Belfast Festival at Queen's

We've been enjoying the (free) classical concerts that are part of this festival--which in the UK is second in size only to Edinburgh's. Last Saturday's featured two very accomplished vocalists and today we enjoyed a fantastic concert of saxophone & guitar--classical, but recently composed music, so very interesting fusions with jazz & some folk. Several of the compositions were from Ireland, and a couple of them were being played as their "world premiere." Last Sunday evening we went with friends to a concert at the Ulster Hall (from the festival blog: "This year’s BBC Invitation Concert will feature the world premiere of a major new work by Belfast-born composer Deirdre Gribbin. Gribbin wrote Goliath for percussion and orchestra but has used the distinctive drumming patterns of the Lambeg Drum complement the symphony orchestra. This performance at the Ulster Hall on Sunday 22nd October will also feature virtuoso solo percussionist Colin Currie"). Currie tired us out just watching him move from one instrument to another (a total of 21, if I remember rightly). "Goliath" very effectively captured the city's shipbuilding heritage and promise for the future. I'm usually unimpressed with "new music," but this was very good. I really enjoyed the two lambeg drums. "Lambeg" (the name of our community) means "little church"; the only connection I can think of is that the drum is almost as big as a small church!