Brian Brody & the Ghost Ensemble are a collaboration between singer-songwriter Brian Brody and composer Simon Quigley. They create and perform songs of love, loss and hope, shaped around Brody’s big baritone voice, creating a dynamic akin to Scott Walker and Elvis Costello’s ‘Juliette Letters’ with the Brodsky quartet. Together, they have performed Scott 4, Scott Walker’s seminal album and this, in part, has carved out their sound. For this performance at Rathfarnham Castle expect an eclectic mix of original music, sung by Brian Brody, accompanied with Simon Quigley on piano, a full string section by Musici Ireland and Anita Mahon as Mezzo soprano plus other interesting instrumentation, as well as dramatic songs that offer hints of Brel and Walker.

The last of 3 concerts as part of Musici Ireland's mini series at Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24, an initiative of Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Germany, to celebrate St Patrick's Weekend

Sunday 17th March 3pm

A beautiful concert of string quartet music with special guests, German Classical Guitarist Stefan Hladek and violinist Rachelle Hunt

A St Patrick's Day celebration featuring Irish music:

Vivaldi “La Follia Variations”, op.1 arr. Stefan Hladek [12’]

Ailbhe McDonagh String Quartet No2 “Lore” [8’] Movements 1 & 2

Roland Dyens “Tango en Skai” [3’]

Solo guitar:

S. de Murcia "Three Spanish baroque pieces" Cumbees & Tarantelas

G. Sanz “Canarios” [8’]

Trad “Slán le Maighe” arr. John Lynch [5’] string Trio

Liam Bates “Dolmen JOY” Guitar Quintet [5’] WORLD PREMIERE

Boccherini “Fandango” Guitar Quintet [26’]

Other performances take place on Friday 15th and Saturday 16th, tickets available on eventbrite

The 2nd of 3 concerts as part of Musici Ireland's mini series at Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24, an initiative of Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Germany, to celebrate St Patrick's Weekend

Saturday 16th March 3pm

A beautiful concert of string quartet music:

Liam Bates “Vivo” [4’]

Rebecca Clarke Poem, [8’]

Paul Frost "What are the memories I just can't live without?" [5’]

Jessie Montgomery "Strum" [8’]

George Walker "Lyric" for strings [6’]

Dvorak "American" string quartet No.12 Op 96 [25’]

Other performances take place on Friday 15th and Sunday 17th, tickets available on eventbrite

A mini concert series in Dr Hoch’s Konservatorium, Frankfurt to celebrate St Patrick’s weekend. Featuring “A Mother’s Voice” and two afternoon concerts as part of Zeitgeist Irland 24, an initiative of Culture Ireland and the Embassy of Ireland in Germany

Friday 15th March 7.30pm

“A Mother’s Voice” (String Quartet) a commemorative dedication to the many women affected by the mother and baby homes in Ireland during the 1900s. Musici Ireland is humbled to present a multidisciplinary production in honour of these women; a collaboration between artists and living survivors to shed light on this veiled era of Ireland’s recent history.

The production, a two year development, consists of an immersive exhibit by Bridget Ni Dhuinn, with lighting by Eoin McNinch and showcase a performance of the newly commissioned work by Cork composers Linda and Irene Buckley with animation by Eabha Bortolozzo and Jack Kirwan. The piece also features the voices of three mothers, "Cait", Deirdre Wadding and Sheila O'Byrne

“A Mother’s Voice does a beautiful job of centering survivors and transforms powerful testimony into performance with thoughtfulness and care. This is important work, blending activism and artistry, and I hope many other audiences have the opportunity to experience it.”

— Shea Donovan, Indigo Arts Collective

A Weekend pass is available for access to all 3 concerts. More info below………………….

"A Mother's Voice" is a Musici Ireland Production, developed with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland and Triskel WRITE, RECORD, PERFORM bursary

“A Mother’s Voice does a beautiful job of centering survivors and transforms powerful testimony into performance with thoughtfulness and care. This is important work, blending activism and artistry, and I hope many other audiences have the opportunity to experience it.”
— Shea Donovan, Indigo Arts Collective

A Mother's Voice is a commemorative dedication to the many women affected by the mother and baby homes in Ireland during the 1900s. It is a multidisciplinary production in honour of these women, a collaboration between artists and living survivors to shed light on this veiled era of Ireland's recent history.

The production, a two year development, was created by Beth McNinch with co-creative assistance from Jane Hackett. The performance consists of an immersive exhibit by Bridget Ni Dhuinn, with lighting by Eoin McNinch and showcases a performance of the original music by Cork composers Linda and Irene Buckley with animation by Eabha Bortolozzo and Jack Kirwan. Most importantly, the piece also features the voices of three mothers, "Cait", Deirdre Wadding and Sheila O'Byrne.

