INVISIBLE STARS CHORAL WORKS OF IRELAND & SCOTLAND

q Land’s End Michael Rooney [1.15] Soloist: Geraldine O’Doherty harp 1 Mo Ghille Mear Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill, arr. Desmond Earley [4.04] w Soloists: Mark Waters tenor, Tristan Rosenstock bodhrán ‘Sí do Mhamó í Traditional Irish, arr. Desmond Earley [2.03] Soloists: Óisín Ó’Callaghan baritone, Aoife Heeney mezzo-soprano 2 Sun and Moon and Stars Bill Whelan [5.42] e Soloists: Emily Doyle soprano, Emma-Jane Murphy violoncello Siúil a Rún Traditional Irish, arr. Michael McGlynn [3.02] Soloist: Sarah Thursfield soprano 3 War Ivo Antognini [4.14] r Soloist: David Agnew oboe Sleepsong Rolf Løvland arr. Desmond Earley [4.45] Soloist: Emily Doyle soprano 4 Geantraí Michael McGlynn [2.27] t The Skye Boat Song Traditional Scottish, arr. Desmond Earley [4.20] 5 The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby Traditional Irish, arr. Desmond Earley [3.06] Soloist: Glenn Murphy tenor Soloists: Hazel Conway soprano, Geraldine O’Doherty harp y The Parting Glass Traditional Irish/Scottish, arr. Desmond Earley [3.16] 6 The Coast of Galicia Bill Whelan [4.57] Soloist: Mark Waters tenor Soloist: Geraldine O’Doherty harp Total timings: [61.38] 7 He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven Desmond Earley [4.57] Soloists: Marie Woulfe mezzo-soprano, Geraldine O’Doherty harp

8 Orphan Girl Brendan Graham, arr. Desmond Earley [5.15] Soloists: Abby Molloy mezzo-soprano, Kevin Whyms guitar

9 Peace Ivo Antognini [4.32] Soloists: Glenn Murphy tenor, David Agnew oboe

0 Black is the Colour of my True Love’s Hair Appalachian Air of Scottish origin, arr. Desmond Earley [3.40] THE CHORAL SCHOLARS OF UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN DESMOND EARLEY DIRECTOR Soloist: Mark Waters tenor

www.signumrecords.com INTRODUCTION Other pieces included on this disc are taken INVISIBLE STARS A composer of music for television and film from the Choral Scholars’ recent tour of the and an artist on three jazz albums, Antognini And all the while invisible stars shine eastern coast of the United States of America Written by the eighteenth-century poet Seán has directed his creative talents into the Over the sea and the white cairn of Maeve and from a programme performed at the Temple Clárach Mac Dómhnaill, Mo Ghille Mear is a composition of choral music since 2006. His Eva Gore-Booth Bar TradFest in Dublin. Much of this selection traditional allegorical song – similar to the music has been performed around the world straddles the worlds of traditional music – pieces Gaelic poetic form of the Aisling – in which the in more than forty countries by a long list There is something magical about the Atlantic such as Geantraí, The Parting Glass, and ‘Sí poet laments the departure of Prince Charles of respected choirs. This disc contains the coast of Ireland and Scotland – the breathtaking do Mhamó í – and the more orthodox classical Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie). As is world-premiere recordings of two works, light in winter, the exhilarating smell of the sea, choral repertoire. Other works included here, customary, the poetic text portrays the land settings of poetry by Francis Ledwidge and and the ceaseless sound of the waves smashing specially composed for the Choral Scholars – in decline in his absence. The drum used in Eva Gore-Booth, especially composed by against headland and cliff. Look out to sea Sun and Moon and Stars, Peace, He Wishes for this recording is the Irish single-headed frame Antognini for UCD Choral Scholars and David and the mysterious horizon beckons you to new the Cloths of Heaven and War – are perhaps best drum, the bodhrán. Agnew (obbligato oboe) in 2014. futures; turn your gaze inland and ten thousand classified as High Art. years of history unroll before you. Sligo, sheltering Sun and Moon and Stars by poet Frank Michael McGlynn, a graduate of UCD School of itself between the promontories of Mayo and It is happy coincidence that the title of this McGuinness and composer Bill Whelan was Music, has had an extraordinary influence on Donegal from the wild energies of the Atlantic, disc, Invisible Stars, and the motto of University first performed at the University College Dublin Irish choral music, setting the three ancient is the spiritual homeland of William Butler College Dublin – Ad Astra (‘to the stars’) – (UCD) Foundation Day celebration in November types of Celtic music – Suantraí (lullaby), Yeats and the birthplace of Eva Gore-Booth. connect in this, our first recording with Signum 2013 and is a piece dedicated to Dr Hugh Geantraí (joyful song) and Goltraí (lament) – Records. This recording is our celebration of Brady, former President of UCD. Scored for solo for his vocal ensemble Anúna (previously An In the current commemorative decade of creativity, talent and youthful energy and at soprano, solo violoncello and chamber chorus, Uaithne). Two of his works appear on this centenaries that honour sacrifice, celebrate the same time a gesture of remembrance it evokes the wonder and possibility of life disc: Geantraí, a jaunty piece, and the service, mark upheaval and transformation and, towards the many ‘invisible stars’ who went through the musical painting of the text. macaronic (dual language) song Siúil a Rún, above all, remember war and peace, I thought before us a century ago. Whispering choral writing supports a dialogue sung from the perspective of a woman longing it fitting that we should make our contribution between soprano and violoncello, with the for her absent soldier-lover. by recording settings of Gore-Booth’s poem reflective nature of water suggested in the ‘Peace’, and Francis Ledwidge’s ‘War’, by the homophonic conclusion of each verse. The 1904 collection of folksongs entitled Swiss composer, Ivo Antognini. Songs of Uladh is a collaborative gathering of Desmond Earley The harmonic palette of jazz informs the ballads from the north of Ireland by the choral music of Swiss composer, Ivo Antognini. Belfast-born poet, Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil

