GALWAY EAR LY M U S I C
E S T I VA L May 19-22, 2011
Musicians and their Patrons From the Irish harpers of the 17th century to the court musicians of Europe (with a stop in a medieval alehouse or two)
Galway Early Music would like to thank its sponsors and friends, without whose support the Festival would not happen.
GRANT AIDED
Galway City Council
BY
Galway County Council
MEDIA SPONSORS
GOLD PATRONS Kimberly LoPrete Olio y Farina
Adare Guesthouse Kings Head Pub Judy Greene
SILVER PATRONS Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop Michael & Claire Cuddy Tom Grealy Riona O’Dwyer
FRIENDS Siobhán Armstrong Delo Collier
Lydia Meryl
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO The Rector & Vestry of St Nicholas Collegiate Church, with heartfelt thanks to Catherine Moore-Temple
The director and staff of the Galway City Museum, with special thanks to Breandán Ó hEaghra
The square symbols in the brochure & on the poster are QR codes. If you have a smart phone and a bar code reader app (free to download), scan the QR code and see what happens!
From the Irish harpers of the 17th century to the court musicians of Europe, with a stop in a medieval alehouse or two, the Galway Early Music Festival, May 19-22, works its musical magic once again.With the old saying in mind, "He who pays the piper calls the tune", this year’s festival touches a sensitive subject: the relationship between musician and patron.What was the social status of a medieval, renaissance or baroque musician and composer? How does musical innovation happen when a patron has to approve? And what happens when the patrons disappear?
FILM The Full Monteverdi John La Bouchardière’s critically acclaimed film, featuring vocal ensemble I Fagiolini
Thurs, May 19, 8 pm Nun’s Island Theatre .Six couples are seated in a restaurant.Their relationships are each in crisis. The Full Monteverdi draws the eye and the ear into the emotional depths of their despair. One of the most moving collections of Renaissance vocal music brought to life as a contemporary drama specifically for the screen. Claudio Monteverdi’s Fourth book of Madrigals (1603) explores differing emotional states of abandoned lovers through the most dramatic and amazingly modern music for vocal ensemble. The Full Monteverdi follows the simultaneous break-up of six couples, from shocking revelation, vengeful anger and erotic longing for reconciliation, as an ensemble film. Vulnerable and disarming, it draws viewers into its intensely moving portrait of contemporary love. After the film, Robert Hollingworth, Director of I Fagiolini will hold an informal discussion and question & answer session. Monteverdi specialist Robert Hollingworth founded I Fagiolini in 1986. Directing this group has taken up most of his time since but he has directed other ensembles at home and abroad, most recently the BBC Singers, NDR Chor, the Academy of Ancient Music and St James’ Baroque.
Photo: Eric Richmond
I Fagiolini perform The Twisted World of Patronage on Friday, May 20 at 8:30 pm in St Nicholas Collegiate Church This QR code takes you to the official Full Monteverdi trailer
CONCERTS After the Earls 17th- & 18th-century Irish harp & vocal music Éamonn Ó Bróithe (sean nós),SiobhánArmstrong (harp) Friday, May 20, 1 pm Chapel of the Poor Clares, Nun’s Island What happens to the musicians and the music when their patrons are gone? The Irish social structure that had supported harpers and bards received a death blow in 1603 with the flight of the Earls. But it was a slow death and up to the end of the 18th century some remnants of the aristocratic tradition of harp music and poetry remained. And even after the last of the harpers was gone, some of the music was preserved orally and in published sources. This concert presents a selection of this music, some of it performed and sung for the first time on the appropriate historical instrument since it was noted down. The earliest printed collection, William & John Neal’s A Collection of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes, was published in Dublin in 1724. In 1792, Edward Bunting began his life-long work collecting music from all the harpers still playing, and searching for singers of the songs that the harpers played instrumentally. Bunting published much of his collection, but the truly exciting source lies in his manuscripts – the notation that he took down as he listened, which survive in the Queens University library, Belfast. Irish harpist SiobhánArmstrong plays historical harps of many kinds and is particularly keen on encouraging the revival of Ireland's early harp. She founded and chairs the Historical Harp Society of Ireland. Her own Irish harp is a facsimile copy of Ireland's national emblem – the medievalTrinity College harp – strung in brass and 18-carat gold wires.Besides her solo work,she plays and records internationally with the main early music soloists, directors and ensembles, usually in Europe. Éamonn is an uilleann piper and yraditional singer originally from Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. He began learning the uilleann pipes from the late Leo Rowsome of Dublin in 1972 and subsequently developed a passion for Gaelic song. He moved to Conamara in 1980 and he now lives in Galway. Éamonn has performed and lectured widely throughout Ireland as well as in Scotland, England and France. He is featured on several recordings and has written articles for various publications.