“The work “A Mother’s Voice” shines a light on a shameful part of recent Irish History regarding mother and baby homes, and the International interest this work has attracted goes to show the relevance and sensitivity in which the group treated such difficult subject matter. Musici Ireland are presenting unique productions, centering socially aware subject matters and using art to inform audiences about Irish history.” — Catherine Kontz, composer and Artistic Director of Rainy Days Festival, Luxembourg.

Original Concept/Creative Director: Beth McNinch

Assistant Creative Director: Jane Hackett

Mothers Voices: "Cait", Deirdre Wadding and Sheila O Byrne

Original Score and Soundscape: Irene and Linda Buckley

Animation: Eabha Bortollozo and Jack Kirwan

Installation: Bridget Ni Dhuinn

Lighting Design: Eoin McNinch

Musicians: Jane Hackett, Emma Downes, Beth McNinch and Katie Tertell

On International women’s day 2024, we are proud to present “A Mother’s Voice”, for it’s 2nd Irish performance. (There will be tow performances at 6.30pm and 8pm)

“A Mother’s Voice” (String Quartet) a commemorative dedication to the many women affected by the mother and baby homes in Ireland during the 1900s. Musici Ireland is humbled to present a multidisciplinary production in honour of these women; a collaboration between artists and living survivors to shed light on this veiled era of Ireland’s recent history.

The production, which has been a two year work in progress, culminate in an immersive exhibit by Bridget Ni Dhuinn, with lighting by Eoin McNinch and showcase a performance of the newly commissioned work by Cork composers Linda and Irene Buckley with animation by Eabha Bortolozzo and Jack Kirwan. The piece also features the voices of three mothers, "Cait", Deirdre Wadding and Sheila O'Byrne

.

“A Mother’s Voice does a beautiful job of centering survivors and transforms powerful testimony into performance with thoughtfulness and care. This is important work, blending activism and artistry, and I hope many other audiences have the opportunity to experience it.”

— Shea Donovan, Indigo Arts Collective

Jane Hackett and Emma Downes - Violin

Beth McNinch - Viola

Katie Tertell - Cello

We are delighted to have been invited to Rainy Days Festival in Luxembourg to perform our first original production. This also marks Musici Ireland’s first International Performance.

A Mother's Voice is a commemorative dedication to the many women affected by the mother and baby homes in Ireland during the 1900s. It is a multidisciplinary production in honour of these women, a collaboration between artists and living survivors to shed light on this veiled era of Ireland's recent history.

Original Concept/Creative Director: Beth McNinch

Assistant Creative Director: Jane Hackett

Mothers Voices: "Cait", Deirdre Wadding and Sheila O Byrne

Original score and Soundscape: Irene and Linda Buckley

Animation: Eabha Bortollozo and Jack Kirwan

Installation: Bridget Ni Dhuinn

Lighting Design: Eoin McNinch

Musicians: Ioana Petcu-Colan, Lidia Jewloszewicz Clarke Beth McNinch Katie Tertell

This exciting new Guitar Festival brings Irish and International guitarists of the highest calibre to New Ross with the aim of promoting the various genres of guitar and inspiring a new generation to experience the benefits of pursuing a dynamic instrument.

We will be perfoming with Classical Guitarist and Artistic Director of the festival David Creevy

More Details to Follow…..

An interesting programme of music for violin, viola and flute

Programme:

Handel/Halverson Passacaglia violin and viola [7’]

Libby Croad “Suffragette Sonata” for Solo Viola [17’]

Gorecki Trio for Alto Flute, Violin and Viola [12’]

Interval

Martinu Three Madrigals for violin and viola [16’]

Debussy Syrinx solo flute [2.30’]

Beethoven Trio for flute, violin and viola [25’]

Musici Ireland :

Vourneen Ryan FLUTE

Lynda O’Connor VIOLIN

Beth McNinch VIOLA

Irish folk music act Hibsen pay homage to James Joyce with performances of their debut album ‘The Stern Task of Living’ under the aegis of the Bloomsday festival, with thanks to Irish Life and AVIVA for sponsoring the performances.

The ‘Stern Task of Living’ is a collection of 15 original songs, one for each short story in Joyce’s book ‘Dubliners’, with the lyrics and music written by Jim Murphy and Gráinne Hunt. Each song is named after the short story on which is based and captures the essence of the storyline though its lyrics and the sentiment of the story through its music.

