“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 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