Venue: St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Lombard Street, Galway
Date: 03 December 2024 at 1:10pm
Price: Free, Donations Welcome
Our final programme in our musical journey through the Celtic Calendar this December will see ConTempo Quartet and Sander Saarmets, our International Guest Artist in Residence for 2024, perform a varied repertoire celebrating the Winter Solstice.
The programme will feature a reflective selection of repertoire exploring the quiet of winter and the possibility of rebirth and renewal. Featured composers will include Arvo Pärt, Age Veeroos, and Heino Eller. Audiences will also hear folk tunes from Estonia (Tõnu Kõrvits) and Ireland (O Carolan). To top it all off, the concert will feature the World Premiere of a new work composed by Sander Saarmets for string quartet and electronics inspired by his time in Galway.
🌑The Winter Solstice occurs when either of the Earth’s poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the Sun. It marks the shortest day and longest night in the year. On 21st December, it is with relief that we look forward to longer days in the months ahead, the grand stretch! For the ancient Celts, it was a time of renewal, revival and hope. Reflecting the lengthening days, it was also a time of letting go of the darkness that came before and looking forward to brighter days ahead. Even now, people make the journey to Newgrange, Ireland’s most famous Neolithic monument, to witness the solstice. Constructed around 3,200 BC, the site sees the sunrise of the Winter Solstice cast light through an opening above the doorway, bathing the passage and chamber inside with light for around 17 minutes. 🔆
Entry is free, all are welcome. Donations are welcome. No booking is required.
This event features Sander Saarmets, our Guest Artist in Residence in November and December.
This event is part of Galway Music Residency International Guest Artist Residency Programme 2024. This programme is supported by The Arts Council of Ireland's International Residency Schemes Initiatives. Galway Music Residency 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.