Galway Music Residency will dedicate its 2025 artistic programme to Nature and Ecology.
The musical joint enterprise, established by Galway’s city and county councils, has charged its ensemble-in-residence, ConTempo Quartet to explore important ecosystems, flora and fauna, as well as the impact of weather.
The organisation is collaborating with the Galway County and City Biodiversity Offices to enrich their activities through insights into the amazing natural world that surrounds us and the programmes in place to protect it.
“We are delighted to be able to celebrate the natural world through music this year. Here in the West especially, we are deeply connected to and defined by, nature and the elements,” said Maeve Bryan, Executive Director of Galway Music Residency
“It is a treat to consider string quartet repertoire through the lens of delicately balanced ecosystems, the migratory patterns of animals, the weather and more. We look forward to bringing Galway audiences on a journey through our wild and wonderful world over the next twelve months.”
The year begins with a celebration of World Wetlands Day on Saturday, February 1, at 5.30pm in Connemara National Park in partnership with Birdwatch Ireland, The Heritage Council and Galway County Council, and again as part of ‘Lunchtimes with ConTempo’ in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church on Tuesday February, 4 at 1:10pm.
Works will include Haydn’s String Quartet Op. 50 no. 6 - ‘The Frog Quartet’, Irish Composer Judith Ring’s Of Wood and Water and traditional tunes The Topped Hen / The Peat Dance. The event will also feature the world premiere screening of Wildlife on Roundstone Bog, a new short film by BirdWatch Ireland, highlighting the importance of the wetlands of Connemara boglands for our native biodiversity and the unique wildlife found there.
Ahead of each concert, the repertoire will be explored through Galway Music Residency’s new guided listening programme Music Unveiled. This initiative is presented in partnership with University of Galway’s Music Department and Galway City Council at Galway’s city libraries, and will be available online.
Entry free, all welcome.
Booking for Music Unveiled is required through the library.
