Good Friday is always a day that feels different, and on April 3, St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church offers Galwegians in the city centre an opportunity for choral reflection at 5pm.
As an antidote to all the hustle and bustle, Music for Galway has organised vocal ensemble Collegium directed by Mark Duley to perform Heinrich Schütz’ setting of the St Matthew Passion.
In recent years audiences for this event have grown. It appears that many people, both believers and non-Christians, appreciate this space for contemplation.
Heinrich Schütz wrote three settings of the Passions (the Gospels of Christ’s death ) towards the end of his life. These Passions, and in particular the Matthäus-Passion, represent the crowning achievement of the greatest German composer of the seventeenth century, and paved the way for the later settings of JS Bach and others.
The Matthäus-Passion is written for choir and ten soloists, including the major roles of Evangelist and Jesus. The whole work is unaccompanied, its spare texture nevertheless containing passages of rich harmonies and dramatic depictions of the Gospel narrative.
Collegium takes its title from the ancient designation of the Galway city centre church, dating back to 1486. Duley is organist at St Nicholas’ and director of St Nicholas Schola Cantorum, a collection of choirs.
This is a passion setting which is the perfect distilled reflection of Good Friday’s stark atmosphere and scripture’s compelling record.
Prior booking is recommended. Tickets are €20 with concession for over-66 at €18.00. Solidarity tickets are €10, and the MfG Friend rate is €16.
To book visit www.musicforgalway.ie or phone 091705962.
