Father Liam Lawton, a priest of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
was invited by Mary Amond O’ Brien to write some music for a special
commemoration of this 1916 centenary year.
What emerged is Requiem for a Child
in which Father Lawton has taken various elements of the Requiem in the
Latin, Irish and English languages to reflect the immensity of what
happened to the children of 1916 and what sadly is still happening
throughout the world today.
Requiem for a Child will have its Irish and World premiere
as part of a truly unique celebration in Carlow Cathedral on Sunday 13
November, when Aspiro choir will perform a concert entitled ‘Remembering
The Child’ at 8.30pm.
This concert will see 90 children and young adults aged 4 to 18, the
same age as those who suffered in 1916 and continue to suffer in wars
today, alongside 25 members of ‘Aspiro Choir’ performing.
For the children of 1916 there were no funerals or funeral orations,
no memorials erected, no inquiries into the causes of deaths, no
compensation.
Through the power of this original commission, and
venerable and established music, Aspiro hopes to encourage members and
audience alike to reflect on the 40 children aged 16 and under who were
killed in the 1916 Rising; and the children who are undergoing
unimaginable pain and suffering in the countless wars raging across the
planet in 2016.
Father Lawton’s new commission Requiem For A Child’ uses
Irish, English and Latin text and will form the centre-piece of a
specially selected programme of songs.
In the ‘Remembering’ and
‘Reimagining’ sections of this concert music from various composers
around the world, and from two Irish composers – Shaun Davey and Sue
Furlong – will be performed by the choir.
Excerpts from Joe Duffy’s Children of the Rising book will be narrated throughout the evening.
Requiem for a Child has been written for choir , string
quartet, piano and uilieann pipes, and has been beautifully arranged by
Mark Cahill under the direction of Mary Amond O’ Brien.
The celebration takes place on Sunday 13 November at 8.30pm for a one
night only performance in this significant year in the beautiful
setting of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow.
For more see www.kandle.ie