- 4 - - 5 - (1879-1944) and Belfast-born musician Herbert follows the journey of Aodh Ruadh Ó Dónaill Orphan Girl was written by Brendan Graham for place in Montauk, on the east coast of the United Hughes (1882-1937). Mac Cathmhaoil and (‘Red’ Hugh O’Donnell) from Ireland to La a ceremony held in 2012 at Sydney’s Hyde Park States of America, where Rooney and his wife Hughes’s is the source, often overlooked, of Coruña in Spain following the defeat of Gaelic Barracks to commemorate the relocation of over visited in 2004. many universally-admired songs such as My Ireland at the Battle of Kinsale in 1602. The four thousand female orphans who were brought Lagan Love and The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby. subsequent exodus of Gaelic aristocracy to from Ireland during the Great Famine of the Two American melodies from Kentucky are According to the harper Mary O’Mara in her continental Europe, known as the ‘Flight of 1840s. An Orphan & Pauper Scheme was widely associated with the lyric Black is the book A Song for Ireland, Gartan is ‘famous as the Earls’, left their territories open to the devised by Henry George Grey during his time Colour of my True Love’s Hair. The younger the birthplace of Columcille (c.521 AD) who organised colonisation by Scottish and English as Secretary of State for War and the Colonies melody was composed by Kentuckian John gave the city of Derry its name and who is settlers, an event which reverberates in Ireland (1846-1852) and was designed to resettle Jacob Niles, collector and performer of better known as the founder of a Christian to this day. The Seville Suite stands as a destitute girls from the failing network of Appalachian folk songs, and an important outpost on the Island of Iona off the west reflection on these historical events. workhouses to a land in much need of females. influence on the American Folk revival in the coast of Scotland’. Collected by Mac It is sung from the perspective of one of 1950s. In a biography of Niles – I Wonder As I Cathmhaoil from a Donegal woman called Published in his 1899 collection The Wind these girls on the night before her inspection, Wander – Professor Ron Pen of the University Cáit Ní Dubhthaigh, The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby Among the Reeds, ‘Aedh Wishes for the Cloths which would decide whether she could travel of Kentucky has observed that Niles created a exhibits characters and images from Gaelic of Heaven’ (commonly known as ‘He Wishes to this far-away land, Australia. Graham wrote completely different melody from the versions he mythology throughout the narrative of this for the Cloths of Heaven’) is one of Yeats’ the song to ‘help fade the girls into history’. had collected in Kentucky in 1916. The melody gentle song. Aoibheall from the Grey Rock – also most cherished poems. The perceptions and The names of some of the girls are etched used for the choral arrangement on this disc known as ‘Aoibhinn the Beautiful’ – is Queen experiences of the poem’s speaker unfold into a glass wall memorial now standing in is the version sung by Irish singer/songwriter of the northern fairies, the Aos Sí, a supernatural through colourful language, evoking a realm Sydney’s Hyde Park. Orphan Girl was first Christy Moore, who learned the song from race said to live underground in Irish and suffused with magical light. It is thought performed by the Australian Girls’ Choir and Scottish folk singer Hamish Imlach in 1968. Scottish mythology. Siabhra, mentioned in the that the sentiments expressed reflect the poet’s Sarah Calderwood at the 2012 ceremony. This modern Scottish song is a rendering of second verse of the song, is the generic word personal fear of Maud Gonne’s resistance to his an Appalachian antecedent of Niles’ version for a fairy of any kind, but refers here to advances, his dread at her refusal of him as Michael Rooney is widely regarded both as collected by Cecil Sharp in Kentucky and the atmospheric ghost creature that frequents a lover, and the forsaken state of abnegation a prolific composer and as an accomplished published in English Folk Songs from the bogs and marshes. that would inevitably follow such a refusal. performer in the Irish traditional-music style of Southern Appalachians (1917). Scored for mezzo-soprano solo, harp and harp performance. As Director of the National ‘The Coast of Galicia’ is another gentle piece choir, this delicate setting of the poem Folk Orchestra of Ireland, he is regarded as ‘Sí do Mhamó í (‘She’s your Granny’), a playful for solo harp from Bill Whelan’s first major highlights Yeats’ evocative words: ‘Tread softly one of the world’s finest exponents of the Irish song about a woman from the Connemara orchestral work, The Seville Suite. The movement because you tread on my dreams’. harp. Land’s End is a slip jig named after a coast, depicts the local gossip on the topic of

