Eric Sweeney's 60th year continues to be marked by a number of major performances.

His Missa Brevis (1995) was performed at Westminster Cathedral last October (Piccolo Lasso Singers, conductor Ite O'Donovan) and his Slow Air (2008), commissoned by the European Union Chamber Orchestra, featured a European tour in November/December 2008.

His Three Irish Folktunes (2003) will be published in America in early 2009 with an accompanying CD performed by John Feeley (guitar), while the cantata Niamh of the Golden Hair (2004) will be played by the Prague Chamber Orchestra and Prague Singers, conductor Milán Kanek, in the Dvorak Hall, Prague, on 18 March as part of the Prague Premieres 2009 festival. In May, Strings in the Earth and Air wil be performed at the Groundswell new music festival in Winnipeg, Canada.

New recordings this year include Prism (2003) and Song (1998) with the Dublin Guitar Quartet on their new Music Network Contemporary Irish CD, and Evening Canticles (2007) and Eucharist (2001) sung by the choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford.

Nearer to home, his music will be featured at the Waterford New Music Week (31 March-4 April) with a lecture by Dr Hazel Farrell and performances of a retrospective range of works including Five Inventions (1983), Dance, Clarion Air (1987) Strings in the Earth and Air,(1988), Drive (2000), Prism (2003) Abendlied (2006), Serenade (2007) and the premiere of Kyrie (2008) sung by Madrigallery Chamber Choir, conductor Kevin O'Carroll.

Amhran na gaoithe (2008) commissioned by the Galvia Singers in Galway, conductor Mark Keane, will be premiered at the Cork International Choral Festival in April, and his Mass of St Patrick (2004) can be heard in a liturgical setting at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin on February 1st. The composer will play Le Cercle de Lumiere (1999) in an organ recital at Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford on 8 February, and his setting of the Eucharist (2001) can be heard at the same venue on 1 and 15 February.

Posted: 26 January 2009