ACC Presents: The Great Irish Poets Songbook Featuring James Hurley & Dean Power

After years of performing together, pianist and composer James Hurley and tenor Dean Power decided to bring their heritage to the concert stage. Their homelands—Newfoundland and Labrador and Ireland—are two islands on opposite sides of the Atlantic ocean which share a unique and close cultural history rich with art, literature, storytelling and music.

James began by arranging Newfoundland folksongs and composing music for two poems from the Newfoundland artist Duncan Major; compositions which were received with enthusiasm. Dean then started selecting poetry from Ireland, drawing from the works of WB Yeats, James Joyce, Thomas Moore and Fanny Parnell. James crafted them into musical compositions, and this became the first installment of "The Great Irish Poets Songbook." The pieces retain the popular and earthy elements of folk music while exploring the wide range of expressive capabilities that is possible with voice with piano accompaniment, resulting in a sound that is both fresh and familiar.

Despite living in different countries and pursuing their independent careers, the duo collaborates to shape the new pieces into works of art. James's unique compositional language, strongly influenced by his background in improvisation, creates a vivid new world for these powerful and iconic texts. Dean has helped edit the pieces to crystalize a form that works perfectly for the voice. The music presents a duo that emerges as a unified voice.

Since 2022, more than 40 songs have been composed, and premiered across Europe and Canada. The Great Irish Poets Songbook continues to tour in 2025, with upcoming performances in Paris, Dublin, and now St. John's and around the island of Newfoundland.