Friday 16 December 2016

Cavan Cathedral Service Christmas 2016

On December 14th, once again the Cathedral in Cavan was packed to capacity for the Christmas Carol celebration that has become the highlight of the season for many. Seven choirs, two orchestras, many soloists and students from local schools, a hard working production team worked together with the parish team to prepare a really lovely service of song, music, reading and light.

Here is the music that was enjoyed by all who attended...

Once In Royal David’s City (arr. Willcocks), All singing, soloist Fr Kevin Donohoe
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (arr. Willcocks), All singing
Guide Us O Lord (Gilleran), Cavan Rugby Club Male Voice Choir
Carols of the Bells (Leontovych), Royal School Choir
Angels' Carol (Rutter), Loreto College Choir
A New Born Child (Sund), Cavan Cathedral Choir & Cavan Singers
Silent Night (Gruber/Trotman), All choirs, Soloists Cara Cullen & Ailing O'Donoghue
Christmas Rhapsody No.2 (C. Tackney), St Patrick's College Choir & Ensemble
Ave Maria (Mascagni), Duet: Fr Darragh Connolly & Clare Reilly
Deck the Halls (Willcocks), All school choirs
Wexford Carol (Rutter), Briefness College Choir
Brazilian Sleigh Bells (Faith), Cavan Sinfonia
Mhuire na nGrás (E.Tackney), Cavan Cathedral Choir & Cavan Singers with Song Sisters & soloist Amie Gardiner
O Holy Night (Adam), Cavan Cathedral Choir & Cavan Singers with soloists Carmel O'Donoghue & Martina Lee Boyle
Sing (arr. Willcocks), Cavan Cathedral Choir & Cavan Singers
O Come All Ye Faithful (arr. Willcocks), All choirs.


Organists: Ciaran Tackney, Eileen Tackney.
Conductors: Eileen Tackney - Cathedral Choir & The Cavan Singers; Ciaran Tackney- St. Patrick’s College; Sue King - Cavan Sinfonia; Carmel Fay & Sarah Scully - Loreto College; Laura Kavanagh - The Royal School; Janet Traynor - Breifne College; Ann Noelle Bennett - Rugby Club Choir.
Brass Ensemble: Gavin Roche - Trombone; Colm Byrne - Trumpet; Vicktor Boyco - Trumpet; Brian Daly - French Horn.

Monday 12 December 2016

Sunday 27 November 2016

See House for Festival of the Dead 2016

We took part again in the See House performances as part of 2016 The Festival of the Dead. We worked with Eileen, Robbie Perry and his troupe of drummers to form a battalion of very spooky torch-wielding zombie soldiers who both greeted each audience as they arrived from town by bus, and shepherded them back out of the courtyard at the end of the show. It was a long day, between rehearsal, make-up, wardrobe and five performances we were on-duty from 2pm until 2am - but to be fair, we enjoyed every minute. The best fun was hiding in the woodland before each group arrived, watching for Pyrotechnic Paul to set of the flares and light our torches.
The imagination, drive, creativity, and planning that goes into this project is jaw-dropping...well done to Philip Doherty and the Gonzo crew, all of the Town Hall team, and from our musical perspective, Robbie Perry.
Roll on next Hallowe'en.

Monday 21 November 2016

Sligo International Choral Festival

We travelled to Sligo Choral Festival last weekend, on Wharton's comfiest coach, and had a lovely meal together in the Glasshouse Hotel. On the morning of our competition, we had a short sharp rehearsal with Eileen, sorted our scarves and ties, before setting out to the Gillooly Hall. Our competition had 11 choirs, so it was a long but fabulous morning, each choir in turn singing for the others, for the audience, and for the adjudicators who gave us high praise for our 900 miles and Adiemus. Our section was won by Lumina from WIT (who were our, and the audience's, favourite by far).
Afterwards we had a great evening in the Glasshouse, dining together and singing into the wee small hours.
Well done to all organisers of the Sligo Festival - it was a terrific experience, and we will certainly return!

Songs of Praise in Ballyhaise

Thanks to the congregation in Ballyhaise Church of Ireland for inviting us to sing 'Songs of Praise' with them on Sunday November 6th, and for their generous hospitality afterwards.


Sunday 2 October 2016

Big start to the new singing year

We got the 16/17 year off to a big start DCU on Oct 1st. The 100 voices who sang on Easter Sunday reassembled to record A Nation's Voice with David Brophy and Shaun Davey, and the RTE National Symphony Orchestra. The CD will be available in the RTE Guide in November - so reserve your copy now!
Here we have Brid Brady (Sop) and Nora Kennedy (Sop and PRO) picture with Conductor David Brophy and composer Shaun Davey, after the recording in the Helix.

Friday 20 May 2016

Songs from the Silver Screen

Last night, Cavan Singers winter and spring of trojan work came to fruition for everyone in the choir, guest performers, and audience.

Eileen Tackney, our creative Musical Director put together a terrific program of music from movies old and new. Frances Galligan and the production team got the Kilmore stage, sound, lighting and AV to professional standard. Paul Henry and the staff of the Hotel Kilmore supported us in every request. And best of all, our friends, colleagues and families, who'd came out in their hundreds, were treated to a fantastic evening of music and song.