CONCERTS The Twisted World of Patronage I Fagiolini Robert Hollingworth (director),Anna Crookes (Soprano), Anna Dennis (Soprano),Nicholas Smith (tenor),Charles Gibbs (bass)
Friday, May 20, 8:30 pm St Nicholas Collegiate Church In the 16th century, some composers wrote music for their employers as part of their job, others dedicated volumes in the hope of obtaining patronage, while others took a more political view. Giaches de Wert dedicated his 8th book of madrigals not to his own employer but to the duke at a neighbouring court whose virtuosic ensemble his own boss had described as ‘assinine’. Wert’s pupil, Monteverdi, was pushed too far by his patron, unleashing a furious letter to him, complaining of his conditions at the court. His peerless cycle, ‘Incenerite spoglie’ commemorates the death of Caterina Martinelli, a brilliant young singer ‘patronised’ by the duke in more ways than was strictly healthy. William Byrd’s greatest patron was Queen Elizabeth but as a Catholic, he also relied on the support of Catholic families: this light-hearted, animalian ode was written for one of them. Byrd himself was the dedicatee of one ofThomas Tomkins’ finest madrigals in a volume unique among English publications in dedicating each song to a composer, friend or family member.The evening finishes with a staged performance of a work written for the Valencian court at a time when Spanish musicians found patronage increasingly difficult. Despite the constant label of ‘that innovative young ensemble’, in 2011 I Fagiolini will celebrate their silver jubilee.The only early music ensemble ever to win the Royal Philharmonic’s Ensemble prize (2005), they are in fact as at home with contemporary as Renaissance music.Their Photo: Eric Richmond brand has become thoughtprovoking and unusual productions of solo-voice ensemble music from Tallis in Wonderland and The Full Monteverdi to their masked L’Amfiparnaso and contemporary (unconducted) opera, The Birds. They have performed all over the world from the Lincoln Center to South African townships, but this is their first appearance in Galway.
CONCERTS The King Dances 17th-century patronage & politics on the music stage
The Irish Consort Siobhán Armstrong (director & historical harps), Róisín O’Grady (Soprano), Claire Duff (violin), Nicholas Milne (gamba)
Saturday, May 21, 8:30 pm St Nicholas Collegiate Church English masques were elaborate musical stage entertainments: a blending of dance, stagecraft, drama and music towards a common end: the celebration of a special event in an act of courtly homage to the monarch; an event which by its magnificence flattered the man who paid for it all. The speaking and singing parts were performed by professional actors and singers but often the masquers who danced the set pieces were courtiers themselves; such as the Queen consort of James I, Anne of Denmark, who frequently danced with her ladies. Kings were known to dance as well—both Henry VIII and Charles I performed in the masques at their courts. Irish harpers were active at the English court at this period and the early Irish harp was featured in some masques. Much of the music was later arranged for solo instruments intended as mementos for the masque participants, and it is primarily these versions that we will hear, performed on violin, harps and bass viol, together with some of the most ravishing songs of the genre. One of the most famous set and costume designers for the Masque was the architect Inigo Jones. The concert will be illustrated with slides of some of his sketches. The Irish Consort was founded in 2006 and is directed by Siobhán Armstrong. This flexible group explores both European Renaissance and baroque repertoire together with Irish music of the same period, often juxtaposing the two worlds in concert.This unique approach leads to unusual and delicious instrumental and vocal flavours and textures, bringing neglected corners of dynamic musical worlds to life in all their ravishing complexity.The Irish Consort first came together to perform at the Galway Early Music Festival in 2006 with the programme Gael agus Gall (Irish and Foreign), and returned in 2007 with The Life and Times of Grace O’Malley, the 16th-century Irish Pirate Queen.