- 6 - - 7 - whether or not the wealthy Máire Ní Chathasaigh First published in London as part of a collection end of the eighteenth century, Robert Burns in Ireland as ‘The Parting Glass’. The modern will agree to marry a much younger man. She entitled Songs of the North (1884), The Skye used the older tune to set his poem ‘Adieu! tune first appears as ‘Sweet Cootehill Town’ is portrayed as someone with sufficient funds Boat Song recounts the escape of Bonnie a heart-warm, fond adieu’, and in 1821 Sir in an early twentieth-century collection of to put coaches on the road, an expensive Prince Charlie from Uist to the Isle of Skye Walter Scott published a variant of the song Irish songs entitled ‘Old Irish Folk Music and undertaking in the nineteenth century, and following his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in entitled ‘Armstrong’s Goodnight’. A text from Songs’. It was this Irish melody that nudged one with enough strength to outpace a 1746. With lyrics written by Sir Harold Boulton an early nineteenth-century Glasgow source, aside the original Scottish tune to become steamboat – not necessarily the most attractive to a tune entitled Cuachag nan Craobh, this now at the National Library of Scotland, closely one of the most popular ballads in recent history. trait in a Victorian woman! Whispering the lyric song is typically sung as a lullaby. Versions resembles the modern song. Between 1840 ‘airgead’ (money) throughout the piece, the of the song by The Corries, Sir James Galway and 1860 a variant of the song was published Desmond Earley choir insinuates that the young lad is interested and The Chieftains, Julian Lloyd Webber and in her wealth rather than in her other not-too- other artists, have reinforced its status as visible attributes! one of the best-known songs of Scotland. The television composer Bear McCreary The lyrics of Sleepsong came to Brendan adapted the tune to the text of Robert Louis Graham on the night before his youngest daughter Stevenson’s poem Sing me a Song of a Lad Alana was to leave Ireland for Australia in that is Gone for the TV series Outlander. 2004: ‘Sitting at her bedside, as I did so often More recently, a version of this arrangement when she was a child, the years seemed to roll was commissioned by Nigel Short for his away and I was back there in the past, telling London-based ensemble, Tenebrae. her stories and singing lullabies. As I walked back down the corridor to my study the song The Parting Glass has its origins in the early unfolded itself to me.’ Sleepsong is a lullaby seventeenth-century Scottish song ‘Good for an older child that mingles a father’s Night and God be With You’ which used a tune hopeful wishes with the longing brought about different from the contemporary setting. A by the departure of a loved one. Written to a version published by Henry Playford (Henry melody by Rolf Løvland, Sleepsong was Purcell’s publisher) in the ‘Collection of Original first recorded for the Secret Garden album Scotch Tunes’ displays similarities to the Earthsongs (2005). contemporary melody. It was often played at the close of gatherings in Scotland. At the

- 8 - - 9 - 1 Mo Ghille Mear Curfá Chorus Traditional Irish arr. Desmond Earley (1974~) Text by Seán Clárach Mac Dómhnaill (1691-1754) Le Conall Cearnach bhearnadh poirt, Like Conall Cearnach who breached defences Le Fearghas fiúntach fionn Mac Róigh Like worthy fair haired Feargas Mac Róigh Curfá Le Conchubhar cáidhmhac Náis na nós, Like Conchubhar venerable son of Nás of the tradition ’Sé mo laoch mo ghille mear My dashing darling is my hero Taoiseach aoibhinn Chraoibhe an cheoil. The pleasant chieftain of the musical [Fenian] Branch ’Sé mo Shaesar, ghille mear, My dashing darling is my Caesar Ní fhuaras féin aon tsuan ná séan, I have had neither sleep nor good fortune Curfá Chorus Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo ghille mear. Since my dashing darling went far away

