Report from the 1st Donegal Chamber Music Festival 30th May- 1st June 2014

Report from the 1st Donegal Chamber Music Festival 30th May- 1st June 2014

The 1st Donegal Chamber Music Festival, held in Glenveagh and the Glebe Gallery, was a huge success. Four concerts were given over the course of the long weekend, and each was a delight for listener and player alike. The first and last concerts presented a variety of music from the classical repertoire spanning five centuries, and each of the four concerts contained a piece by the contemporary composer Vincent Kennedy, who also conducts the Donegal Youth Orchestra. Vincent gave illuminating introductions to his compositions ­ a bonus for the appreciative audiences. Guest artist in the Friday concert was the charming flautist Sarah Murphy, who excelled in both solo and ensemble performances. A surprising collaboration concluded the Saturday afternoon session in the auditorium of the Glenveagh Visitors Centre: the well-known Gweedore sean-nós singer Dominic Mac Giolla Bhríde sang a selection from his repertoire to the accompaniment of the Donegal Chamber Orchestra. These two very different worlds complemented and lifted each other in a wonderful blend.

Donegal Camerata String Quintet at Glenveagh Castle

This whole weekend of music did not happen out of the blue. Seven years of dedicated teaching and musicianship on the part of Victor Yelamo and his wife Orsolya have led up to this Festival in the beautiful setting of Glenveagh. Victor and Orsolya came to live in Donegal as a result of the establishment here of a Local Music Education Partnership (under the auspices of the former V.E.C., now E.T.B), which provides instruments and instrumental tuition across the county. Not content with teaching and playing at an international level ­ Victor and Orsolya play regularly with the celebrated Concerto Malaga ­ they have created other ensembles in Donegal. The Festival featured the Junior String Orchestra (which played in the courtyard of the Glebe Gallery in brilliant sunshine), the more advanced Donegal Chamber Orchestra and the fully professional Donegal Camerata String Quintet ­which brought the Festival to a joyous conclusion on the Sunday night. Thanks are due to the participants, the musicians, the audiences and all who facilitated the event.

 

Musicians and audience giving a warm ovation to Vincent Kennedy,
the featured composer of the 1st Donegal Chamber Music Festival

This 1st Donegal Chamber Music Festival was promoted by the Donegal Chamber Music Society (DCMS), an umbrella organization created in 2007 with the aim of fostering an appreciation of classical music in County Donegal. DCMS collaborates with other musical agencies, artists and workshops, and has been presenting regular monthly concerts in Letterkenny and elsewhere for the last three years. 

GRAHAM HARRISON Chairperson

1st “Donegal Chamber Music Festival” at Glenveagh National Park

Donegal Chamber Music Society

in association with Glenveagh National Park,

Donegal Music Education Partnership and the Glebe Gallery presents the

1^st “Donegal Chamber Music Festival”

May 30^th, 31^st and June 1^st

Featuring:

Sarah Murphy, flute

Szabó-Yélamo String Duo

DMEP’s Junior String Orchestra & Friends

Donegal Chamber Orchestra

Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde, sean-nós singer 

Donegal Camerata String Quintet

and the music of composer Vincent Kennedy

FIRST DONEGAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 

30^th May-1st June 2014

The first DONEGAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL is taking place in the beautiful setting of Glenveagh Castle. The Castle and estate, open to the public since 1986, lies midway between Letterkenny and Gweedore. The combination of fine music and Glenveagh, with its idyllic lake, garden and mountain setting, is always a memorable experience. FOUR CONCERTS WILL BE PRESENTED BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, see below. As always, the Donegal Chamber Music Society promotes contemporary music-making in Ireland; the music of established Irish composer Vincent Kennedy (familiar to many from his outstanding work with the Donegal Youth Orchestra) will feature in each of the concerts, and some of them will be given their premiere in this Festival.

 Two evening concerts will be presented in the Castle drawing-room: the Friday concert features local and international instrumentalists with guest flautist Sarah Murphy. The Sunday concert will be given by the Donegal Camerata String Quintet. Glenveagh’s intimate drawing-room has limited seating accommodation, and concert guests have to be conveyed to the Castle by minibus from the Visitors Centre; patrons are advised to book early!  See below for booking details.

