The Galway Music Residency has a great lineup in the coming month. Michael Ferris has more information…
The Galway Music Residency launched its 11th season in October and has planned a new year filled with musical performances – a true feast for the senses for all Galwegians and visitors to Galway to enjoy.
The organisation is the oldest residency of its kind in Ireland and is home of The Galway Ensemble in Residence, ConTempo Quartet – a world renowned string quartet originally from Romania and now living permanently in Galway.
Over the coming months an ensemble of events has been meticulously prepared for our community’s pleasure. The popular monthly Lunchtime at the Library concert series takes place the first Tuesday of each month at 13:10 at the Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street.
On 3 December the Galway premiere of John McLachlan’s ‘Where we are’ will be performed by ConTempo and Mr. McLachlan will be on hand to introduce his piece.
Another exciting event to keep an ear to the ground for is MINUS 3, a sound and visual happening on 23 November at 14:30 in the Galway City Museum, which is located at the Spanish Arch.
This performance will bring ConTempo performing a string quartet ‘Alveoles’ by Latvian composer Santa Ratniece out of the concert hall and into the museum space.
The four members of the quartet will play in different rooms on different levels throughout the building. The audience will walk around the museum and see individual quartet members playing solo and hearing a full quartet piece from both the solo live musician and speakers on a pre-recorded tape. Striking video imagery by Romanian artist Mihai Cucu has also been created for this event.
The Galway Music Residency Christmas events are definitely worth braving the winter cold to enjoy. On 12 December at 20:00 in the Mechanic’s Institute, Middle Street, the ‘Christmas at Home Concert’ event will take place with ConTempo Quartet, Kathleen Loughnane (harp) and some surprise guests.
Tickets at the door: Adults – 10€ /8€; children under 16 admitted free. There will also be two other Christmas celebrations with ConTempo at Galway’s City Hall, College Road on 16 December at 13:00 and Galway University Hospital at 18:00.
The National University of Ireland, Galway has been a major sponsor of the Residency since 2002. As part of this partnership, both are collaborating on a programme called ‘Space & Sound’ which celebrates architecture and music. The next event takes place in the Engineering Building on 29 November at 13:00.
The majority of their regular events are free and open to the public and new faces are always welcome. For more information visit http://www.thegalwaymusicresidency.ie/ and like us https://www.facebook.com/thegalwaymusicresidency.