I am perpetually worried every day Bímse buan ar buairt gach ló, 2 Sun and Moon and Stars Fill with light your cup of hands, Ag caoi go crua is ag tuar na ndeor Wailing heavily and shedding tears Bill Whelan (1950~) Put your hands in running water, Mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beo Since my lively boy was released from me Text by Frank McGuinness (1953~) Drenching sun and moon and stars; Is ná ríomhtar tuairisc uaidh, mo bhrón. And there is no word of him, alas Bathe your heart with sweetest water. Sshhh… shun a mun a stah fen a fee nee ten a Drenching sun and moon and stars. Curfá Chorus yan a mun a shun a mun a stah fen a fee nee ten a yah Sshhh… shun a mun a stah fen a fee nee ten a Ní haoibhinn cuach ba suairc ar neoin The pleasure of the cheerful cuckoo at noon is gone yan a mun a shun a mun a stah fen a fee nee ten Táid fíorchoin uasal ar uaithne sport The affable nobility are not bothered with sport I put my palms in running water. a yah Táid saoite suaite i mbuairt ’s i mbrón The learned and the cultured are worried and sad I drink from my drenched cup of hands. Ó scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beo Since the lively lad was taken from me I bathe my eyes in sweetest water. Put your palms in running water. I see the earth shaped in my hands. Drink from your drenched cup of hands. Curfá Chorus I measure light as running water. Bathe your eyes in sweetest water. I drink the sun and moon and stars. See the earth shaped in your hands. Is cosúil é le hAonghus Óg, He is like Young Aonghus I bathe the earth in sacred water. I measure light as running water. Le Lughaidh Mac Chéin na mbéimeann mór, Like Lughaidh Mac Chéin of the great blows I see my eyes as moon and stars. Drink the sun and moon and stars. Le Cú Raoi, ardmhac Dáire an óir, Like Cú Raoi, great son of Dáire of the gold Bathe the earth in sacred water. Taoiseach Éireann tréan ar tóir. Leader of Éire strong in pursuit Chorus See my eyes as moon and stars. Let your palms taste running water,

- 10 - - 11 - 3 War Déanfaidh sí damhs’ is damhs’ She will dance and dance Ivo Antognini (1963~) mé fein ’is í féin le chéile Myself and herself together Text by Francis Ledwidge (1887-1917) Caithfimid suas is suas We will throw (her) up and up Darkness and I are one, and wind Caithfimid suas an páiste We will throw up the child And nagging thunder, brothers all. Caithfimid suas is suas We will throw (her) up and up My mother was a storm. I call ’s tiocfaidh sí ’nuas amárach And she will come down tomorrow And shorten your way with speed to me. I am Love and Hate and the terrible mind Curfá Chorus Of vicious gods, but more am I, I am the pride in the lover’s eye, I am the epic of the sea. 5 The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby Traditional Irish, arr. Desmond Earley 4 Geantraí Collected by Seosamh Mac Cathmhaoil (1879-1944) Michael McGlynn (1964~) Sleep, oh babe, for the red bee hums Has ringed her cusp in dew, Hum hum, ha rim The silent twilight’s fall: And weeps to hear the sad sweet song Hum hum, ha ró Aoibheall from the grey rock comes I sing, my love, to you. Dilín ó, dilín ó ró To wrap the world in thrall. A leanbhán, O my child, my joy, Faintly sweet doth the chapel bell Caithfimid suas is suas Let us throw (her) up and up My love and heart’s-desire, ring o’er the valley dim: Caithfimid suas go héasc’ í Let us throw her up with ease The crickets sing you lullaby Tearmann’s peasant voices swell Caithfimid suas is suas Let us throw (her) up and up Beside the dying fire. in fragrant evening hymn. Is seachain a chroí ná pléasc í And careful, my love, don’t burst her A leanbhán O, the low bell rings Dusk is drawn, and the Green Man’s Thorn my little lamb to rest Curfá Chorus Is wreathed in rings of fog: And angel-dreams till morning sings, Siabhra sails his boat till morn its music in your head.* Déanfaidh sí damhs’ is damhs’ She will dance and dance Upon the Starry Bog. Déanfaidh sí damhs’ le pléisiúr She will dance with pleasure A leanbhán O, the paley moon *The lyric ‘breast’ is found in Songs of Uladh, but ‘head’ is also in common usage.

- 12 - - 13 - 7 He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven Sail, sail, sail me I pray, 9 Peace I write her a letter with a few short lines, Desmond Earley Sail me away… to Australia. Ivo Antognini (1963~) and suffer death a thousand times. Text by William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) Text by Eva Gore-Booth (1870-1926) They say Australia’s fine, Black is the colour of my true love’s hair, Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths, They say Australia’s fair; The long and waving line of the blue hills Her lips are like some roses fair; Enwrought with golden and silver light, Australia’s on my mind - Makes rhythmical the twilight, no sharp peak She has the sweetest smile, the gentlest hands, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths And the fields of praties there; Pierces the kind air with a rough-hewn will And I love the ground whereon she stands. Of night and light and the half light, I pray when this inspection’s done, To storm the sky, no soaring mountains seek I would spread the cloths under your feet: That they’ll say me fit to sail, To break the melody of the flowing line, But I, being poor, have only my dreams; For they don’t just send out anyone, But the hills wander on in a long wave, I have spread my dreams under your feet; Oh Lord, don’t see me fail. And all the while invisible stars shine Tread softly because you tread on my dreams. Over the sea and the white cairn of Maeve. Chorus 8 Orphan Girl 0 Black is the Colour of my True Love’s Hair Brendan Graham (1945~), arr. Desmond Earley Appalachian air of Scottish origin, arr. Desmond Earley Typesetting by Brendan Graham I am scarcely turned sixteen, But I’m ready now to go; Black is the colour of my true love’s hair, I’m decent and I’m clean, I am an orphan girl, Her lips are like some roses fair; Fit for any man to know. In Westport I was found, She has the sweetest smile, the gentlest hands, And I will be some good man’s wife, The workhouse is my world, And I love the ground whereon she stands. Since the praties took us down, If there I’ll settle down - And find myself a better life, What time in life is left to me, I love my love, and well she knows, If I get to Sydney town. If I don’t leave Westport town, I love the ground whereon she goes; But the crown is sending girls to sea, I wish the day soon would come, Chorus For far Australia bound. When she and I will be as one. Sail me away… sail me I pray… Chorus I go to the Clyde and mourn and weep, Oh, sail me away… to Australia. Sail, sail, sail me away, But satisfied I never shall be; Sail to Australia; I am an Orphan Girl…oh, I am an Orphan Girl.