An ensemble of 10 musicians, including the string quartet Musici, will perform the full album live. In addition, Frank McNally of The Irish Times will recite selected passages from Joyce’s ‘Dubliners’ at various points during the performance.

‘The Stern Task of Living’ will be available for download and on CD on Bandcamp and on all streaming platforms from 26th May.

RUNNING TIME: 120 MINS INCL AN INTERVAL
TICKETS €20 | €18 STUDENT/OAP/UNWAGED

Gráinne Hunt (Vocals)
Axel McDonald (Guitar)
Frank McNally (Recitations)
Jim Murphy (Guitar)
Lynda O’Connor (First Violin)
Paul O’Hanlon (Second Violin)

Beth McNinch (Viola)
Gerald Peregrine (Cello)
Ronan Quinn (Bass)
Laura Ryder (Piano)
Shay Sweeney (Drums)

These are two live shows of all 15 songs on 9th and 10th June….Here is Araby, a taster of the beauty that awaits the audience:

An exciting programme of violin and viola music including:

With Lynda O’Connor: Violin and Beth McNinch: Viola

Handel/Halverson Passacaglia

Sibelius Duo in C Major

Saariaho Nocturne for Solo Violin

Bartok 7 duos

Ponce Sonata a Duo: Allegro, piuttosto moderato

Amanda Feery Square Movement

Interval

Libby Croad “Suffragette Sonata” for solo viola WORLD PREMIERE

-Deeds Not Words

-Emmeline

-Derby Day

Martinu Three Madrigals Duo No.1

-Poco allegro - Poco vivo

-Poco andante - Andante moderato

-Allegro - Moderato - Allegro vivo

Lost in Plain Sight: Gaspar Cassadó’s Iberian Legacy

Featuring Mia Cooper, Beth McNinch, Katie Tertell and Aibhe McDonagh with special guest artist Dominic Salerni, violinist from the Grammy winning Attacca Quartet.

An exploration of the work of Spanish Catalan cellist and composer Gaspar Cassadó (1897-1966). Regarded as one of the top cellists of the 20th century whose work continues to be played worldwide, his name and history remain mostly forgotten in Spain and abroad. An early advocate for the modern cello, he played an active role in trying to expand the repertoire for cellists, composing and collaborating with composers of his time like Luigi Dallapiccola (1904-75) who dedicated a concerto to him. Today, his name remains connected to that of his world-famous teacher, Pablo Casals (1876-1973), and fraught by the complicated legacy of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). Cassadó’s significance in cello performance and composition deserve a new look as his works reflect important musical trends in pre-war Europe regarding the concept of a regional or national sound. As part of a research project to recover his legacy while examining of what could be identified or understood as a “Spanish sound” in 20th century classical music, the recital presents a combination of lecture and performance, where the audience is invited to learn about the life and work of Cassadó in conversation with the work of other composers.

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805)

String Quartet No. 60 in C Major

La musica notturna delle strade di Madrid (for 2 violins, viola and 2 cellos)

Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)

String Quartet in F Major (1903)

Gaspar Cassadó (1897-1966)

String Quartet No 1 in f minor (1929)

Rosi Song, guest speaker

H. Rosi Song holds a Chair in Hispanic Studies at Durham University. A specialist in 20th and 21st century Spanish culture and literature, she is the author of Lost in Transition: Constructing Memory in Contemporary Spain (Liverpool UP, 2016) and the co-editor of Traces of Contamination: Unearthing Francoist Legacy in Contemporary Spanish Discourse (Bucknell UP, 2005) and Towards a Cultural Archive of la Movida: Back to the Future (Farleigh Dickinson UP, 2013). She is one of the Series Editors for Culinaria, a new book series from the University of Toronto Press on Food Studies and serves on the editorial board for Toronto Iberic Series as well. Her most recent book, co-written with Anna Riera, is A Taste of Barcelona. The History of Catalan Cooking and Eating (Rowman and Littlefield, 2019).

REBECCA CLARKE Poem for String Quartet [8’]

SIOBHAN CLEARY “Pipoon” (Vcl,Hp) [6’]

BAX Quintet for Harp and Strings [14’]
JESSIE MONTGOMERY Source Code [9’]

Valentin Silvestrov IKON [4.30’]

CAPLET ‘Le Masque de la Mort Rouge’ for harp and string quartet [17’]

Featuring

Dianne Marshall: Harp

Mia Cooper: Violin 1

Lidia Jewloszewicz-Clarke: Violin 2

Beth McNinch: Viola

Katie Tertell: Cello

Musici Ireland return to Music for Wexford for the World Premiere performance of a new concerto for viola and chamber ensemble by Kilmore composer Liam Bates. Famed for his Christmas musical Noel, a collaboration with Eoin Colfer, and Heroes of the Helen Blake, this promises to be a thrilling new work, commissioned by Beth McNinch in 2022.

