Our penultimate Lunchtime with ConTempo in our musical journey through the Celtic Calendar this November sees ConTempo Quartet perform a varied repertoire celebrating Samhain on Tuesday 5 November at 1:10pm in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church.
Samhain marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. It is thought of as a time when the veil between the living and the dead is thinner, making it possible to commune with spirits and for these spirits to cross the veil. Samhain is traditionally celebrated with bonfires – which are said to have cleansing and protective powers – and is the most significant of the fire festivals. MusicConnects’ Samhain programme features an ethereal and otherworldly selection of repertoire to reflect these themes.
This concert marks the first performance of our International Guest Artist Residence – Estonian Electronic Musician and Composer Sander Saarmets in Galway. In partnership with the Arvo Pärt Centre and the Estonian Centre of Contemporary Music, Saarmets’ two-month residency during November and December 2024 will see him working closely with ConTempo Quartet, creating unique performances that blend classical and contemporary sounds. This partnership will offer audiences the chance to experience something special – the marriage of traditional string quartet repertoire with Saarmets’ experimental electronic compositions. For our Samhain programme, Saarments will join ConTempo Quartet for a programme of Estonian and Irish works. Featured composers will include Arvo Pärt, Estonia’s most celebrated and beloved composer, Tõnu Kõrvits, Sander Saarmets and Galway’s own Jane O’Leary.
Entry is free, all are welcome. Donations are welcome. No booking is required.
This event is part of MusicConnects’ International Guest Artist Residency Programme 2024. This programme is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland’s International Residency Schemes Initiatives. MusicConnects is delighted to partner with the Arvo Pärt Centre and the Estonian Centre of Contemporary Music. Thank you also to the Estonian Embassy in Dublin.
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