- 14 - - 15 - w ‘Sí do Mhamó í e Siúil a Rún Traditional Irish, arr. Desmond Earley Traditional Irish, arr. Michael McGlynn (1964~)

’Sí do mhamó í, ‘sí do mhamó í, She is your granny, she is your granny I wish I were on yonder hill, ’Sí do mhamó í, cailleach an airgid, She is your granny, the hag with the money ’Tis there I’d sit and cry my fill, ’Sí do mhamó í, ó Bhaile Inis Mhóir í She is your granny, from Baile Inis Mhóir And every tear would turn a mill. ’S chuirfeadh sí cóistí ar bhóithre And she would put coaches on the roads of Cois Fharraige. Cois Fharraige. I wish I sat on my true love’s knee, Many a fond story he told to me, ’Bhfeicfeása ’n steam ’ga’l siar Tóin Uí Loing If you saw the steamer going west to Tóin Uí Loing He told me things that ne’er shall be. ’S na rothaí ’ga’l timpeall siar ó na ceathrúnaí. And the wheels going around out from the flanks Chaithfeadh sí ’n stiúir naoi n-uair ar a cúl, She would throw the steering nine times around Chorus ’S ní choinneodh sí siúl le cailleach an airgid. And she’d not keep up with the hag with the money. Siúil, siúil, siúil a rún. Walk, walk, walk my love. Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin. Walk peacefully and walk quietly. Curfá Chorus Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom. Walk to the door and escape with me.

Measann tú ’bpósfaidh, measann tú ’bpósfaidh, Do you think she will marry, do you think she will marry His hair was black, his eye was blue, Measann tú ’bpósfaidh cailleach an airgid? Do you think she will marry, the hag with the money? His arm was strong, his word was true, Tá’s a’m nach bpósfaidh, tá’s a’m nach bpósfaidh, I know she won’t marry, I know she won’t marry I wish in my heart I was with you. Mar tá sé ró-óg ’gus d’ólfadh sé’n t-airgead. For he is too young and he’d drink the money. Chorus Curfá Chorus I’ll dye my petticoat, I’ll dye it red, ’S gairid go bpósfaidh, ’s gairid go bpósfaidh, Soon (they) will marry, soon (they) will marry And ’round the world I’ll beg my bread, ’S gairid go bpósfaidh beirt ar an mbaile seo, Soon (they) will marry two from this town ’Til I find my love alive or dead. ’S gairid go bpósfaidh, ’s gairid go bpósfaidh, Soon (they) will marry, soon (they) will marry Séan Shéamais Mhóir agus Máire Ní Chathasaigh. Séan Shéamuis Mhóir and Máire Ní Chathasaigh. Chorus

Curfá Chorus

- 16 - - 17 - r Sleepsong May you bring love... Chorus To my mem’ry now I can’t recall; (For Alana…Child of the Universe, now.) And may you bring happiness: So fill to me your parting glass, Rolf Løvland (1955~), arr. Desmond Earley Be loved in return, Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep, Goodnight and joy be with you all. Text & Typesetting by Brendan Graham (1945~) To the end of your days: Ocean’s a royal bed. Now fall off to sleep, Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep Of all the comrades that e’er I had, Lay down your head, I’m not meaning to keep you, Watch by your weary head. They’re sorry for my goin’ away; And I’ll sing you a lullaby- I’ll just sit for a while, And of all the sweethearts that e’er I’ve had Back to the years, And sing loo-li, lai-lay- Chorus They would wish me one more day to stay. Of loo-li lai-lay But since it falls unto my lot And I’ll sing you to sleep… May there always be angels to watch over you, Many’s a lad fought on that day, That I should rise and you should not, Sing you tomorrow… To guide you each step of the way: Well the claymore could wield, I’ll gently rise and softly call, Bless you with love, To guard you and keep you, safe from all harm, When the night came, silently lay Goodnight and joy be with you all. For the road that you go. Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay… Dead on Culloden’s field. Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. A man may drink and not be drunk; May you sail fair… Chorus A man may fight and not be slain; To the far fields of fortune, t The Skye Boat Song A man may court a pretty girl, With diamonds and pearls, Cuachag nan Craobh arr. Desmond Earley Burned are their homes; exile and death And perhaps be welcom’d home again. At your head and your feet: Text by Sir Harold Boulton (1859-1935) Scatter the loyal men; But since it has so order’d been And may you need never, Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath A time to rise and a time to fall, Chorus To banish misfortune: Charlie will come again. Fill to me your parting glass, Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing, May you find kindness… Goodnight and joy be with you all. Onward! the sailors cry; In all that you meet. y The Parting Glass Carry the lad that’s born to be King Traditional Irish/Scottish, arr. Desmond Earley May there always be angels to watch over you, Over the sea to Skye. To guide you each step of the way: Oh, all the money that e’er I had, To guard you and keep you, safe from all harm, Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar, I spent it in good company, Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay. Thunderclouds rend the air; And of all the harm that e’er I’ve done, Baffled, our foes stand by the shore, Alas it was to none but me, Follow they will not dare. And all I’ve done for want of wit

