A new book has been published celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Cork International Choral Festival. Edited by Ruth Fleischmann, daughter of the Festival’s founder, Aloys Fleischmann, it documents the history of the Festival in extraordinary detail.

Over the past fifty years the Cork International Choral Festival has won international standing and a special place in the esteem and affection of the hundreds of Irish choirs, big and small, that have regularly taken part in it. From the beginning it has been supported by the City and County Councils, by Cork companies, media, institutions, and by the public.

In this book, over 200 people write about their involvement in the Festival: directors, administrators, adjudicators, composers commissioned to write new works, choristers from our islands and many parts of continental Europe, critics, patrons, sponsors, the voluntary organisers and members of the public.

The appendices record the names and achievements of participants. All 3,321 choir visits are documented, including the choir conductors and competitions entered. Irish choirs (adult and school) as well as foreign choirs are listed alphabetically. First and second prizewinners of all competitions are recorded; so are the set pieces and the competition rules as they have evolved down the decades. The 144 dance teams and the 145 adjudicators are named, as are the commissioned composers and their 119 works; the opening and closing ceremonies are chronicled. The Festival directors, administrators and the 680 voluntary workers are listed, some of whom have given up to 50 years of unbroken service to this unique Festival.

The Fiftieth Cork International Choral Festival takes place this year from to 28 April to 2 May. Further information from the Festival Office, email chorfest@iol.ie

Cork International Choral Festival 1954-2004: A Celebration. Ed. Ruth Fleischmann. Glen House Press, Cork, supported and distributed by Veritas Dublin, price 20.00.