Brian Boru, Lion of Ireland - (50 minutes, 2014)
A suite in 13 movements celebrating the millennium anniversary of the death of Brian Boru, Ireland’s High King who united the Irish against the Vikings in the 11th Century. Inspired by the theme of Brian Boru’s March, the work tells the story of Brian Boru to his death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014.
Registration:
- Soprano, Alto and Tenor solos
- SATB Choir and Children’s Choir
- Irish (lever) harp solo, Early Irish (wire) harp solo
- Harp Ensemble in 4 parts (minimum 8 players)
- Bagpipe solo
- Bagpipe band (with drum corps)
Movements:
- Overture
- Vikings!
- Song of Beibhin (The Mother’s Lullaby)
- Brian’s Theme
- Ballad of Brian 1 (Conquest and Triumph)
- Kyrie
- Ivar, King of Limerick
- Teir Slan (The Lover’s Song)
- Ballad of Brian 2 (Conquest and Loss)
- Lament for the High King
- Warrior Reprise
- Ballad of Brian 3 (Legend)
Scores and downloads available on this site in the shop
Colmcille – A Columban Suite - (50 minutes, 1997) View the 2022 performance
A Suite comprising 12 movements composed to commemorate the 1400thanniversary of the death of Saint Colmcille. Colmcille (or ‘Columba’) was renowned for the illumination of the ‘Book of Kells’ but his personal story is also one of the crusading church of his time – and his exile on the Scottish island of Iona where the Book of Kells was completed… This piece tells Colmcille’s story in plainchant and modern Irish harping and culminates in Psalm 150: ‘Praise God with lute and harp!’. With Soprano Mairead Healy.
Registration:
- Soprano and Tenor solos
- Community choir (mostly unison singing)
- Solo Harp
- Harp Ensemble in 4 parts
The movements are titled:
Benedicite- The Land Called Scotia
- Psalm 98: Cantata Domino (with ‘A Monastic Life’)
- Aurora Rutilat – Dawn, Harbinger of Light
- Suantrai
- Psalm 99: Jubilate Deo
- Journey into Exile
- The Derry Lament
- Doire
- Psalm 92: Dominus Regnavit
- Amra, The Harper’s Elegy
- Amra, The Poet’s Elegy
- Psalm 150: Laudate Dominum
Scores and download scores available.
Recorded on CD and available as individual tracks.
7001 - A Christmas Cantata - (60 minutes, 1993)
A suite of 12 old and 2 new Irish carols (or Christmas nativity songs) in Irish, English (including 2 Wexford carols) and Latin (with the macaronic ‘Deus Meus’). With a duration of 50 minutes, this suite of pieces is scored for voices, harps, hand bell and chime (on C)….
Registration:
- Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass soloists
- SATB Choir
- Harp solo
- Harp ensemble in 3 parts
- Hand Bell
- Standing Chime on Low C
Movements:
- Don Oiche Ud I mBeithil (That Night in Bethlehem)
- Cead Mile Failte Romhat a Iosa (A Hundred Thousand Welcomes to You, Jesus)
- Moradh Duit a Ri na Cruinne (Magnificence to you, Lord of the Universe
- Deus Meus
- Rug Muire Mac Do Dhia (Mary Bore a Son to God)
- Suantrai na Maighdine (The Mother’s Lullaby)
- Good People All (The Enniscorthy Carol)
- De Do Bheatha, A Naoi Anocht! (Welcome to You, O Babe Tonight)
- De Do Bheatha, A Naoi Naoimh! (Welcome to You, O child of Saints)
- Failte Romhat A Ri na nAingil (Welcome to You, King of the Angels)
- An Ulster Carol
- Ye Sons of Men (Wexford Carol)
Aifreann d’Arainn - (40 minutes, 1983)
A traditional mass in Irish for the wedding of Micheal O hAlmhain to Aine Ni Chonnaille of Inis Oirr, the most westerly of the Aran Islands off the Galway coast. Duration 40 minutes
Registration:
- Female vocalist (sean nos)
- Male vocalist (sean nos)
- Community choir
- Uilleann Pipes solo
- Whistle solo
- Harp solo
Adapted for the soundtrack to the film 'Pósadh in Inis Oírr' (RTE, 1983)
Battle of Alasdair - (12 minutes, 1992)
From the Uilleann Piping repertoire but originally an epic piece from the old harper’s repertoire, this piece tells the story of the final battle of Alasdair for Ulleann Pipes solo, Harp solo, Harp Ensemble in 4 parts with the component movements: 1 The Ulster Cry, 2 War March of Alisdair MacDonnell; 3 The Trumpet Calls the Men to Battle; 4 Awaiting the Order for Battle; 5 Alisdair Calls Out for Support; 6 Gatyhering for the Battle; 8 Strike and Slash and Leave No-one Alive; 10 The Fall of Alisdair’ 11 The Women Search for their Dead Heroes; 12 ‘Gol na mBan san Ar’ (The Women’s Lament at the Slaughter); 13 Castle Hill (The Graveside Jig). Recorded on the Album: ‘Carillon’ (BHO, 1993)
Registration:
- Harp solo
- Uilleann Pipes solo
- Harp Ensemble in 4 parts
Recorded on CD: Belfast Harp Orchestra 'Carillon'
Ulster Symphony - (11 mins 45 secs, 1994)
Fantasia on the themes of: Sean O Duibhir a’ Ghleanna, Boyne Water and Foggy Dew for Fiddle/Violin, Uilleann Pipes, Bagpipes, Fife, Whistle, Bodhran, Lambeg Drum and Harp Ensemble in 3 parts. This piece is a dramatic musical presentation of the ‘story of Northern Ireland’ featuring the strongest themes of (both sides of) the conflict with the slow air Sean O Duibhir a’ Ghleanna (or ‘Sean O Dwyer of the Glen) providing a start and finish. The Sean O Duibhir tune has 2 incarnations as an evocative patriotic ‘aisling’ of the late 1600s and as a ballad of lament in the early 1800s.
Registration:
- Harp Solo
- Uilleann Pipes solo
- Harp Ensemble in 4 parts
Dalriada - (7 mins 30 secs.)
Commissioned for the Belfast Tattoo 2016, a piece in a variety of dance rhythms. Duration: 12 minutes
Registration:
- Uilleann Pipes solo
- Bagpipes Solo
- Bagpipes Band
- Harp Ensemble in 4 parts
- Keyboard
- Bass
- Percussion
On Honey Wood - (7 mins) 1995
Commission by Derry City Council for the Civic Reception for Seamus Heaney on receiving his Nobel Prize in Literature. The piece was named by Seamus Heaney. For solo violin with Harp Ensemble in 4 parts.
Registration:
- Harp Ensemble in 3 parts
- Violin / Fiddle solo
Scores and downloads not currently available. Please email your interest.
Film Scores for Martello Films (1978)
Series of 3 award winning 40 minute films for Martello Films (Produced Neville Presho) for Chanel 4 TV featuring:
Island (1978)
Music in the Wood (1978)
Horse Power (1978)
Registration:
- Harp
- Uilleann Pipes
- Fiddle
- Flute
- Whistle