(Our interval raffle in aid of Cavan General Hospiral new Cystic Fibrosis unit was brilliantly supported as ever - watch this space for details.)

Here's our programme (thanks to Mags Amond, Carmel Gaffney and Nollaig Amond Murray), and some pictures from the evening (thanks to Mary Haren and Dara Hume for sharing these).

Overture When You Wish Upon A Star(comp. Harline & Washington, arr. Tackney),Cavan Singers & Cavan Sinfonia
Frozen Love Is An Open Door (comp. Anderson­Lopez & Lopez, Arr. Huff)
Shrek ­ Hallelujah (comp. Cohen, arr. Emerson)
Avatar ­ Adiemus (comp. Jenkins)
The Mission ­ Ave Maria Guarana (comp. Morricone)
Shawshank Redemption ­ Sull’aria (comp. Mozart), Duet: Pauline Brady & Martina Lee Boyle
The Big Lebowski ­ Lacrimosa (comp. Mozart)
Amadeus ­ Dies Irae (comp. Mozart)
Les Choristes ­ Vois Sur ton Chemin (comp. Coulais & Barratier)
Amelie ­ L’autre Valse d’Amelie (comp. Tiersen), Solo Accorodion: Ciaran Tackney
Blade Runner ­ Rachel’s Song (comp. Vangelis), Solo: Laura Kavanagh
Sweet Charity ­ Rhythm of Life (comp. Coleman & Fields, arr. Barnes)
Mission: Impossible ­ Mission Impossible Theme (comp. Schifrin), Cavan Sinfonia
Braveheart ­ Braveheart Theme (comp. Horner), Cavan Sinfonia
Wayne’s World ­ Bohemian Rhapsody (comp. Mercury, arr. Brymer)
O Brother, Where Art Thou? ­ Go To Sleep Little Baby (trad, arr. Welch); As I Went Down In The River To Pray (trad.); Man of Constant Sorrow (traditional, arr. Burnett), Song Sisters & Oh Brothers
Bond Movie Medley (arr. Ginsberg), Solo ­ Hugh Tunney
Once ­ Falling Slowly (comp. Hansard, vocal arr. Tackney), Duet ­ Conor Kiernan, Clare Reilly
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly ­ The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly theme (comp. Morricone, vocal arr. Tackney), Solo Ocarino: Tony Mc Mahon
Despicable Me 2 ­ Happy (comp. Williams, vocal arr. Tackney), featuring The Happy Alto Quintet
The Life of Brian Always Look on the Bright Side of Life featuring Irene Dunwoody, Brian McKeever, Song Sisters and Oh Brothers



Our thanks to the entire Cast & Crew in order of appearance:

Musical Director: Eileen Tackney, Accompanist: Sue King

Cavan Singers:

Alto: Aedine Browne, Ben Charles, Mairead Conaty, Dollé Cullivan, Rachael Cullivan­Elliott, Catherine Cusack Ames, Irene Dunwoody, Liz Foster, Carmel Gaffney, Mary Haren, Sally McKenna, Phyllis McMonagle, Claire O’Reilly, Janice Robertson, Clare Smith, Áine Sullivan, Yvette Von Cramon, Carol Watson, Pamela Young

Bass: James Caffrey, Tom Flynn, Peter Howard, Peter McGrath, Brian McKeever, Tony McMahon, Kevin O’Connor, Hugh Tunney

Soprano: Nollaig Amond Murray, Bríd Brady, Pauline Brady, Eileen Connolly, Sheila Cooney, Áine Duffy, Jennifer Dunne, Gay Fannon, Tina Farrelly, Claire Finlay, Claire Harrington, Laura Kavanagh, Nora Kennedy, Martina Lee Boyle, Liz Murray, Amanda O’Connor, Lucilla O’Hanlon, Paula O’Neill, Fidelma Sheridan, Ann Smyth, Mary Sullivan, Gráinne Tierney

Tenor: Mags Amond, Colm Crowe, Frances Galligan, Malcolm Hopwood, Conor Kiernan, Carmel Lewis, Sean Maguire, Gerry O’Keeffe, Jim O’Leary

Guest Artists:

Cavan Sinfonia - Musical Director: Sue King & Leader,: Conor Kiernan

Song Sisters: Geraldine McDonnell, Geraldine McGrath, Paula Smith

Oh Brothers: Robert Perry, Shane O’Connor, Shane Carroll, Peter Denton

The Band: Sue King, piano; Jim Kelly, Patrick Gaffney, Bass guitar; Peter Denton, Lead guitar; Padraig Smith, Drums;

Ciaran Tackney ­ Accordion/Synth; Dara Mc Manus, Synth; Patrick Gaffney, Conor Flood, Acoustic guitar.

