Amhráin na Naomh


All Hallows Chapel DCU, Dublin

15 March 2023

St Mary's Cathedral, Limerick

16 March 2023


Programme

Hildegard Von Bingen (Germany, c. 1098-1179)O Virtus Sapientiae
Arvo Pärt (Estonia, b. 1935)Silouan’s Song
Jean Sibelius (Finland, 1865-1957)Rakastava (The Lover)
Arvo PärtFratres
Eoghan Desmond (Ireland, b. 1989)Amra Choluim Chille World Premiere

Performers

Chamber Choir Ireland
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Cormac McCarthyConductor

From Arvo Pärt’s shimmering song of St. Silouan to Eoghan Desmond’s sean-nós-inspired Elegy for Colmcille. 

Chamber Choir Ireland and the Irish Chamber Orchestra join forces to celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge, with the world premiere of a new commission by Irish composer Eoghan Desmond, Amra Choluim Chille.

This Irish language cantata uses orchestration inspired by Irish traditional instruments, and melodic material drawn from the Irish hymn tune Columba, often heavily ornamented in a manner inspired by sean-nós singing.

The work was originally written to commemorate Colmcille 1500, and will now be performed for the first time amongst a programme of saintly and spiritual music. From St. Hildegard's medieval chant to the spirit of Divine Wisdom, 'O Virtus Sapientiae'; to Arvo Pärt’s mesmerising Fratres and his sparkling Silouans Song—an instrumental work based upon a 'silent text' written by St. Silouan.