeeds in creating a piece that feels timeless rather than trendy, grounded in craft and shaped by curiosity. It’s a compelling statement from an artist whose career has consistently bridged worlds—and whose voice continues to evolve with clarity and purpose.
English