There will be two concerts on the Saturday: a free lunchtime concert in the nearby Glebe Gallery (beside Lough Gartan), given by the Junior String Orchestra of the Donegal Music Education Partnership, and an afternoon “Coffee Concert” in the Glenveagh Visitors Centre, featuring the Donegal Chamber Orchestra, with guest singer Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde. The “Coffee Concert” will include music by Bartók, Britten, Hindemith and Tchaikovsky, as well as traditional Irish songs accompanied by the orchestra. See below for booking details.

Graham Harrison, Chairperson Donegal Chamber Music Society

Friday 30^th May

8 pm. Drawing Room, Glenveagh Castle. Admission: € 20

Bus leaving car park at 7.30pm. Booking essential. Tickets can be booked in advance only.  An Grianán Theatre Box Office: 074 9120777

Sarah Murphy, flute; Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo, violin; Lucia Spacirova, viola; Víctor Yélamo, cello

Music by W. A. Mozart, C. P. E. Bach, Charles Hubert Parry & Vincent Kennedy

Program

Leopold Mozart (1719 –1787): Divertimento for string trio No. 3                             

Claude Debussy (1862-1918): Syrinx, L. 129 for solo flute                                                 

Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809): London Trio No. 1 in C Major                                    

Vincent Kennedy (b. 1962): Memories (World Premier of the new version) (2011/14)     

Charles Hubert Parry (1848 – 1918): Two Intermezzi for String Trio                              

Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach (1714- 1788): Duetto for Flute and Violin, WQ 140       

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Flute Quartet in D Major, KV 285         

Note: This Program is subject to change without notice.

Saturday 31^st May (2 concerts)

12:30pm. Lunchtime Concert in the Glebe Gallery.

FREE Admission. Glebe Gallery tea-shop open 11am-3pm.

DMEP’s Junior String Orchestra and Friends

(The Murray twins, cellist Michelle Gallagher, various String Ensembles and many more…)

Music by J. S. Bach, William Gluck, Edward Grieg, Vincent Kennedy

5pm. Coffee Concert in the Auditorium of the Visitors Centre, Glenveagh National Park. Admission: €10

Donegal Chamber Orchestra with guest sean-nós singer Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde

Music by Béla Bartók, Benjamin Britten, Paul Hindemith, P. I. Tchaikovsky, Vincent Kennedy plus sean-nós singer songs specially arranged for String Orchestra

Programme

Karl Jenkins (b. 1944): “Palladio” Concerto Grosso for String Orchestra (1^st movement – Allegro)          

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963): Five Pieces for String Orchestra, Op. 44 (1^st and 2^nd mov.)                        

Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Elegy for string orchestra in G                                                             

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976): Simple Symphony Op. 4 (1^st and 2^nd mov.)                                                     

Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936): “Italiana” from Ancient Airs and Dances - Suite No. 3                        

Vincent Kennedy (b. 1962): Etude for solo cello (2010)                                                                             

Béla Bartók (1881-1945): Hungarian Folk Tunes from the Series "For Children" BB 53, Sz.42         

Donegal Chamber Orchestra with Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhride                                                                  

Thíos i lár an Ghleanna / Líontar dúinn an crúiscín / Teanga na nGael
Is cianach corrach / Bainne na nGamhna

Note: This Program is subject to change without notice.

Sunday 1^st June (Evening concert in Glenveagh)

8pm. Drawing Room, Glenveagh Castle. Admission € 20.

Bus leaving car park at 7.30pm. Booking essential. Tickets can be booked in advance only.  An Grianán Theatre Box Office: 074 9120777

Donegal Camerata String Quintet

(Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo, Claire Cunningham, violins; Lucia Spacirova, viola; Víctor Yélamo, cello; Michael McGinty, double bass)

Programme

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Divertimento in F Major, K. 138/125c                   

Samuel Barber (1910-1981): Adagio for strings, Op. 11                                                                        

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): Sinfonia in C Major, RV 116                                                          

Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909): Recuerdos de la Alhambra (Memories of the Alhambra)

Joaquím Malats (1872-1912): Serenata Española (Spanish Serenade)                                 

Louis Laporte (ca.1850 - 1922): Intermède-pizzicato for string quintet                                          

Vincent Kennedy (b. 1962): "A Beautiful Peace - Butterflies Over Gartan" (2014) World Premiere 

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992): Oblivion & Libertango                

                                               

Note: This Program is subject to change without notice.

“THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF OUR SAVIOUR ON THE CROSS" Op. 51 by Franz Joseph Haydn

“THE SEVEN LAST WORDS OF OUR SAVIOUR ON THE CROSS" IN CONWAL PARISH CHURCH ON SUNDAY 23rd MARCH

The Donegal Chamber Music Society continues its Sunday afternoon concert series in Letterkenny on 23rd of March. The Donegal Camerata will perform Franz Joseph Haydn’s "The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross" Op. 51 for string quartet in Conwal Parish Church.

Photo: The Donegal Camerata String Quartet with Rev. Canon Stewart Wright, who will be reading the "Seven Last Words of Christ" during the concert on Sunday

In 1786 Haydn was commissioned to compose an orchestral work called The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour On the Cross. The work was designed for a performance at the Good Friday service at the Cádiz Cathedral in Southern Spain. Haydn later adapted it for string quartet in 1787. The piece last about one hour and includes seven slow sections that are meditations on each of the last seven words or phrases spoken by Jesus on the Cross. Haydn also added an Introduction and a final movement called Earthquake. This deeply moving masterpiece is presented by the ensemble as a Lenten preparation for Holy Week.

The Donegal Camerata is an international string ensemble of professional players based in the North West. The string quartet consists of Hungarian violinist Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo (first violin), Northern Ireland violinist Claire Cunningham (second violin); Slovakian string player Lucia Spacirova (viola); Spanish musician Víctor Yélamo (cello).

"The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross", Op. 51 by Franz Joseph Haydn will be performed by the Donegal Camerata String Quartet on 23rd of March in Conwal Parish Church at 3pm. Admission €10/ 5, tickets will be available at the door.

Donegal Chamber Orchestra meets composer John McLachlan

Donegal Chamber Orchestra meets composer John McLachlan

Sunday 23^rd February 3pm, Conwal Parish Church, Letterkenny 

“Sundays in Conwal 2014” Concert Series

Music by Jenkins, Hindemith, Tchaikovsky,  Britten, Bartók and John McLachlan. 

Admissions € 10/5. Tickets at the door

The Donegal Chamber Orchestra starts another musical year playing Contemporary Music by living Irish composers.

On Sunday 23^rd of February, the Donegal Chamber Orchestra will perform the “world première” of a new six-movement piece 'The Inishowen Set' especially composed for the string ensemble by John McLachlan, the internationally esteemed Dublin born composer who lives in Inishowen.  During the month of February the composer will work weekly with the Orchestra in this new work that will be premiered in Conwal Parish Church and also performed later on the year in Inishowen.

Since 2010 the Donegal Music Education Partnership’s ensemble has successfully worked with one Irish composer per season, promoting new music and commissioning new pieces for their repertory. Ian Wilson, Derek Ball and Elaine Agnew were involved in music making with DCO in previous seasons.

John McLachlan is an Irish composer from Dublin. He is a freelance composer who is also active in the representation and promotion of Irish composers. He has had many articles on contemporary music published in various journals.

He has written over 40 works, for all the usual instrumental combinations and his music has been played and broadcast widely around the world, from Tokyo to New York and South Africa to Peru. Commissions have come from the Irish National Symphony Orchestra, National Concert Hall, the Dublin International Piano Competition, and Music Network, and from many international groups and soloists active in new music.

He holds a musicology PhD from Trinity College Dublin and was the Executive Director of the Association of Irish Composers from 1999 to 2012. He is a member of Aosdána, Ireland’s state-sponsored academy for the creative arts. See www.johnmclachlan.info for more.

