31.10.2014
Service of Remembrance for World War I at Chirst Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral Choir and Chamber Orchestra will perform a service of remembrance for World War I on Thursday November 6 at 7.00 pm.
This unique and memorable evening will feature Duruflé’s beautiful ‘Requiem’, with WWI poetic interpolations read by broadcaster Michael Lee and an Act of Remembrance led by the Very Rev’d Dermot Dunne, Dean of Christ Church.
Duruflé’s Requiem is arguably one of the most beautiful of all requiems. It was commissioned in 1947 by the French music publisher, Durand, and was written in memory of the composer’s father.
At the time of commission, Duruflé was working on an organ suite using themes from Gregorian chants. He incorporated his sketches for that work into the Requiem, which uses numerous themes from the Gregorian ‘Mass for the Dead.’ Nearly all the thematic material in the work comes from chant.
The choir of Christ Church Cathedral, directed by Ian Keatley, enjoys an enviable reputation as one of Ireland’s finest choirs. Tracing its origins to 1493, the cathedral choir has always been highly regarded in Dublin’s musical life and formed part of the inaugural performance of Handel’s Messiah in 1742.
With the largest repertoire of any cathedral choir in the country, covering more than five centuries and including specially commissioned works, the choir sing three services a week and regularly perform in television and radio broadcasts in both the UK and Ireland, including BBC Radio 3’s iconic Choral Evensong and RTÉ’s Sunday Worship.
The Choral Service begins at 7.00 pm sharp and all are welcome to attend. Arrive early to avoid disappointment. Donations will go towards the Christ Church Cathedral Music Fund.