- 18 - - 19 - The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin Desmond Earley, Michael McGlynn and Bill Whelan. is Ireland’s leading collegiate choral ensemble. The 2014-15 season included world premieres With a large repertoire ranging from art to of three specially commissioned works by popular music, and stretching from the medieval Antognini: ‘Aimhirgín’, ‘War’ and ‘Peace’. Equally to the contemporary in style, this choir gives comfortable outside the concert hall, the group many concerts throughout the academic year, has appeared at the Electric Picnic festival and both in Ireland and abroad. Following a has collaborated with indie-rock band ‘Ham competitive selection process each September, Sandwich’, electric-pop group ‘Young Wonder’ eighteen gifted students are awarded a and indie-folk duo ‘Heathers’, in Christ Church scholarship, with recipients of the award coming Cathedral in Dublin. from a range of academic disciplines across www.ucdchoralscholars.ie | Twitter: @UCDChoral the university, from Music to Medicine, Law, Facebook: www.facebook.com/UCDChoralScholars Agricultural Science, Commerce and Engineering. Desmond Earley The choir regularly broadcasts on Irish television and radio. Since its formation in 1999, the group Described by the Irish Times as “enterprising Soprano Alto Tenor Bass frequently performs with orchestras, including and wide-ranging”, Desmond Earley has Hazel Conway Aoife Heeney * James Aherne Jimmy Billings the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Earley Musicke established a reputation as one of Ireland’s Emily Doyle Sorcha Kinder * Fergal Cooke † John Fallows Ensemble and the European Union Chamber foremost choral directors and early keyboard Audrey Keogan * Abby Molloy Emlyn Farrell Eoin Falconer Orchestra, and on the university campus with specialists. A College Lecturer in Performance Jane Lawrence † Gráinne O’Hogan * Glenn Murphy Oisín Friel the UCD Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Studies and Artistic Director of the UCD ‘Ad Clara Leahy Greta Scanlon † Justin Neville * Ryan Hitchcock Choir. In touring Holland, Hungary, Italy, Astra’ Academy, Earley is the founding Artistic Kate Lenehan * Ali Shortt † Tommy Redmond † Ian Maxwell † Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and the Director of the Choral Scholars of University Niamh McCullough * Christina Whyte Mark Waters Barry Mulvey † United States of America the group has brought College Dublin. He holds a DMus Performance Orla O’Neill † (guest) † Óisín O’Callaghan UCD and its music to an international audience. degree on the harpsichord from the Royal Irish Sarah Thursfield Marie Woulfe † Diarmuid Sugrue * Academy of Music, having studied previously The performance of works by living composers at the Universität für Musik und darstellende * September 2014 only is a hallmark of this ensemble. New compositions Kunst, Wien, at the DIT Conservatory of Music and † March 2015 only have been written for the group by Ivo Antognini, Drama, and at University College Dublin.