The Donegal Chamber Orchestra features classical string players from across county Donegal and is dedicated to helping students and amateur musicians achieve the highest level of excellence in performance. The Donegal Chamber Orchestra gives regular performances throughout the county during the year and previous seasons have included trips to Spain and Italy. Since its establishment the orchestra worked with guest artists such as violinist Darragh Morgan, Belgium soprano Tine Verbeke, renowned Romanian/Irish cellist Mihai Dancila, the Spanish chamber orchestra Concerto Málaga and the Italian Maestro Massimo Paris. The Orchestra was founded in 2006 by Hungarian violinist Orsolya Szabó-Yélamo (Violin resource tutor with Donegal Music Education Partnership) and Spanish cellist Víctor Yélamo (Artistic Director of the ensemble).

For their February concert in Conwal Parish Church, they will perform John McLachlan’s 'The Inishowen Set' conducted by the composer itself who also will introduce his new piece to the audience. The program will also include Karl Jenkin’s Palladio, Hindemith’s Five Pieces for Strings Op. 44, Mascagni’s Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana”, Britten’s Simple Symphony Op. 4, Tchaikovsky’s Elegy for string orchestra and Bartók’s Ten pieces “For Children“ Sz. 39 arranged for strings by Leo Weiner.

This concert is presented by the Donegal Chamber Music Society as part of their Sunday afternoon concert series “Sundays in Conwal” in association with Donegal Music Education Partnership. A recital of about 45 minutes of music. Admissions € 10/5. Tickets will be available at the door.

DONEGAL CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2014 SESSION OF THEIR SUCCESSFUL SERIES OF CONCERTS IN CONWAL PARISH CHURCH

“Sundays in Conwal 2014” starts on 26^th January

DONEGAL CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2014 SESSION OF THEIR SUCCESSFUL SERIES OF CONCERTS IN CONWAL PARIS CHURCH

Starting on Sunday 26^th January, the Donegal Chamber Music Society will present the first of five concerts during the first half of this year as part of “Sundays in Conwal 2014”. 

The opening concert will be played by the accomplished Donegal Camerata, the resident ensemble of this third series of concerts.  An International Ensemble of professional players based in Donegal, the Donegal Camerata will continue their eclectic and attractive chamber music recitals, offering a program with cardinal works from the string repertoire along with some pieces in a more light-entertainment vein.  For the first recital of the year they will present music by W.A. Mozart, P. I. Tchaikovsky, Antonín Dvořák, Josef Suk and Béla Bartók.  As before, in each concert they will present a new work by an Irish Contemporary Composer. The work chosen from the Contemporary Music Centre Library for this recital will be a piece related to Donegal, Ian Wilson’s An tIarthar, composed in 2010 for the Donegal Chamber Orchestra. As well the Donegal Camerata String Ensemble, other artists will be appearing in “Sundays in Conwal 2014”.  Some have already been confirmed; the Donegal Chamber Orchestra offering concerts in February and June.

Donegal Chamber Music Society has been presenting concerts in Donegal since 2009, working with other cultural institutions both locally and nationwide with the aim of fostering an appreciation of Classical Music in the County. The Society collaborates regularly with Donegal County Council, Music Network, Donegal Music Education Partnership, the University of Ulster and the Contemporary Music Centre Ireland. Their committee (Chairperson Graham Harrison) would like to acknowledge the inestimable collaboration of Canon Stewart Wright and the Select Vestry for their concerts in Conwal Church. 

With some exceptions, “Sundays in Conwal 2014” take place mostly on the 4th Sunday of each month at 3pm. Music lovers in Donegal may like to make a note of these dates: January 26th, February 23rd, March 23rd, May 11th and June 22nd.

“Sundays in Conwal 2014” 1st Concert

26th January, 3pm. Conwal Church. Letterkenny

DONEGAL CAMERATA String Quintet

Programme

W.A. Mozart (1756-1791): 

Divertimento in F Major, K. 138/125c (1772) 

P. I. Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): 

Andante Cantabile, Op. 11 (1871) 

Ian Wilson (b.1964): 

An tIarthar (2010) (CMC) 

Louis Laporte (ca.1850 - 1922): 

Intermède-pizzicato for string quintet (1901)

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): 

Slavonic Dance in e minor, No. 2 Op. 72 (1886-7)

Josef Suk (1874-1935): 

Ella-Polka (1909) from Episodes 

Béla Bartók (1881-1945): 

Romanian Folk Dances (1917) Sz. 68 BB 76 

Admission €10/5. Tickets will be available at the door