Performance: Ensemble Nezlamni (Unbreakable)

The Ensemble_Незламні (Unbreakable) is a unique music project formed by musician and music therapist Ian Leslie in early 2023. Singers and musicians from Ukraine living in the Westport area were invited to form a music ensemble with the intention of meeting to play music together, perform live at various local events and venues and exhibit and preserve the rich Ukrainian song culture. The response to the invitation was such that a professional level ensemble, the Ensemble_Незламні, formed and have been rehearsing and performing together for the past two years. The ensemble’s repertoire is, for the most part, a mixture of folk and contemporary music from Ukraine and Ireland. A central part of the performance is an original composition entitled ‘Displaced,’ written specifically about the experience of refugees forced to leave their homeland, through no fault of their own in the face of war. The piece features wordless vocals against a background of piano accompaniment and electronics. The intention is that the absence of descriptive lyrics creates a strong sense of mood in the composition. The displacement theme of the composition focuses on how the experiences of Ukrainian people living in Ireland is often complex. They are forced to come to this country as a result of circumstances beyond their control, having fled their homeland as a result of war. They are here to seek a safe haven. Brian Maguire and Ian Leslie have intended to collaborate on a project for many years, and felt that the Hugh Lane Gallery’s
exhibition, La Grande Illusion, was an opportune time to do so. They discussed the possibility of telling the story of Ukrainian refugees living in Ireland using the Ensemble_Незламні in Westport as an example — their experiences both positive and negative. In December 2024, Maguire met with members of the Ensemble_Незламні in Westport and produced a set of sketches as his artistic response to their individual
circumstances and music. Maguire and Leslie both felt that this was crucial to forge and develop a relationship with the exhibition. Leslie notes that “In many ways the
music of the Ensemble_Незламні has acted as a form of ‘social glue’ for local and Ukrainian communities in Westport. It has provided a cultural ‘bright spot’ for many. This has been crucial in helping to create a bond of friendship and collaboration and could act as a model for other parts of the country. It illustrates how integration and understanding can be achieved through the employment of practical, simple projects with communities working together.”