Composing the Island: A century of music in Ireland 1916-2016

Fri 2 Sep 2016

The major centenary project by RTÉ and the National Concert Hall presenting 29 concerts of orchestral, choral, instrumental, song and chamber music by Irish composers written between 1916 and 2016 takes place during September. 

How this music developed, and the times and circumstances in which it was written will unfold over 3 weeks of concerts which will include 6 major orchestral concerts performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Over the course of the festival, almost 200 works by some 90 different Irish composers will be performed and recorded for broadcast; with additional concerts of choral, chamber, song, mixed ensembles and instrumental music recitals, alongside a series of supporting talks, related events and an accompanying published book.

Highlights include: 
  • The earliest orchestral piece, an Irish Rhapsody from 1914 by Charles Villiers Stanford, friend of Brahms and Offenbach, teacher of Vaughan Williams and Holst.
  • The newest orchestral composition, c, commissioned by RTÉ especially for Composing the Island from Birmingham-based Dubliner Andrew Hamilton, whose teachers include Kevin Volans, will premiere at the festival.
  • A new work by Ian Wilson, exploring the human, personal aspects of 1916 through the last words of the captured leaders of the Rising.
  • Additional world premieres by Ronan Guilfoyle, Philip Hammond, Stephen McNeff and Eoghan Desmond.
  • A century of choral music with Chamber Choir Ireland.
  • Two recitals of The Irish Song Book with Robin Tritschler and Rachel Kelly.
  • The groundbreaking string quartet by Frederick May, one of the most individual statements from an Irish composer in the first half of the 20th century.
  • A concert by pianist Isabelle O'Connell featuring works by Karen Power, Jennifer Walshe, Grainne Mulvey, Anna Murray, Irene Buckley, Ailis Ni Riain and Linda Buckley.
  • Other significant chamber music from across the century played by the Vanbrugh and RTÉ Contempo quartets and Fidelio Trio.
  • Striking recent orchestral works including Donnacha Dennehy’s Crane with its title reflecting that symbol of the construction boom of Celtic Tiger Ireland; and Stephen Gardner’s NEVER…NEVER…NEVER drawing its title from a famous Ian Paisley speech protesting against the signing of the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement.
  • Recitals by leading Irish pianists Hugh Tinney and Michael McHale.
  • ‘Here and Now’: 21st century music in the Crash Ensemble new music marathon.
  • RTÉ Cór na nÓg presenting music written especially for children’s voices since 1980
  • Festival finale with the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in a choral concert that brings Composing the Island back full circle, with two works from the 1920s by now largely forgotten figures, Norman Hay and Rhoda Coghill.

The festival begins on 7 September and will be marked by the official launch of an accompanying book by Irish Times Music Critic Michael Dervan, entitled The Invisible Art: A century of music in Ireland 1916-2016. 

More information each of the events is available in CMC's Events section and booking for the concerts is available on the National Concert Hall's web site.