NCH After Beethoven Series: 'Bagatelles' programme curated by Jane O'Leary

Concorde: Xenia Pestova Bennett, piano; Paul Roe, clarinet/bass clarinet; Elaine Clark, violin; Martin Johnson, cello.

This special composer-led series sees leading Irish composers Ann Cleare, Anselm McDonnell, Garrett Sholdice, Ian Wilson and Jane O’Leary respond to Beethoven’s creative legacy. Each concert features a new commission by the composer presented in a concert of their own curation.

Composer's response:

We focus on Beethoven’s daring in writing small pieces, which he called Bagatelles. While the title implies that these are trivial works; they are in fact personal and probing and helped lead the way towards a variety of different formats used by composers subsequently. One of the most significant composers who adopted this concise form of expression was Anton Webern, whose short pieces for violin and cello are featured. Beethoven’s miniatures provide inspiration for the Bagatelles of Elizabeth Lutyens (1962) and myself (2013). Ed Bennett’s concise trio Breath began life with a reflection on Beethoven’s ‘Ghost’ Trio, while both Judith Ring and Greg Caffrey share with Beethoven an attention to detail and motivic obsession. My new work is an exploration of motivic gesture directly derived from the Rondo of his Piano Sonata Op. 10, no. 3, and the title is an extract from one of Beethoven’s letters.

(Jane O'Leary)

Dedicated to the creation of new music and passionate about sharing it with listeners, Jane O’Leary has enjoyed composing music for soloists, ensembles, choirs and orchestras – often reflecting the landscape surrounding her. Jane has honed her skills through performances with specialist new music ensemble Concorde for over 40 years – exploring sound and listening from within. Established in 1976 to fill a gap in opportunities in Ireland for listening to new music, Concorde was Ireland’s first new music ensemble, and continues to nurture the creation of new work in collaboration with composers, promoters and listeners. Over 250 world premieres have been given and more than 100 Irish composers are represented in Concorde’s performances.

Programme

Elizabeth Lutyens - 5 Bagatelles (1962)

Beethoven - 6 Bagatelles, Op. 126 (1823-24)  piano solo
interspersed with 
Jane O’Leary - Five Bagatelles (2013) piano solo

Beethoven - 1. Andante con moto
Jane O'Leary - 1.  gently
Beethoven  - 2. Allegro
Jane O'Leary - 2.  light, sparkling
Beethoven  - 3. Andante
Jane O'Leary - 3.   as if in a dream…softly
Beethoven  - 4.  Presto
Jane O'Leary - 4.   curious, hesitant
Beethoven  - 5.  Quasi Allegretto
Jane O'Leary - 5.   gently, as if muted
Beethoven - 6.  Presto

Ed Bennett - Breath (2006)

Webern - Four Pieces for violin and piano (1910) Op. 7

Webern - Three Little Pieces for cello and piano (1914) Op. 11

Judith Ring - fine feathers far below the blue floor (2011)

Greg Caffrey - Carter Fragment (2011) 

Jane O’Leary - as the wind often does… (world premiere)

Tickets

Tickets available via the National Concert Hall, booking here.