Cornets & Candlelight with Ennis Brass Band

Young maestro has a go

Ennis Brass Band hosted a special evening in St Columba's in Bindon St, Ennis as part of the celebrations marking their 40th anniversary. There was a full house and the band played a selection of their favourite numbers. This ensemble takes it's civic duties very seriously and has added both gravitas and sparkle to the soundscape of events in the town. Ennis would be a much duller place without them and there was sense tonight of citizens acknowledging this contribution and relishing the occasion. You can hear something of the passion and fervour that drives this hardworking ensemble in the short post concert interview below with PRO Darragh McAllister.

Peerless prize winning percussion team Gary & Kieran McAllister

Carols by candlelight.

I was thrilled to be invited to contribute to the occasion to give the band breather. With my accompanist Fiona Walsh, I played The Coolin, Roses of Pickardy and La Vie en Rose. The last time I heard the band play was at the Armistice Day service at the Cathedral. I wanted to evoke something of the spirit of the evening and chose a popular song associated with World War 1. We were preceded on the platform by a traditional reed duet featuring Damien O'Reilly on accordion.

The repertoire for the evening included seasonal favourites Walking in the Air , Chestnuts Roasting (featuring Clodagh Power on solo cornet) , Can't Take My Eyes Off You (with new dad Ian McDonald on solo trombone). This is the Moment was one of my favourites and I loved the new Latin American number Valera. The band were expertly conducted by Kieran O Connor who introduced all the numbers and, in a nice touch, persuaded some of the younger members of the audience to take over the baton.

St Columba's Church looked beautiful, the lighting dimmed and countless candles lit for the occasion. I was there for their quenching and can vouch that it is a considerable task undertaken by the host, Rev. Bob Hanna to light this beautiful gathering space in this timeless way.

I believe Ennis Brass Band offers one of the best and most accessible routes into learning an instrument and ensemble playing in the county. Over the years countless young people have received free tuition and instrument loan under Bernard McAllister and we wish them all the best in their excellent musical endeavours.


A visit to SwingingStrings at Ennis NS by a member of Ennis Brass Band

There is a spirit in us that makes our brass to blare and our cymbals crash, all of course, supported by the practicalities of trained lung power, throat, heart, guts.

Laurence Olivier

Remembering Clare's War Victims



 Armistice Day at Ennis Cathedral

                                                   

Killaloe March                                                  Ennis Brass Band  
Green Fields Of France Eric Bogle                 Sung by Bernie McNelis
Lament on uilleann pipes                                 Frank Whelan
Reading Micah 4
All People That on Earth Do Dwell               Organ  Cormac McGuinness
My Youngest Son Came Home Today             Billy Bragg  sung by                                                 
                                                                                Paula McNamara
Last Post                                                              Clodagh Power                                                     
Amazing Grace


Cure of Troy    Seamus Heaney                        read by Eleanor Feely

Wearing of the Geen                                        Ennis Brass Band     



Limerick Legion member

   Of all the stages of life, it is in leaving it that we most need the comfort of  rituals. Following on from  All Soul's Day when the  deceased of the parish were remembered*, there was a special Armistice Day service at Ennis Cathedral  remembering Clare's War Victims on 11 the November 2011.  There is no  tradition of formally commemorating  this occasion in the dioceses and this is only the 4th year of this service at Ennis Cathedral.
In our relatively peaceful age, war and it's effects  are far outside the range of experience of my generation. MC Dr. Joe Power  deputising for (Peadar McNamara) spoke about the effect of the war on family members and gave a  sense of perspective of  the impact of the war on the county.  While giving the number of war victims as circa 4000, Joe also made the chilling point that for every dead soldier, there were four who returned transformed by their injuries.  The rolling register of the war dead was displayed on a screen to uilleann pipe accompaniment and included an Arthur Considine from Clarecastle and Nurse Delia Davoreen  from Clare. 
 

Distinguished author and broadcaster, John Quinn evoked very vivid images of  a homesick poet and war victim, Francis Ledwidge both as an ordinary young boy and man but also an extraordinary one. Extraordinary indeed to think of the young poet receiving  a package containing his first published book of poetry amid the chaos of the war front. John quoted from the poet's work and letters home and also Seamus Heaney' Elegy to Ledwidge. He  drew a parallel with another broadcaster the late Cathal O Shannon who went to join the RAF at a young age .
Quinn’s acclaimed documentary on Francis Ledwidge, ‘The Helpless Child of Circumstance’, was broadcast in 1987 to mark the centenary of the poet’s birth.

The service was presided  over by Fr.Tom Hogan of Ennis  Cathedral and Rev. Bob Hanna of St Columba's Anglican Church with members of the Limerick branch of the British Legion present wearing their medals.  Clodagh Power's playing of the Last Post on cornet  perhaps best evoked the zeitgeist  of the day.
I caught up with John following the service and you can hear one of the most distinctive voices in  Irish  broadcasting in this recording.
The service was a fitting memorial for the thousands of Clare volunteers who perished or who were damaged  on European battlefields.

Broadcaster and author John Quinn comments on  Remembrance Day

HE shall not hear the bittern cry

In the wild sky, where he is lain,                                                                    

Nor voices of the sweeter birds,                                                                        

Above the wailing of the rain. 

            ************************************************************

    

 * I joined tenor Tony Murray and Nell Hanley in the organ loft on All Souls Day November 2nd.

Hymns included Abide With Me , Be not Afraid, Christ Be Beside Me. My selection on solo viola to accompany the litany of the dead was Airdi Cuain, Taimse im Chodladh, Be Still My Soul, Ag Chriost an Siol and Sliabh na mban. Always a privilige to add something to such an occasion

Carole Rumen's  Guardian article on Ledwidge   with reference to Heaney.

More photos of the event on www.ennisparish.com/gallery



Ecumenical Advent Carol Service at Ennis Cathedral

Everything went off smoothly at the annual Ecumenical Advent Carol Service held this year in Ennis Cathedral    The church  was full  to hear the combined Abbey  Cluster choirs and orchestra, conducted by Michael Hennessy and all numbers went without a hitch. I always enjoy the band in this accoustic and the Ennis Brass Band added a festive air to the occasion and sounded splendid.particularly the shimmering percusion provided by father and son team Kieran and Gary McAllister.

Personally I would like to see an emphasis specifically on Advent material during the week before Christmas and it would be nice to see an Irish input in the carol selection next year to balance the Germanic chorale strand , maybe  one from  excellent liturgical Irish composers, Colin Mawby or Ronan McDonagh would be nice for a change  .  Mind you, having been at four services/ concerts this week where Christmas material has featured , I probably am more ready for alternatives than most and it is specially a time for old favourites.

It was good to see a squad of organists in the loft ready for duty including  brothers Leon and Dylan Walsh, Nigel Bridge and Megan Byrt. There was a pleasant buzz in the Cathedral as peopled lingered to meet and greet following the event , no one seeming in any particular hurry out into the cold night air.

Given the proximity of several sacred  spaces  in Ennis of both traditions,  it would be good to see the ecumenical spirit  ongoing at a regular  monthly  Sunday evening liturgy when  the festive season  is over.

Michael Hennessy Director Cathedral Choir

 
 

Violin Section