DAY
BY
DAY
Monday, May 16 - Saturday, May 28 Mon-Sat: Imago Musica - Art Exhibition 10 am -4 pm Above the Bakehouse, Lombard St Sun: 11-2 pm
Thursday, May 19 6:30 pm
Official Opening of the Festival Nuns’ Island Theatre
8:00 pm
The Full Monteverdi - FILM with post-film question & anwer session with Robert Hollingworth, director I Fagiolini Director John la Bouchardière, I Fagiolini Nuns’ Island Theatre €5
Friday, May 20 1 pm
After the Earls: 17th- & 18th-Century Irish Harp and Vocal Music Éamonn Ó Bróithe & Siobhán Armstrong Chapel of the Poor Clares, Nuns’ Island €15 / €10 conc / €7 youth
8:30 pm
The Twisted World of Musical Patronage I Fagiolini St Nicholas Collegiate Church €20 / €15 conc / €7 youth
TICKET BOOKING Online: www.galwayearlymusic.com From 9 May: Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, Middle St At Door of concerts FESTIVAL TICKET: €60 / €45 concession (includes all concerts and Dunsandle Castle) Bus to Dunsandle Castle €10/€8 on-line
P ROGRAMME Saturday, May 21 11 am
12:30 - 4:00
The Three Hard Questions - Family Event Misericordia & Clive Fairweather The Ruby Room, Kings Head Pub Free Admission
MUSIC
IN THE
MUSEUM
Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch 12:30-1:00 Renaissance Music and Dance 1:30 - 3:00 Irish Harp Taster Workshop with Siobhán Armstrong 3:30 - 4:30 Prehistoric Music Ireland Simon and Maria O’Dwyer 4:30 pm
Walking Tour of Medieval Galway William Henry Starting at The City Museum €5 at the door
8:30 pm
The King Dances: 17th-Century Patronage & Politics on the Music Stage The Irish Consort St Nicholas Collegiate Church €20 / €15 / €7
Sunday, May 22 10:00 am
Sung Mass with Organ in Galway Cathedral Ray O’Donnell (director & organist) and Galway Cathedral Choir Galway Cathedral This is a religious ceremony to which festival goers are welcome.
3:00 pm
The Secret of the Ferns Misericordia and Clive Fairweather Dunsandle Castle, Craughwell Includes refreshments, tour of castle. €15 / €12 Have a meal at Cava, Dominick St Festival Hospitality Sponsor
CONCERTS The Secret of the Ferns Misericordia Stephen Tyler (hurdy gurdy, cittern),Anne Marie Summers (pipes, gothic harp, voice), Clive Fairweather (storyteller)
Sunday, May 22, 3 pm Dunsandle Castle, Craughwell The jongleurs who played in the pub for pennies on Saturday have been lucky to be hired by the Lord of Dunsandle Castle to entertain his guests! In our final event Misericordia with Clive Fairweather re-create a medieval session of music, song and storytelling in the atmospheric 15thcentury Dunsandle Castle, Craughwell, Co. Galway. Clive tells three stories:The Secret of the Ferns - French folk-tale collected by Henry Pouratt in LeTresor Des Contes,The Chicken's Nightmare - Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales c.1380 and The Priest's Familiar in Jean Froissart's Chronicles. The event includes refreshments and tour of Dunsandle Castle. Anne Marie Summers and Stephen Tyler have been playing and recording together as a duo for over a decade. They are accomplished multi-instrumentalists, and their wide range of instruments allows them many different sound textures to match the different musical traditions of medieval Europe. Misericordia regularly perform at concert venues and early music festivals throughout Britain and Europe and have made various recordings. Clive Fairweather is one of the Westcountry’s leading traditional storytellers. He has worked with English Heritage, National Trust, and Misericordia.With a deep interest in folk history, Clive has a repertoire of over 400 stories.
Travel Info We have a bus going to the Castle at 2:30 pm. Book your place on-line for €8. €10 euro on the day. If you are driving & have a smart phone & bar-code reader (free to download) the QR code, right, brings you to googlemaps.
VISUAL ART Imago Musicae Monday, May 16 - Saturday, May 28 Above The Bakehouse, Lombard St Aoife Bheilbigh, Laura Burns, AnnVaughan, Sorcha Ní Chróinín When Galway Early Music asked some young up & coming local artists if they would like to work using early music as their muse, their response was enthusiastic. For the most part, the music was unfamiliar and exotic – the music of Europe and Ireland c. 1400 – c 1750. Each artist was given music that represents a particular time, place and type of music. The artists were completely free to use, react to or interpet the music in any way that they chose.The result is a fascinating exhibition of visual art together with the music that inspired it. All the recorded music is by ensembles or performers who are either performing in this year’s Festival or have performed in Galway in the past. We would like to thank David Niland and Celestine Rowland and all at Galway Business School
Healing Harmonics Monday, May 16 - Saturday, May 28 Above The Bakehouse, Lombard St Phillip Conyngham – dord íseal, dord ard (Bronze Age horns), Simon O’Dwyer – dord íseal, (Bronze Age horn), segell flute, triton conch,A local robin – background. This sound installation is an exploration of natural harmonics and overtones to create a ‘healing tune’. The sounds are played acoustically, without the use of synthesised electronics, on Irish horns, a conch shell and harmonic flute. It is hoped that ‘healing harmonics’ will ease a tired or troubled mind and body. The tune was inspired by Fraoch,who,in legends,was healed by seven bronze horns played at Queen Medb’s palace in Cruachan, Co. Roscommon, circa the 1st Century BC A new release by Ancient Music Ireland. Recorded in the CrimlinValley,Co.Galway. Length 12.25 mins. The piece will be repeated in a constant cycle. Simon O’Dwyer will give a live performance on Sat., May 21 at 3:30 in Galway City Museum.
