Abington Journal

Aleksandra Djordjevic / Abington Journal Correspondent

For musician, composer, and Clarks Summit resident, Colin O’Donohoe, music is not only a way to escape the day-to-day, but it’s also a life style.

O’Donohoe said, “For me, I must compose. It is the only means that I have to release my artistic desires. I am constantly envisioning how I want my next project to sound and occur. The act of composing is how I get the music out of my head and onto a page. For me, it is a necessity to compose and create.”

On February 6, O’Donohoe released a CD called, “Songs of the Saints,” and he plans soon to tour to promote it. The music on the CD was inspired by his affection, ever since he was a child, for saint stories. Not only did he compose music for different saints on the album, but the range of instruments he used to express who they were is quite eclectic. O’Donohoe said, “The music on my latest album ‘Songs of the Saints’ was deeply inspired by the stories of many different saints. I’ve loved these stories since I was a small child. I learned about these saints and then tried to compose wonderful musical landscapes on which to set their tales. For some pieces I chose to use lyrics, for others I let them remain as instrumentals. I had to treat each saint separately and let their own true voice come out. For this, I was led to use a range of instruments including: Greek Bouzouki, clarinet, turntable, choir, upright and electric bass, Jazz guitar and more.”

Because of his rich musical background, from playing the drums as a teenager, to playing jazz after being inspired by a teacher, it comes of no surprise that O’Donohoe’s musical tastes are so diverse. O’Donohoe attributes much of this wide regard for different kinds of music to his father. O’Donohoe said, “When I was 14, I listened to everything that I could. I am blessed to have a father who is such a music enthusiast. His tastes encompass a broader range than my own and so I was able to listen to a great deal of literature. It was around this time that my mind started envisioning the kind of music that I wished I could play. Since I didn’t hear it being performed out there, I realized that I was going to have to create it myself. It was at this point that I realized that I needed training in how to articulate my musical expressions. My training began and I’ve been composing ever since.”

In addition to his father playing a role in how he responds to music, O’Donohoe said that the kinds of music he performs are an extension of who he is as a musician. “The music I write is a rich blend of styles that I have had experience in performing. From Jazz to World music, modern to classical music styles, choral, funk, and more; the styles I’ve performed over the years are a part of me and my musical aesthetic. I draw upon this to create my work.”

He said, “I don’t view myself solely as a composer. I view myself as a musician. To me this term encompasses performing, composing and conducting. Composing is one aspect of what I do. I also performed percussion, turntable, keyboard and drum set for the album.”

O’Donohoe hopes that with his new CD, his will be a tranquil one. He said, “The goal of my album ‘Songs of the Saints’ was to give people a modern incarnation of the tales of some of my favorite saints. I was hoping to entertain with a mix of music that could both excite and calm the spirit. I hope that the music so dear to me becomes dear to the listeners. I hope to create music that resonates in the souls of my audience.”

For those interested in finding out more about O’Donohoe and his work, visit his web site at www.myspace.com/donohoe2. To purchase CDs, visit www.cdbaby.com/donohoemusic2.