We were delighted to be invited to participate in the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Jonathan Swift's writing of his epic tale of Gulliver's Travels. We sang in a beautifully decorated Church of Ireland in a concert with Cavan Sinfonia conducted by Sue Donohoe, which meant that as well as our own program, we got to sing along with Viva La Vida, and the final chorus of Cavan Girl with their soloist Cathal.
Image attribution - Terry O'Connor
For our own programme our Musical Director Eileen Tackney chose five songs evoking the spirit of Cavan and of love, longing, adventure in the literature and lore of Ireland ...
1. Cavan Girl - Thom Moore - arr. Eileen Tackney
2. The Lake Isle of Inishfree - the poem by WB Yeats set to music by Muriel Herbert, sung solo by bass Brian McKeever
Then we traveled back in time for music of Swift’s era, beginning with
Then we traveled back in time for music of Swift’s era, beginning with
3. Song of Jupiter - GFHandel's setting of William Congreve's words was his first huge hit, and widely performed later in the life of Jonathan Swift
And we finished with two evergreen songs as Gaeilge, both born in the Jacobite era but still popular today; the first laments the exile of Ireland's heroes, echoing the loneliness of Gulliver himself; the second celebrates the welcome return home of the travelling heroes ...
And we finished with two evergreen songs as Gaeilge, both born in the Jacobite era but still popular today; the first laments the exile of Ireland's heroes, echoing the loneliness of Gulliver himself; the second celebrates the welcome return home of the travelling heroes ...
4. Mo Ghile Mear - trad - arr. Donal Ó'Liatháin of Cúil Aodha - featuring solo alto by Irene Dunwoody
5. Óro Sé Do Bheatha Bhaile - trad - arr. Eileen Tackney - featuring solo by soprano Jenny McEntee