Join Liam and Beth for a brief pre-concert talk at 3pm

Concert at 3.30pm

Jessie Montgomery Strum

Mozart Flute Quartet in D

Ravel Introduction and Allegro

Glazanov Reverie Orientale

Bates EARTHRISE Concerto: Soloist Beth McNinch

Leader: Ioana Petcu Colan , Lidia Jewloszewicz Clarke violin

Nick Rippon: Viola Niamh Molloy: Cello

Dominic Dudley: Bass

Dianne Marshall: Harp Meadbh O’Rourke: Flute Conor Sheil: Clarinet Hannah Miller: Horn

We are delighted to have been invited to give the International Women's Day performance at Finding a Voice Festival.

Our fabulous Wind Quintet will be showcasing some beautiful music by women composers:

GERMAINE TAILLEFERRE Choral et Deux Variations

VALERIE COLEMAN Umoja - The first day of Kwanzaa

JOAN TRIMBLE Three Diversions

AMY BEACH Fireflies

CECILE CHAMINADE Gavotte

CLARA SCHUMANN Nocturne

AMY BEACH The Brownies

CECILLIA MCDOWDALL Subject to the weather

With Vourneen Ryan: Flute, Aoife McCambridge: Oboe, Conor Sheil: Clarinet, Cliona warren: Bassoon and Hannah Miller: Horn

Due to sudden illness this concert is postponed. Apologies for any inconvenience caused

An interesting programme of music for violin, viola and flute, including the world premiere of “Mna na bhFianna” by Ailbhe McDonagh for solo viola.

Programme:

Handel/Halverson Passacaglia violin and viola Hoffmeister duo for Flute and Viola

Saariaho Nocturne for Solo Violin

Ailbhe McDonagh Mna na bhFianna

Eve Beglarian - I will not be sad in this world (solo alto flute) Martinu Three Madrigals for violin and viola

Interval

Amanda Feery Square movement for violin and viola

Debussy Syrinx solo flute

Beethoven Trio for flute, violin and viola

Musici Ireland :

Vourneen Ryan FLUTE

Jane Hackett VIOLIN

Beth McNinch VIOLA

We are delighted to have been invited by Ardee Baroque Festival to put together a fun family concert full of all your favourite tunes from the Baroque period.

Venue TBC

Lidia Jewloszewicz Clarke and Maria Ryan - Violins

Beth McNinch - Viola

Katie Tertell - Cello

The concert will include:

Handel Queen of Sheba

Bach Air          

Pachelbel Canon

Mouret Rondeau

Selection from Purcell Fairy Queen

Handel Hornpipe

Boccherini Passacaligia (from Master and Commander)

Handel Sarabande

Vivaldi Largo from Winter

Handel La Rejouissance

Jeremiah Clarke Trumpet Tune

Bach Ave Maria

Vivaldi Allegro from Spring

Charpentier Prelude from Te Deum

Bach Jesu Joy of man’s desiring

Handel Ombra mai fu

*Online sales stop at 4pm on the day of the event. Tickets will be available from 6:45pm at the venue – card sales only at venue.

St Mary’s Church of Ireland, Ardee

The 2022 Ardee Baroque festival opens with a concert featuring Irish soprano Roisin O’Grady and Musici Ireland in a programme of glorious works for voice and strings including Handel’s Gloria – a work thought to have been written c.1707 but only discovered in 2001.

Simon Harden - Organ

Lidia Jewloszewicz Clarke and Maria Ryan - Violins

Beth McNinch - Viola

Katie Tertell - Cello

Rameau deux Tabourins [2.15’]

Carlo Farina Pavane [4’]

Giuseppe Torelli Concerto for strings Op.6 No.1 [5.30’]

I know my redeemer liveth from Messiah [5.20’]

Dido's lament from Purcell's Dido and Aeneas [7.45’]

Bach, bist du bei mir [2.40’]

Vivaldi Alla Rustica [4.30’]

Vivaldi's Nulla in mundo pax sincera  (first aria only)  [6.30’]

Antonio Vivaldi "Concerto RV 127" [5’]

Handel's cantata Gloria  [16’]

EVENT DETAILS

“Still I Rise” our 10th Anniversary concert series featuring all female composers

Programme:

REBECCA CLARKE Poem for String Quartet [8’]

SALLY BEAMISH Gala Water for Solo Cello [8’]

DEIRDRE MCKAY Snowline [9′]

JESSIE MONTGOMERY Strum [8’]