Archive

2023

Noël

9 December 2023 – St Bartholomew’s Church, Ballsbridge, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Stuart Nicholson, organ

16 December 2023 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • German trad. arr. Philip Lawson: Maria durch ein Dornwald ging
  • Gauntlett arr. Mann and Willcocks: Once in royal David’s city
  • Laura Sheils: Sir Christèmas
  • Irish trad. arr. Timothy Noon: Wexford carol
  • Irish trad. arr. Eoghan Desmond: Don oíche úd i mBeithil
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: The first Nowell
  • Elizabeth Poston: Jesus Christ the apple tree
  • Helena Paish: While Mary slept
  • Errollyn Wallen: Peace on earth
  • Mason arr. John Rutter: Joy to the world!
  • Wade arr. Willcocks: O come, all ye faithful
  • 16th century French arr. Mack Wilberg: Ding! dong! merrily on high
  • Ian Crawford: A Christmas prayer
  • Gruber arr. Nana Forte: Silent night
  • trad. arr. Eoin Conway: The holly and the ivy
  • Hopkins arr. Eoin Conway: We three kings
  • Torme and Wells arr. Eoin Conway: The Christmas song
  • Welsh trad. arr. Mark Armstrong: Deck the hall
  • Adam arr. West: O holy night
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! the herald-angels sing
  • Coots and Gillespie arr. Trevor Jones: Santa Claus is coming to town*
  • Marks arr. Philip Colls: Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer*
  • Pierpont arr. Willcocks: Jingle, bells*
  • arr. Stuart Nicholson: I saw three ships*

* 9 December only
† 16 December only

In Paradisum

18 November 2023 – St Bartholomew’s Church, Ballsbridge, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • Howells: Requiem
  • Duruflé: Requiem

Sing Joyfully

14 October 2023 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
Orla Flanagan and Matthew Altham, conductors
Martin Toyer, organ
A collaboration between Mornington Singers and Pegasus

Mornington Singers and Pegasus
  • William Byrd: Sing joyfully
Pegasus
  • Thomas Weelkes: As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending
  • Gustav Holst: Song of the blacksmith
  • Judith Weir: Love bade me welcome
Mornington Singers
  • Josef Rheinberger: Morgenlied
  • arr. Gustav Holst: I sowed the seeds of love
  • Roxanna Panufnik: Love endureth
Mornington Singers and Pegasus
  • arr. Percy Grainger: Irish tune from County Derry
Pegasus
  • arr. Michael McGlynn: Siúil a rúin
  • arr. Essi Wuorela & Jussi Chydenius: Kaipaava
Mornington Singers
  • Xabier Sarasola: Neskatx’ ederra
  • arr. Eoin Conway: On Raglan Road
Mornington Singers and Pegasus
  • Charles Villiers Stanford: Beati quorum via
  • Charles Villiers Stanford: Coelos ascendit hodie
  • C. Hubert H. Parry: Blest pair of Sirens

Songs from the Heart

16 September 2023 – St Gabriel’s, Pimlico (London)
Matthew Altham and Orla Flanagan, conductors
Martin Toyer, organ
A collaboration between Mornington Singers and Pegasus

Pegasus and Mornington Singers
  • William Byrd: Sing joyfully
Pegasus
  • William Byrd: Diliges dominum
  • Thomas Weelkes: As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending
Mornington Singers
  • Benjamin Britten: Advance democracy
  • Edward Elgar: Love’s tempest
  • Roxanna Panufnik: Love endureth
Pegasus
  • Judith Weir: Love bade me welcome
  • arr. Michael McGlynn: Siúil a rúin
Mornington Singers
  • arr. Desmond Earley: Mo ghile mear
Pegasus and Mornington Singers
  • arr. Percy Grainger: Irish tune from County Derry
Mornington Singers
  • Josef Rheinberger: Morgenlied
Pegasus
  • Josef Rheinberger: Abendlied
  • arr. Essi Wuorela & Jussi Chydenius: Kaipaava
Mornington Singers
  • arr. Gunnar Eriksson: Gjendines bådnlåt
Pegasus and Mornington Singers
  • Charles Villiers Stanford: Justorum animae
  • Charles Villiers Stanford: Beati quorum via
  • Charles Villiers Stanford: Coelos ascendit hodie
  • C. Hubert H. Parry: Blest pair of Sirens

O Schöne Nacht

10 June 2023 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Einojuhani Rautavaara: Lähtö
  • Josef Rheinberger: Morgenlied
  • Johannes Brahms: Vineta
  • Stephen Chatman: A magical machine
  • Charles Villiers Stanford: My love’s an arbutus
  • Trad. Scottish arr. Eoin Conway: Wild mountain thyme
  • Trad. English arr. Gustav Holst: I sowed the seeds of love
  • Veljo Tormis: Jaanilaulud (St John’s Day Songs) (exc.)
    Call to the midsummer bonfire I
    Fire spell
    St John’s Day song
  • Folk song arr. Gunnar Eriksson: Gjendines bådnlåt
  • Johannes Brahms: Nachtwache II
  • