ROMAN, CELTIC, and Ancient Greek music will be the ‘Archaeolomusicological Adventure’ at the 19th Galway Early Music Festival.
The festival runs from Thursday May 8 to Sunday 11 and will feature concerts, talks, demonstrations, street performance, and family events.
The earliest Scottish and Irish music and song will be performed by Coracle, the trio of Griogair Labhruidh, Barnaby Brown, and Siobhán Armstrong. Simon O’Dwyer of Ancient Music Ireland will join forces with John Kenny, Peter Holmes, and others to recreate the music of the Celts.
Italy’s Luci Scaenici will demonstrates classical Roman music and Stefan Hagel looks at the performance of Greek double pipes. Medieval flautist Norbert Rodkirchen’s programme, Hamelin Anno 1284, explores the story and history of The Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Swedish group Ensemble Mare Balticum will give an illustrated concert with replicas of instruments found in the 17th century shipwreck, Kronan.
There will also be a one-day symposium in NUI Galway, open to the public, which will present lectures aimed at academic non-specialists and the interested public to provide a window into the research background of the festival concerts.
For families, Moonfish Theatre with Ancient Music Ireland present a shadow puppet version of Buile Shuibhne – Mad Sweeney.
The University of Limerick chant choir Lucernarium, directed by Wolodymyr Smishkewych, concludes the festival with a programme of medieval lais, song, and chant.
For more information see www.galwayearlymusic.com
