ICMA Sacred Music Workshop Waterford

ICMA Workshop at St John's Waterford

 Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150

Today, I attended a choral workshop in Waterford organised by the Irish Church Music Association, a resource organisation supporting liturgical music in parishes.  Fr Turlough Baxter, chairman of the ICMA  with Derek Mahady, choral director  addressed  a gathering drawn from parish choirs around the Waterford and Lismore dioceses. Setting a brisk pace, Mahady put the assembly through some lively vocal warm ups before introducing  a varied  selection of work by contemporary Irish composers,  Even though we got through a lot of material, there was time too for detailed technical stuff like phrasing, breath control and diction.   Baxter gave context for how the material might best be used and  spoke eloquently about the role of ritual and music in liturgy. A Matins Service was an integral part of the day's proceedings. It would be good to see Matins and Vespers introduced into regular parish services.

The combination a skilfull choral workout with thoughtful insights into the role of music in a liturgical context made for a stimulating and rewarding experience well directed by the duo  and coordinated  by Mary Dee.

More details of the Irish Church Music Association and their summer school can be found on their website http://www.irishchurchmusicassociation.com/uploads/7/4/1/3/7413445/icma_newsletter_feb_2015_(4).pdf

Save the date! #ICMA Summer School 2015 - St. Patrick's College Maynooth, 2nd - 5th July. Guest director Andrew Reid: http://t.co/0sO3UEtp56
— Irish Church Music (@ICMAMusic) January 28, 2015

listen to ‘Chair of ICMA Turlough Baxter ’ on audioBoom

 Ephram Feeley         Here in Christ We Gather

                             Lord You are my Shepherd

                             Psalm 122  I Rejoiced 

                             God of Gentleness

                             I Am the Breadof Life 

                              In the Shadow of Your Wings Lord 

                             My New Commandment

Marie Dunne           Lúireach Phadraig 

Mary McDonnell      A Bhríd, a Muire na nGael

Bernard Sexton       Credo in Unam Deum

                               Sanctus 

                               Memorial Acclamation

                               Shepherd Song

                               Laudate Omnes Gentes 

Peter O Kane  

    arr John O Keeffe   Search Me, On God 

O Keeffe                    The Apostles Creed 

Paul Flynn                 A Uain Dé

Lawton                      Holy Ground 

Joncas                        Draw Near 

Walsh arr Mackriell   I Will Bless Your Name Forever

John McCann           God's Holy People 

Ronan McDonagh    A Íosa Mhic Muire  Instrumental 

Related Posts
Credo Amen: A Day at ICMA Summer School 2013 http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2013/07/credo-amen-day-at-irish-church-music.html

Sunday Roundup from Sodden SE http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2014/02/sunday-roundup-from-sodden-south-east.html 

Abbey Cluster Choirs Gather with Bernard Sexton  http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2012/02/whatever-views-one-might-have-on.html

Exter Cathedral Choir at Christchurch
http://cathydesmond.blogspot.ie/2011/07/exeter-cathedral-choir-at-christchurch.html