John Buckley is one of Ireland’s leading composers and Nova+1 celebrates John’s 60th birthday with an in-depth profile, tracing the private and public careers of this extraordinary musician.
We delve into his beginnings in Templeglantine, Co. Limerick, map his pioneering work with the Ennis Summer School of Composition and drop in on his work today in St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. Light, painted and filmed, is also another powerful inspiration as we see in the dark through his music.
Along the way we probe his love of contemporary French composers, Ligeti and Lutoslawski, and his penchant for compositional virtuosity. With contributions from just some of the musicians and composers John has encouraged, this is a rich radiophonic portrait presented by Bernard Clarke.