- 20 - - 21 - David Agnew Oboe Emma-Jane Murphy Violoncello

David Agnew joined the RTÉ Concert Orchestra Emma-Jane is the Principal ‘Cello of the in 1982, touring Europe, the Far East and RTÉ Concert Orchestra. She began studying North America as player and soloist. Born the ‘cello at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. in Dublin, he studied piano, recorder and Having attended the prestigious Yehudi Menuhin guitar before taking up the oboe at the age of School, she studied at the Royal College of seventeen. With support from the Arts Council Music. During this time she was awarded of Ireland, David studied with Heinz Holliger the coveted ‘Tagore Gold Medal’ for the most and Maurice Bourgue in London, Paris, Avignon outstanding student. Murphy has performed and Cologne. He won the ‘Principal Prize’ and broadcast throughout Europe and Australia in 1979 while a student at the College of with orchestras such as the RTÉ National Music in Dublin and completed his Licentiate Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Ulster Orchestra, of Trinity College London in 1981. He has Philharmonia, the Berliner Symphoniker, the A keen early music expert, he is the founding As a celebrated composer and arranger, recorded with some of the world’s finest Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Australian director of The Earley Musicke Ensemble, a Earley has published works with Music Sales musicians and companies including the Chamber Orchestra. Collaborations include group that specialises in the performance of (UK), Hal Leonard Corporation (USA), Alliance Chieftains, Phil Coulter, Frank Patterson, Peter Sculthorpe’s Cello Dreaming for Chandos, lesser-known works by Baroque composers. Music (USA) and with Seolta Music (Irl) for Riverdance, Lord of the Dance, Rod Stewart, Peter Weir’s film Master and Commander and As a respected consort instrumentalist and whom he is editor of the ‘College Choral Series’. R.E.M., Wet Wet Wet, Secret Garden, the Irish Stephen Baynes’ ballet Constant Variants director, Desmond has played with many of In recent years he has worked on projects for Film Orchestra and Liam Lawton. He has with the Australian Ballet Company. In 2006, the world’s finest ensembles including the The Gate Theatre, orchestral arrangements performed with artists including Pavarotti, she co-founded the Australian piano trio, TriOz. Irish Baroque Orchestra, the RTÉ Concert for the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, and Domingo, Carreras, Kiri te Kanawa, Juan Diego Orchestra, Ensemble eX, the European Union choral arrangements for the London-based Florez, Lang Lang, Sir James Galway, Paul Chamber Orchestra and the English Chamber professional choir, Tenebrae (Nigel Short), Brady, Sinéad O’Connor, Altan, Sharon Orchestra. Konrad Junghänel, Christopher which were debuted at the 2013 St Riquier Shannon and Finbar Furey. David holds Hogwood, Roy Goodman, Sir James Galway Festival in France. degrees in Botany from University College Dublin. and Bernadette Greevy are among the world-class musicians with whom Desmond has collaborated.

- 22 - - 23 - Geraldine O’Doherty Harp performed in many countries across the globe. Síle McCarty-Canon Voice Coach When not performing music Rosenstock is a Critically acclaimed harpist Geraldine O’Doherty music producer for Ireland’s Irish-language Síle McCarty-Canon has been voice coach studied with Denise Kelly in Ireland, at the television broadcaster, TG4, on the Irish to UCD Choral Scholars since 2009, working Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, traditional music TV series Hup. He is also with the group’s Artistic Director, Dr Desmond and with the eminent harpist Catherine Michel. presenter of TG4’s arts programme, Imeall. Earley, on developing and maintaining their A major prize-winner in Munich and Zurich, distinctive sound. A performer with many O’Doherty played for the premiere of The Pirate Kevin Whyms Guitar years of experience, McCarty-Canon is in high Queen in Chicago, and for the European premiere demand in Ireland as a voice technician. She of the multi-Tony-Award winning musical The Light Multi-instrumentalist and composer Kevin taught vocal technique and singing for seven in the Piazza. She has premiered works by John Whyms began his musical studies at an years on the acting courses at the Samuel Buckley, Philip Martin, Eric Sweeney, Gerard early age with the Artane Band in Dublin. Beckett Centre, Trinity College Dublin, has Victory, James Wilson and Linda Buckley. She In 2000, he moved to Australia and studied worked with students in the Gaiety School of features on many film soundtracks, most notably jazz fusion at the Conservatory of Music, Acting, and is a guest coach on University the Oscar nominated film Albert Nobbs. As a Sydney, where he developed a keen interest College Dublin’s Ad Astra music programme. soloist Geraldine has performed with the in orchestral composition. Whyms enjoys a Prior to her move into the field of teaching, she Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra, The BBC growing reputation as a TV-, Film- and Games- worked extensively as a recital artist in Ireland, Ulster Orchestra, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, composer, having recently won ‘Best Original performing Lieder, Chanson, Aria and Art-Song. where she holds the position of Principal Harpist. Score’ at the 2014 Kerry film festival for ‘The Gravediggers Tour’ which was recorded with the Tristan Rosenstock Bodhrán RTÉ Concert Orchestra. He has scored music for Behind the Sword in The Stone: The Making Tristan Rosenstock is from Dublin and has of Excalibur (starring Liam Neeson, Helen been playing the bodhrán for twenty-five years. Mirren and Gabriel Byrne); for the award-winning The bodhrán is a single-headed frame drum X-box and Playstation game Pure; and music employed as the primary percussion instrument for RTÉ broadcasts of The World Cup (2010), in Irish traditional music. He has featured The Champions League, the Guinness GAA on many recordings and is a member of All-Ireland Championship, The Week in Politics traditional Irish band Téada, with whom he has and the drama Love/Hate.

- 24 - - 25 - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Ivo Antognini commission project was Thanks to Nigel and Andrew for a wonderful Finally, this disc is dedicated to the memory made possible by more than eighty individual recording experience and to Signum for giving of our friend, the late Dr Pádraic Conway, We are beholden to our sponsors and donors, donors. We would like to express our thanks us a platform to showcase Irish choral music. who first suggested the introduction of some whose generous ongoing support enables to these donors for bringing this project to traditional songs into the repertory of the choir. University College Dublin Choral Scholars to life. Our appreciation to the Embassy of flourish. This project would not have been Switzerland in Ireland for their special donation, possible without the support of Denis and our thanks to Gráinne O’Hogan for expertly O’Brien. We thank him for his generosity and managing the project to completion. We wish Recorded in Castleknock College Chapel, Dublin, Ireland, from 19-21 September 2014 and from 20-22 March 2015. belief in the choral scholarship programme at UCD. to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Producer – Nigel Short Irish Traditional Music Archive. The warm Recording Engineer, Editor & Mastering – Andrew Mellor

