This piece is rooted in the Fluxus tradition of performance pieces.

The composer Seán O’Ríada was a leading light in the music department of University College Cork from 1963 until his death in 1971. Amongst his most well known works is the musical score he wrote in 1959 for a documentary about the founding of the modern Irish State; ‘Mise Éire’ .

There is a large performance space and lecture theatre in the basement of the Music Department building named in his honour. Separately around this time the ‘Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Bill’ was being debated in the Dáil (parliament). The dental health of the nation was at stake! Ireland at this time was quite economically impoverished. The republic had only been declared a decade earlier (1948) but there was a definite drive to modernise the country and to show we could provide infrastructure on par with other more developed countries.

Description

The piece starts with an establishing shot in the O’Riada Hall, UCC. The main theme from the Mise Eire soundtrack plays as background information scrolls over the images. In the foreground is a single microphone. We see close ups of Sean O’Riadas death mask and the plaque beneath it.

The music fades out. The performer (me) walks into shot holding an electric toothbrush and proceeds to perform the Mise Eire theme using the recommended toothpaste. The performer wears a hat that has ‘Excellent Art’ written on it.

Excellent Art is a racehorse currently living in India.

He used to live across the road from me.

Oh! Look How Far We’ve Come

Score

Using an electric toothbrush in a manner similar to a mouth harp, perform the main theme to Seán O’Ríadas work ‘Mise Éire, ideally while standing in The O’Riada Hall of UCC Music Department. Ensure that an added Fluoride style toothpaste is used.