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THE FULL SCORE WITH LIZ NOLAN

Sylvia O'Brien © photo French Touch Image Name: Sylvia O'Brien © photo French Touch Description: Sylvia O'Brien © photo French Touch

Psalmus Invitatorius was commissioned to mark the 50th year of the Maynooth Choral Society. It is a setting of Psalm 94 (in English and Latin) as well as a text inscribed on the floor of the College Chapel (consisting of selected lines from Psalms 46 and 112). The texts were suggested to composer Martin O’Leary by Dr John O’Keeffe, Director of Choral Groups. The piece is specifically written for three of the choral groupings of Maynooth University Music Department (the Choral Society, Chamber Choir and Schola Gregoriana), as well as five solo voices (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone and Bass), organ and orchestra. The title suggests an invitation – to praise through song, and to enter the expressive world of this piece in particular. The texts are set in a manner that combines the historical (using plainchant) with the contemporary – there are aleatoric passages, as well as some spoken declamation of the text (in Latin and English).

Martin O’Leary: Psalmus Invitatorius

Sylvia O’Brien (soprano)

Gina Oberoi (alto)

Andrew Gavin (tenor)

Simon Morgan (baritone)

Jeffrey Ledwidge (bass)

Maynooth Choral Society

Maynooth Chamber Choir

Schola Gregoriana Maynooth

Raymond O’Donnell (organ)

Irish Choral Sinfonia

John O’Keeffe, conductor

RTÉ lyric fm, Monday 13th January, 1pm-4pm