Ghost Songs: Contemporary Music and Words from Ireland
This is a most unique collection of words and music by mainly contemporary poets, authors and composers from Ireland revealing the rich and deeply meaningful musical and literary traditions of Ireland inspired by folk tales, fantasy and the reality of centuries of ‘trouble’. A mixed-genre album, we have poems and extracts from plays read by the authors Marina Carr, Paula Meehan and Dairena Ní Chinnéide, poems by the earlier poets Lola Ridge and W.B. Yeats read by top radio presenter Carl Corcoran, settings by three composers for choir, and songs for vocals and harp echoing the traditional folk song genre.
The album has multi-faceted appeal – to lovers of modern lyrical choral music, anyone who enjoys the special way that an author presents her own texts, and all who have any interest or connection with Ireland, its history and traditions.
Dublin-based Laetare Vocal Ensemble is a 36-voice chamber choir founded in 2014 by Dr. Róisín Blunnie, its present conductor. As well as formal contemporary classical music they have collaborated in concert and recordings with pop/folk artists Vyvienne Long and Ailie. The poets here all have wide followings, have won awards and received many important commissions.
Track Listing
- Short audio samples are of music tracks only
- Numinosity (words: Dairena Ní Chinnéide | music: Síle Denvir) The Solace of Artemis (Paula Meehan) The Destroyer (Lola Ridge, read by Carl Corcoran)
- The Destroyer (words: Lola Ridge | music: Seán Doherty) Extract from Woman and Scarecrow (1) (Marina Carr) Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep (Mary E. Frye, read by Carl Corcoran)
- Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep (words: Mary Elizabeth Frye | music: Rhona Clarke) An Aimsir Láithreach (Dairena Ní Chinnéide) The Last Thing (Paula Meehan) Extract from Woman and Scarecrow (2) (Marina Carr) Well (Paula Meehan) It's Strange About Stars (Lola Ridge, read by Carl Corcoran)
- It's Strange About Stars (words: Lola Ridge | music: Seán Doherty) Extract from Phaedra Backwards (1) (Marina Carr) Teorainn Leasa (Dairena Ní Chinnéide) Sister Trauma (Paula Meehan) Extract from Indigo (Marina Carr) Down by the Salley Gardens (W.B. Yeats, read by Carl Corcoran)
- Down by the Salley Gardens (words: W. B. Yeats | music: Seán Doherty)
- Tairseach Toinne / Morning Raga (words: Dairena Ní Chinnéide | music: Síle Denvir) Under-Song (Lola Ridge, read by Carl Corcoran)
- Under-Song (words: Lola Ridge | music: Seán Doherty) Extract from Phaedra Backwards (2) (Marina Carr) The Old Woman (traditional, read by Carl Corcoran)
- The Old Woman (words: traditional | music: Rhona Clarke) The Old Neighbourhood (Paula Meehan) Lios (Dairena Ní Chinnéide) At the Spring Equinox (Paula Meehan) The Graves at Arbour Hill (Paula Meehan)
- The Graves at Arbour Hill (words: Paula Meehan | music: Seán Doherty)
- Oileán / Amhrán Mhuínse (words: Dairena Ní Chinnéide/trad. | music: Síle Denvir/trad.) Bagairt na Marbh (Seán O Ríordáin, read by Dairena Ní Chinnéide)
- Bagairt na Marbh (words: Seán O Ríordáin | music: Michael Holohan) The Ghost Song (Paula Meehan)
- The Ghost Song (words: Paula Meehan | music: Seán Doherty)
Reviews
“This disc is a true meeting of poetry and music. Poems are read out, beautifully, by the four readers listed in the headnote; four composers add their reactions to some of those poems in the most breathtakingly beautiful settings. The concept of alternations of poetry and music works on the profoundest level. Unforgettable.
” —Colin Clarke
“A diverse, atmospheric album,, with excellent performances by Laetare, Denvir and the poets.
” —anonymous reviewer
“Performed with considerable skill and sensitivity. The Laetare Vocal Ensemble, a 36-voice Dublin-based chamber choir, has no problem whatsoever with the genre-mixing elements that are pervasive here. Composers heard here appear to be steeped in Irish tale-telling traditions and accomplished at setting words appropriately. An immersive experience in elements of contemporary Irish music and mostly contemporary Irish poetry and tale-telling, its sincerity and authenticity beyond reproach.
” —Mark J. Estren
“There ought to be more recordings like this… fascinating listening. Laetare are experts at maintaining a strong balance between folk, classical and modern styles, which they blend into a single consistent voice.
” —Brian Morton
“A fascinating exploration of vocal and choral music by numerous Irish composers – juxtaposed with recitations of Irish poetry. I am deeply struck in the delivery of these many poems. Laetare Vocal Ensemble, the Dublin-based choir, give a really heartfelt rendition of all the works they perform in. Musically a fascinating album, but it speaks volumes of bigger things.
” —Ben Lunn
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