The choir wishes to acknowledge the goodwill welcome and facilitation afforded our team Cover Image – Shutterstock of UCD Estate Services; Prof Mark Rogers; Eilis by Castleknock College was outstanding: our UCD Choral Scholars and Desmond Earley – Leslie van Stelten www.leslievanstelten.com O’Brien of UCD University Relations; the staff thanks to Chris Kinder, the Very Rev’d Fr Peter Sessions Photography – Aoife Daly at UCD Foundation, and the staff of the UCD Slevin and to Sorcha Kinder. The members of The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin are represented by Ériu Artist Management: www.eriu-artists.com School of Music. Their support ensured this UCD Choral Scholars are obliged to David Scores available from recording project came to pass. Agnew, Dr Hugh Brady, Sharon Carty, Prof www.seoltamusic.com Gerard Casey, Mark Chambers, Dr Ciarán Crilly, www.michaelmcglynn.com www.musicroom.com Our thanks to Prof Máire Ní Annracháin, Dr Prof Andrew Deeks, Sinéad Dolan, William Gaunt, www.halleonard.com Meidhbhín Ní Urdail and Dr Máire Ní Chiosáin Aine Gibbons, Kellie Hughes, Dr Tim Mooney, www.alliancemusic.com for their assistance with the Irish-language texts. Emma-Jane Murphy, Clár Ní Bhuachalla, Design and Artwork – Woven Design www.wovendesign.co.uk Geraldine O’Doherty, Dympna O’Donoghue, Prof UCD Choral Scholars would not be the successful Ron Pen (Kentucky), Tristan Rosenstock, Mikie P 2015 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd © 2015 The copyright in this CD booklet, notes and design is owned by Signum Records Ltd ensemble they are today without the guidance Smyth, Tim Thurston, Ivan Warner and Dr Peter Any unauthorised broadcasting, public performance, copying or re-recording of Signum Compact Discs constitutes an infringement of copyright and will render the infringer liable to an action by law. and advocacy of Dr Dennis Jennings, Chairman White. This project would not have been possible Licences for public performances or broadcasting may be obtained from Phonographic Performance Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this booklet may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, of the Advisory Board to UCD Choral Scholars. without the inconspicuous – but essential – work or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from Signum Records Ltd.

For his sustained contribution and friendship, of Maeve O’Connell, Abby Molloy, Hazel SignumClassics, Signum Records Ltd., Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, UK. they wish to express their gratitude and the Conway, Sarah Thursfield and Aoife Daly of Ériu +44 (0) 20 8997 4000 E-mail: [email protected] gratitude of choral scholars past and present. Artist Management. www.signumrecords.com

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- 20 - CTP Template: CD_INL1 COLOURS Compact Disc Back Inlay CYAN MAGENTA Customer SignumClassics YELLOW Catalogue No.SIGCD436 BLACK Job Title: Invisible Stars

SIGNUM CLASSICS SIGCD436

INVISIBLE STARS

CHORAL WORKS OF IRELAND & SCOTLAND

1 Mo Ghille Mear Seán Clárach Mac Domhnaill, arr. Desmond Earley [4.04] STARS INVISIBLE 2 Sun and Moon and Stars Bill Whelan [5.42] 3 War Ivo Antognini [4.14] 4 Geantraí Michael McGlynn [2.27] 5 The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby Traditional Irish, arr. Desmond Earley [3.06] 6 The Coast of Galicia Bill Whelan [4.57] 7 He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven Desmond Earley [4.57] 8 Orphan Girl Brendan Graham, arr. Desmond Earley [5.15] UCD CHORAL SCHOLARS / EARLEY / SCHOLARS CHORAL UCD 9 Peace Ivo Antognini [4.32] 0 Black is the Colour of my True Love’s Hair Appalachian Air of Scottish origin, arr. Desmond Earley [3.40] UCD CHORAL SCHOLARS / EARLEY q Land’s End Michael Rooney [1.15] w ‘Sí do Mhamó í Traditional Irish, arr. Desmond Earley [2.03] e Siúil a Rún Traditional Irish, arr. Michael McGlynn [3.02] r Sleepsong Rolf Løvland arr. Desmond Earley [4.45] t The Skye Boat Song Traditional Scottish, arr. Desmond Earley [4.20] y The Parting Glass Traditional Irish/Scottish, arr. Desmond Earley [3.16]

INVISIBLE STARS Total timings: [61.38]

LC15723 Signum Records Ltd, Suite 14, 21 Wadsworth SIGCD436

CLASSICS Road, Perivale, Middx UB6 7JD, United Kingdom. P 2015 Signum Records DDD SIGCD436 © 2015 Signum Records www.signumrecords.com 24 bit digital recording 6 35212 04362 2 SIGNUM