Singing Up For Science in Tullamore
Tullamore Library was alive with sound of music last night (Thursday) as it hosted a special concert for the Midlands Science Festival. Sing Up For Science was a unique concert with Bohemian Strings and Dr Claire O’Connell.
The concert took the audience through a variety of classical and pop favourites and also included a rapid name that tune game with a few seconds of a tune played for the audience. Many people won a prize for guessing tunes in a matter of seconds, including a five-year-old participant who identified The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love”!
The Midlands Science Festival is supported by Science Foundation Ireland as part of National Science Week. Taking place from November 12 to November 19, the theme for Science Week 2023 is ‘Human?’, which asks people to consider what it means to be human in today’s world, and how the decisions we make today will impact the people and world of the future.
What could be more human than playing music and enjoying it? After a lovely opening with “Spring” by Vivaldi, the music took a turn to the world of heavy metal with the string quartet playing AC/DC’s well-known tune “You Shook Me All Night Long.” Lots of humming, singing and foot tapping ensued to the Aussie rockers' well-known anthem. MC for the night Dr Claire O’Connell shared some interesting research on classical and heavy metal. In 2008 psychological data was collected globally from classical music fans and fans of heavy metal. It turns out there are some similarities between the two groups. They are both highly creative, extremely gentle, and confidently self-assured.
The quartet also played Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles and Dr O’Connell reminded the audience that this well-loved tuned was all about human loneliness. From a scientific perspective, we now know that social isolation in older age is not good for a person’s health and wellbeing, and a 2019 study by The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) found that almost one third of adults aged over 50 in Ireland experienced emotional loneliness at least some of the time and 7% often felt lonely. And that was before the pandemic. So as the audience listened to this beautiful song about all the lonely people, the audience was encouraged to build compassionate connections with people as it could be good for everyone’s health.
The event was booked out and there was a full house of music lovers on the night who learned a lot about science along the way. Bohemian Strings are a quartet who have played with the Beach Boys, Richard Clayderman and Mick Flannery among many others. The event was part of the Midlands Science Festival which runs until November 20 and more events can be found on www.midlandsscience.ie