Guest Spot Clare Three legged Stool Poets

This afternoon I was delighted to be invited to be guest musician at the monthly gathering in Glor of the Clare Three-Legged Stool Poets. One of the special guests was poet Brendan O Beirne, a prolific writer who read movingly from several of his many volumes. There were contributions from the floor at the open mic with a very interesting performance from Patrick Stack who added an oboe to the sound effects for his dramatic contribution. I interspersed the spoken word with selections of Irish airs, beginning with the Coolin and closing with a medley of tunes used for settings of poems by 20th century Irish poem . Fred Johnstons' accompaniment was very sympathetic no more so than in Jay Ungar's Ashoken Farewell . Limerick based poet Dominic Taylor also guested and read from his sometimes very humourous work

A visit to the group is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Again I was struck by the sense of collegiality among the poets . The group resumes on the third Saturday in September and anyone is free to come along at any stage in the afternoon and leave at any point. It is not mandatory to contribute from your own work

Lunchtime Limerick Piano Green at St Mary's







Arabesque Op 18 Schumann
Prelude no 13 in F#major Frederic Chopin
Polonaise in C#minor op 26 no 1 "
Study in C# minor op 25 no 7 "
Polonaise in A major op 40 no 1 "
Cantos de Espana no 4 Cordoba Albeniz
Prelude Foxtrot Martinu

A large crowd gathered in St. Mary's Cathedral in Limerick to hear well known stalwart of the local musical scene, Malcolm Green, give his first piano recital in 15 years. My guest Sr. Anne Considine and I travelled from Ennis for the occasion and we were not disappointed .
The soloist delivered an attractive programme of works by Schumann, Chopin and Albeniz . The spoken introductions and a little poetry added much to the enjoyment of the occasion and the performer seemed to relish the sound range of the instrument in the accoustic of the vaulted space, delivering the programme with vigour balanced with tenderness, the latter quality perhaps most evident in the Chopin study while the former clearly demonstrated in the polonaises. T
The recital will I believe remain in our memories as a special musical offering and a generous contribution to the musical life of Limerick this year. Anne claimed her arthritis was much eased by healing power of Malcolm's playing. Powerful stuff indeed!

Natalie Clein in New Ross

I heard Natalie Clein interviewed on Pat Kenny on Wednesday and was delighted to catch this celebrated cellist in New Ross last night. We arrived just time after a little trouble finding the right church. (New Ross has two churches bearing the name of Mary and our one was on top of a hill). The solo Bach was wonderful and the Piazzola numbers accompanied by guitar worked very well. The words 'specially commissioned ' can strike dread into the heart of many listeners accustomed to linking the term with 'squeaky gate' music, but at least the information that it was twelve minutes long was useful. Good programme notes had lots of interesting information on the pieces.

There was a very good turnout, but the performance was somewhat marred by some rather loud,uninhibited, raspy coughing from a young man who I think might have done better to stay out at home out of the cold for the night.

Virtuoso guitarist Gerry Power and anchor man of Powers Bar Sessions the from Dunmore East was in audience. We also met soprano, Roisin O Grady from Tramore, herself a touring artist with Music Network

CDS Term Resumes

Classes begin again at 34 Willsgrove on April 13th

Classes conclude 15th June

Exams take place 1st June

End of year concert mid June

Fleischmann Lecture by Michael Murphy

Municipal Lecture
Mary Immaculate College Limerick

Dr Michael Murphy
‘virtuosity, vehemence, vigour’: Fleischmann the composer

Monday, 19 April at 8pm in Room G08, MIC.

There will be a short performance of Fleischmann’s music afterwards in the college chapel where Colette Davis will conduct the ‘Voices of Limerick'

Music of Grief Stabat Mater

On Good Friday, I took a break from the Easter duties with the hard working Ennis Cathedral Choir to join Limerick Choral Union and Orchestra as a violist for their Easter concert featuring the Stabat Mater by Karl Jenkins. Conductor Malcolm Greene had assembled a range of forces to deliver a memorable performance of this very moving work. It was my first experience of playing a work by this Welsh composer.

Singer Camille Malaawy's performance of the arabic segments was spine tingling and the addition of the Ethnic wind instrument, the Mey to the soundscape and dimming of lights added enormously to the conjuring up of a differnt world. Surely only the most steely heart could fail to be moved by Sarah Ellen Murphy's Lament.

Also on the programme was a Puccini Mass featuring big sweeping operatic melodies and carried off beautifully by the young singers Peter O Donohue and David Howes who I expect we will hear a lot more of in the coming years.

All in all, it was a wonderful musical extravaganza which was very exciting to be a part of . Well done Malcolm Greene

Twin Violin Concertos Benedetti and Zosi
You know the way it is. You don't hear a concerto for ages and then two come along. I found myself in Cork on Thursday evening and arrived just in time for Nicola Benedetti's performance with the NSO at Cork City Hall. She looked stunning in red satin and her playing is spirited but also very seductive . She looked a little uncomfortable when not playing and I gather she had been ill and unable to play in Limerick. Having arrived late , my son Jack and I sat near the back of the hall and the sound was not as poor as expected . We met bass player David Whitla who spoke about the Montreal Jazz Festival which Jack hopes to get to later this year.

I spent a few days in Garmisch Partenkirchen in the Bavarian Alps with my sister and our daughters. I went along to hear the North West German Symphony Orchestra . The Kongresshall Theatre is really cosy there . It is like a rustic version of the Barbican, lined in pine . The soloist was a very young man Edoardo Zosi from Milan who played a concerto by Samuel Barber in this his centenary year and very splendid he was too.

I was a little surprised to hear the cor Anglais player practicing her big solo for the New World symphony on stage during the interval anticipating its exposition in the second movement somewhat.

CDS Music Summer Camps Dates for 2010

Following the great success of the 2009 summer camps the provisional dates are announced for the 2010 season.

21st June - 2nd July Post Primary Group 12 -14 ages group Ennis Venue tbc

28th June - 2nd July Primary Age Group 8 -12. West Clare Venue tbc

5th -9th July Primary Age Group 8-12 Ennis Venue tbc

12th -16th July Primary Age Group 8-12 Waterford Venue tbc

Courses will consist of introduction to strings, drumming, beginners guitar, ensemble playing
all instuments provided.

Contact cdsymphonia@gmail.com for details or keep an eye on my blog for further information.

Great Glee!

It took me a little while to get into this teen drama sert in an American High School but Dan my teenage son is right . It is great ! It seems to appeal across the generations. My mother is also a fan . All the characters are so believable and well drawn especially the acerbic ones. Can't wait for the next episode. I think I will have to invest in a box set.

Clare Music Makers Spring Serenade

On Saturday 27th February, the teachers from Clare Music Makers gave a very pleasant evening of chamber music at Ennis Civic Offices. The concerto for two violins worked very well in a reduced trio format and I really enjoyed the Carolan Medley. The Cantilena by Michael Rose was lovely but sadly no string quartet including viola in the programme! I was delighted to hear my old friend Ray Heraty , sax and clarinet player on the programme and he gave a very interesting spoken introduction to his pieces. The audience included special guest Ita MacMahon who worked for many years in the local music societies with Ray and in Ennis Cathedral.
The CMM Orchestra played the Boccherini Minuet and a very attractive Symhonic Dance by Grieg. I played double bass on this occasion. I always wanted to make a big noise!