Renaissance musical feast for Early Music festival

Date Published: 08-May-2012

A musical feast of renaissance and early music can be heard during the 17th Galway Early Music Festival.

Boasting an incredible line up of local and international artists and performers, the festival will open with local, Galway based Cois Cladaigh Chamber Choir, celebrating their momentous 30th Anniversary at St Nicholas Collegiate Church on Thursday, May 17 at 8pm.

Founded in 1982, Cois Cladaigh, named after the historical Claddagh village of Galway City pay tribute to 30 years of vocal harmony this year. Celebrating this iconic milestone, Cois Cladaigh choir will perform a powerful repertoire of contemporary and early choral music exploring the theme of this year’s Galway Early Music festival: “Social Harmony, when tradition and High Art Meet”, when popular culture and high art meet and mingle!”

Hailing as one of the Top 6 International Early Music Festivals in Classical Music/Early Music Today Magazine 2011, the Galway Early Music Festival features four days of high calibre acts, lively performances and a range of innovative events! This is a musical melody not to be missed by early music enthusiasts!

Following the magnificent Cois Cladaigh Choir, Francois Lazarevitch will entertain audiences with “1000 years of Bagpipe in France” on Friday 18th May, 1pm in The Chapel of the Poor Clares. This musical extravaganza will showcase the bagpipe in all its diversity and the role it has played in France’s musical and cultural heritage.

Other musical highlights include Les Musicians de Saint Julien & Francois Lazarevitch as they perform Le Berger Poet /The Shepherd Poet at St Nicholas Collegiate Church at 8.30pm. Featuring a selection of French pastoral music of the eighteenth century and intimate pieces for flute, musette and hurdy-gurdy, resulting in melodies full of instrumental colour and in musical character.

Families can look forward to entertaining performances with “The Musicians of Breman” at The Kings Head Pub at 11am. This highly entertaining event combines theatre and storytelling with music describing the tale of four old and worn out animals who decide to make music that has unexpected results! This has become a hugely popular feature for little ones and grown ups alike!

On Saturday May 19, Barnaby Brown will give a revealing performance into the ancient artistic traditions of Scotland’s music in The Galway City Museum with “Historical Music of Scotland: Bagpipes and Triple Pipes” at 2pm. This will be followed by Andrew Lawrence-King, the world’s foremost solo historical harpist who will deliver a unique performance with The Harp Consort at St. Nicholas Collegiate Church. Prepare for a musical journey exploring the music of Spain and the New World in “Fantasía y Folías”. This animated performance will come to life with wild rhythms, artful dance and creative improvisation that will have you dancing in your seat!

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.