FREE EVENTS Family Event The Three Hard Questions Saturday, May 21, 11 am The Ruby Room, The Kings Head Pub Misercordia & Clive Fairweather Not all musicians were at court. There were musicians in the village square and in the alehouses.Their patrons were the merchants and farmers, who hired them for weddings and celebrations. It was a hard life, but if music is in your blood, there’s not much you can do about it – you’ve got to play! There were good times as well. Perhaps an hour or two with good company, amongst whom is a storyteller. Then the music raises the roof and the listeners are carried away on the words of the storyteller! Misericordia with Clive Fairweather re-create a medieval session of music, song and storytelling for all the family. Clive tells three stories:The Three Hard Questions - from Trecento Novelle by Franco Sacchetti (1330 - 1400), Brother Timothy and the Donkey - Gesta Romanorum c.1340, and The Butterfly Dream - Inquisition Register of Jacques Fournier, Bishop of Pamier c.1325. The music will include complex istampitas from 14th century Italy, love-songs from France by Guillaume de Machaut, and pilgrim dances from Spain.
Music in the Museum Saturday, May 21, 12:30 - 1:30 Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch Galway Early Music’s own ensemble, Seoda, start the fun in the museum, with a lively selection of music and dance. We’ll be teaching some simple dances that everyone can try, so we hope you will come along and join in! The ensemble includes recorders, bagpipe, percussion and harpsichord. Seoda is always looking for new members. If you are interested, contact info@galwayearlymusic.ie.
FREE EVENTS Early Irish Harp Taster Workshop Saturday, May 21, 1:30 - 3:00 pm Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch Siobhán Armstrong introduces the Early Irish Harp - its history,construction and stringing - and then gives participants a chance to learn to play a tune. This workshop is open for all to observe. Those who wish to play the harps should come early as there are limited places. We ask that participants contribute €7. Observers are free. Siobhán Armstrong is the director of the Historical Harp Society of Ireland and one of the pioneers of historically informed performance on this unique harp with brass, silver and sometimes gold strings.
Ireland’s Oldest Music Saturday, May 21, 3:30 - 4:30 pm Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch Always one of the most popular events of the Festival, Simon O’Dwyer’s story of the beginnings of music in Ireland, from stone whistles and shell horns to the magnificent bronze age horns and beyond is a tour de force.
A wonderful event for all the family.
Sung Mass with Organ Sunday, May 22, 10 am Galway Cathedral This is a religious ceremony which you are welcome to attend Galway Cathedral has been home to the Cathedral Choir since the building’s dedication in 1965.The choir, which is open to teenagers and adults,provides the music at all major feasts and liturgical occasions in the Cathedral, as well as at the regular Sunday 11.15am mass throughout the year.Its repertoire covers ten centuries,including Gregorian chant,Renaissance polyphony, Viennese masses and some contemporary music.The choir has been directed by Raymond O'Donnell since January 1994.
Venue Map
1. Nuns’ Island Theatre 2. Chapel of the Poor Clares 3. St Nicholas Collegiate Church
4. Kings Head Pub 5. Galway City Museum 6. Bakehouse, Lombard St
A
Shor t history Galway Early Music was founded when a group of Galway musicians travelled to Lismore, Co Waterford, for the Lismore Early Music Festival. It was there that the idea was born: why not bring this rich and sometimes exotic music to the medieval city of Galway - what better venue? The first festival was in 1996 and this is our 15th. Through the years the Festival has been proud to present such exciting ensembles and performers as Jordi Savall, Andrew Lawrence-King and The Harp Consort, Red Priest, Ensemble Unicorn, The Irish Baroque Orchestra, Resurgam, Ensemble eX and many, many more. The Festival is known for its lively programming and its attention to the place of Irish music and musicians in the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque European music scene. Galway Early Music is run by a voluntary committee.
More Information www.galwayearlymusic.com tel. +353-(0)87-9305506 e-mail: info@galwayearlymusic.com
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