HIBSEN - The Stern Task Of Living HIBSEN

CD

Hibsen is a collaboration between Irish folk artists Gráinne Hunt and Jim Murphy. They will be releasing an album of 15 original songs based on the book of short stories 'Dubliners' by James Joyce on 26th May 2023.

On Friday 26 th May, Irish folk act Hibsen will release a third single The Dead, which is inspired by the short story of the same name from Dubliners by James Joyce. The album, which is called The Stern Task of Living, and which is also inspired by Dubliners will be available from 26 th May on all major streaming platforms and in selected music stores around Ireland.

About The Dead:
The Dead is based on and named after James Joyce’s most famous short story from his book Dubliners. The song captures the last scene of the story, when two of the main protagonists Gabriel and Gretta have returned to their hotel bedroom at the Gresham Hotel. Gabriel is in euphoric mood having successfully presided over his aunts’ annual Little Christmas dinner, while Gretta is withdrawn and pensive.

When Gabriel asks her what is wrong, Gretta bursts into tears and says “O, I am thinking about that song, The Lass of Aughrim”, which a guest had sung as they were leaving Gabriel’s aunts’ house. The song reminded Gretta of a young boy called Michael Furey, whom she knew when she was growing up in Galway. Michael died at the age of seventeen and Gretta blames herself for his premature death as he had left his sick bed, in terrible weather conditions, to implore Gretta to stay in Galway the night before she was due to move to Dublin. When asked “what did he die of so young”, Gretta replied “I think he died for me”.

About The Stern Task of Living: On 26 th May Hibsen will also release their debut album The Stern Task of Living. The album contains 15 songs, one for each short story from Joyce’s Dubliners. Each song is named after the short story on which it is based and the