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Contour
rebellion

This Dublin duo wrote a song about the Easter Rising based on 1916 morse code

Dublin band Contour based their song Rebellion on the sound of the morse code broadcast in 1916.

DUBLIN DUO CONAN Wynne and Anna Doran, also known as Contour, have come up with a unique way to commemorate the 1916 Rising.

Using morse code that was transmitted around the world in 1916, declaring that Ireland was now a Republic, the band produced their new song, Rebellion.

“The track came about as we really wanted to do something to celebrate the events of 1916 and I had always been amazed that the world’s first pirate radio broadcast was from Ireland during the Easter Rising. We decided that as it was audio it was the best source for us to work with,” Wynne told TheJournal.ie.

Morse code

The rebels stole the wireless equipment from Dublin Wireless School of Telegraphy during Easter Week 1916 and declared:

“Irish Republic declared in Dublin today. Irish troops have captured city and are in full possession. Enemy cannot move in city. The whole country rising.”

“We could relate to its rhythm and pitch and used that to come up with the music,” said Wynne.

The sound of the morse code gave Contour the guts of the rhythm and melody for the song.

I had some bodhran playing sampled and that added a kind or Irish feel to it, although we tried not to go overboard on the Irish vibes.

Anna came up with the vocals and it blended really well, we had the guts of the song made in a day as it flowed so well.

Have a listen to the end result:

Contour Music / YouTube

You can listen to more music by Contour here

Voices of 1916: ‘I knew it meant war – but I was honoured to print the Proclamation’>

Voices of 1916: ‘John Healy, 14, a schoolboy, had his brain hanging all over his forehead’>

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