It should be no surprise that the rich history and beautiful landscapes of the Emerald Isle have produced great composers. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, let’s take a moment to recognize a few of these remarkable individuals and their work.
Considered one of Ireland’s most celebrated musical figures, Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738) led an interesting life as a travelling musician. He lost his sight as a child, but that didn’t stop him from traversing the country playing the harp and composing melodies that blended Irish tradition with Baroque influences. Listen to his most famous composition, “Carolan’s Farewell to Music,” here.
Patrick Cassidy (born in 1956) specializes in opera, choral music, and film scores. Perhaps ironically, he scored the music for the 2011 movie, “Kill the Irishman.” He may be best known for creating the first major symphonic work that was written in the Irish language. Called “Children of Lir,” you can listen to the beginning here.
One of the most important female Irish composers of the 20th century, Ina Boyle (1889-1967) produced works that spanned a variety of genres. Opera, ballet, chamber music, and orchestral works―she did it all. Though she was prolific, many of her compositions went unpublished and unperformed during her life. Enjoy her “Glencree Symphony” here.
Seán Ó Riada (1931-1971) was both a composer and broadcaster. Credited with profoundly influencing traditional Irish music, he strived to bridge the gap between classical and traditional Irish musical forms. Among his most beloved works is “Mise Éire” (listen here) which means “I am Ireland.” He created both the movie of that name and its score.