Townsend Street in Belfast, once a vibrant area, has undergone significant changes, particularly after the construction of the Westlink. Now, the Ulster Orchestra is working to rejuvenate the street, which connects the predominantly Catholic lower Falls and largely Protestant lower Shankill areas. The orchestra recently moved into the newly renovated Townsend Presbyterian Church, which closed in 2022 after 200 years of continuous service.
In an effort to reconnect the community with the street’s rich history, the orchestra collaborated with local women from the area, transforming their childhood memories into music. Together with the Townsend Street Enterprise Park and Zeppo Arts, they’ve composed a piece that captures the past, present, and future of Townsend Street. The process involved public consultation workshops where residents shared their memories and hopes for the future.
Memories of Childhood
Three women from the Young@Heart group—Ella, Catherine, and Georgina—who grew up around Townsend Street, participated in a consultation at St Stephen’s Church in Millfield in May. Now in their 80s, the women fondly recalled their youth, with Catherine immediately remembering the shouts for children to come home for dinner: “Hannah, your supper is ready.”
Ella, reminiscing about old songs, added, “We used to sing that song, the Queen of the May, do you remember?” The three women shared a joyful rendition of the tune, delighting in the memories. “It’s amazing, isn’t it, where we lived, how we lived,” Ella reflected.
These memories were then transcribed and sent to composer Una Monaghan, who used them to shape the music.
Composing the Piece
Una Monaghan, who has been focusing on writing for smaller ensembles in recent years, was excited to take on this project that combined brass and woodwind instruments. She aimed to incorporate the essence of the community’s memories into the orchestral composition. After reading through transcribed conversations and viewing pictures of the area, what stood out to Una was the bustling nature of Townsend Street.
“I wanted to convey that sense of pulse or aliveness within the music,” she said, while also acknowledging a sense of loss that permeated the community’s memories. The most challenging part of the process, she noted, was ensuring the final piece was easily performed by the orchestra.
Bringing the Music to Life
Rehearsals for Una’s composition took place in late August at the church on Townsend Street. Patrick McCarthy, artistic director and deputy of the Ulster Orchestra, was present at one of the rehearsals and praised the relocation of the orchestra to the street as a positive move.
“It feels like we are part of the regeneration of this area,” McCarthy said, adding that the project is helping bring Townsend Street, the lower Falls, and lower Shankill back into the public’s awareness.
The newly composed pieces will be performed at an event celebrating the history and community of Townsend Street on Saturday.
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