Choral Scholars give James Joyce poetry musical makeover
Posted 13 August, 2024
A new album fulfilling the century’s old wish of literary giant James Joyce that his poems be set to music will soon be available courtesy of the (opens in a new window)Choral Scholars of University College Dublin.
Set for release in September, (opens in a new window)Chamber Music By James Joyce features for the first time a choral arrangement of 18 of the Dubliner’s short lyrics.
Each performance is the work of individual composers, who were paired with a Joyce poem by (opens in a new window)Associate Professor Desmond Earley, Artistic Director of the UCD Choral Scholars.
Joyce, a graduate of UCD, candidly expressed his hope that someday his poems would be put to music. Writing to his brother Stanislaus in 1907, he said “[some] of the verses are pretty enough to be put to music. I hope someone will do so, someone that knows old English music such as I like”.
“Choral Scholars are proud of our unique connection to Joyce’s Dublin story,” said Associate Professor Earley. “Not only do we hear and create the accents and speech patterns of his literary characters, but we also understand their cultural history.
“It is a pleasure and honour for us to be the first choral ensemble to wrap James Joyce’s ‘suite of songs’ in an Irish choral voice.”
Members of the Choral Scholars and Solstice Ensemble recording compositions of James Joyce's poems from 'Chamber Music' Credit: Sanda Semeika
The first of a planned two volume set that will feature all 36 of Joyce’s poems from his ‘Chamber Music’ collection, this first album features musical arrangements from across the world as an acknowledge to the international aspect of the author’s own personal journey.
Hailing from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Latvia, Slovenia, Switzerland, as well as the United States of America, among the international award-winning composers involved are Jocelyn Hagen, Eriks Esenvalds, Natasa Paulberg, Damien Walters, and Mark Armstrong - one of Ireland’s most renowned musicians, with a career spanning over 35 years as a conductor, arranger, and composer.
Another featured artist is Owen Brady, a former Choral Scholar and UCD graduate, whose third LP release was featured in GQ Magazine’s 100 Greatest Things in the World.
(opens in a new window)@choralscholars (opens in a new window)#ChamberMusic settings by 18 composers of (opens in a new window)@ucddublin most famous alumnus (opens in a new window)#JamesJoyce of his (opens in a new window)#poetry will be released in September. Preview this (opens in a new window)#single of poem V by (opens in a new window)#JocelynHagen (opens in a new window)@JJFroberger (opens in a new window)#SolsticeEnsemble (opens in a new window)@SignumRecords (opens in a new window)@HumanitiesUCD (opens in a new window)@UCDSchoolMusic (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/6uHfolnrWf
— Choral Scholars of University College Dublin (@UCDChoral) (opens in a new window)August 13, 2024
'Chamber Music by James Joyce’ is the culmination of four-year project to bring to live the desire of Joyce. Ahead of its September release, two singles from the album will be available 13th August (Silently she’s combing / Desmond Earley) and 3rd September (My love is in a light attire / Ēriks Ešenvalds).
Directed by Associate Professor Earley, the UCD Choral Scholars are an acclaimed chamber choir of gifted student singers renowned for their performances, collaborations, and innovative commissioning projects.
Earlier this year, the Choral Scholars released the digital EP (opens in a new window)"Ireland, You’re My Home" – which featured Irish and Scottish Gaelic songs to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. Three of the tracks were new arrangements by Desmond Earley, with translations by Brian Ó hUigínn.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