Production Team:

Staging - Frances Galligan, Alan McHugh, John Conlon, Gerry O’Keeffe

Light & Sound - Panic Hire

AV / Programme - Mags Amond

Front of House - Mark O’Hanlon, Colman Smith, Andrew Fannon

Road Crew - Gerry O’Keeffe, Colm Crowe

Sponsors
Hotel Kilmore, Farnham Hotel, Multisound, Eason, Cavan Gifts, Anglo Celt, Breifne College

Friday 13 May 2016

What a versatile lot we are!

Cavan Singers are very versatile folk - some of our members have been having other other musical adventures recently...

Town Hall Theatre - following our debut collaboration at Halloween, it was great to have Mary Haren, Aine Sullivan, Amanda O'Connor and Ben Charles take part in Proclamation, a multimedia drama on the 1916 theme.

Crosserlough Choral Society - Martina Lee Boyle, Conor Kiernan and Mairead Conaty all took part in the wonderful One Voice Show at the Ramor Theatre Virgina over the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Cavan Big Band - Aedine Browne and Tony McMahon are taking part in the Big Band Show Las Vegas Show in the Ramor theatre, tonight May 13th.




Monday 25 April 2016

1916-2016, Cavan remembers

We were invited to sing at the official Cavan Centenary Celebration at the Courthouse on April 23rd. This gave us the chance, with special permissions, to sing again our A Nation's Voice piece, One Hundred Years A Nation. This time we sang it conducted by our Musical Director Eillen Tackney, with Sue King accompanying us on keyboard. The student choir of Cavan Royal School and their teacher, our soprano Laura Kavanagh, sang the childrens' chorus.
Our programme was
Mo Ghile Mear - solo - Irelane Dunwoody (alto)
Oro se do bheatha bhaile - Martina Lee Boyle (soprano) leading the choir
A Nation Once Again - Brian McKeever (bass) leading the choir
The Kerry Dances
The Lord's My Shepherd
One Hundred Years A Nation

The National Anthem

Wednesday 20 April 2016

Visitors from Europe

It was a nice surprise to have a small audience for our rehearsal this week - normally we sing to the four walls. Our Chair, Carmel (alto) invited a group of teachers from all over Europe to join us, as apart of their Erasmus+ project visit to Loreto College. They were a very appreciative audience - hopefully our performance will give an added dimension to their impressions of Cavan.

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Happy clappy rehearsal anarchy

We injected a little anarchy to our rehearsal last evening, and made a short video promo for our forthcoming proms, Songs From The Silver Screen. We had our Happy alto group of Mary, Rachael, Clare, Phyllis ans Clare; we had an assortment of clappers, and some very groovy dancers.
The result is 60 seconds of song, percussion and (ahem) dance, all on a shaky unedited video clip.
Enjoy.
It is on our very own You Tube channel


Who knows, we may try a few more, so mark the calendar for May 19th in the Hotel Kilmore - don't miss miss ou Summer Proms!



Tuesday 29 March 2016

A Nation's Voice, Collins Barracks Dublin, Easter Sunday 2016

Mary Haren's reflection on our 1916 experience was published on the Arts Council blog. Thank you Mary, for a perfect summing up of our adventure.


The Cavan Singers were very excited to have been chosen as one of the many choirs from all over Ireland to take part in A Nation's Voice in Collins Barracks on Sunday 27 March to celebrate the 1916 rising. We started rehearsing the music for One Hundred Years A Nation in September 2015. We all realised from the beginning what a wonderful piece of music this was. Our musical director, Eileen Tackney, attended a workshop with David Brophy and came back full of enthusiasm for the project ahead. We listened to our lines on CDs and mp3 players in our cars and kitchens and out walking the roads of Cavan. Our heads were full of roaring stags, turf banks, stream beds and yellow bitterns booming.


On Easter Sunday morning we headed to Collins Barracks. It was amazing to be on stage with 1000 people including 300 children. During the morning rehearsal with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra the sun shone and we had a display of helicopters flying by followed by a formation of seagulls who seemed to enjoy our singing.

Standing on that stage, hearing the wonderful music of Handel, Sean O'Riada, Bill Whelan and Shaun Davy made me realise how privileged we were to be there. This was made possible by past and present musical directors and accompanists, long standing choir members and new members who will hopefully keep us singing into the future.

After a hot lunch we were back on stage for the performance as the dark clouds gathered and the audience started arriving to sit on wet seats in blue raincoats. As we opened the concert with the Halleluiah chorus the heavens opened. The wind rattled the roof of the stage just as our stag rattled his great horned head. The weather did not affect the performance of the choir, the orchestra, the soloists or Paul Muldoon, the narrator.

Paul Muldoon's words for One Hundred Years A Nation included a potted version of our history. His images of the past were stark but true, unromantic but realistic and his hope for the future optimistic for our children. The children who sang with us on Easter Sunday will not be around for the 200 years celebration but hopefully some other children and choirs including the Cavan Singers will sing 'Let’s celebrate today, let’s hear the great stag roar...two hundred years a nation'.


Click on the picture below to go to our picture album from Easter Sunday...pictures by Nora, Mags, Mary, Sue, Bríd.

One Hundred Years A Nation, Collins Barracks, Dublin, Easter Sunday 2016

Watch the RTE broadscast on RTE Player here.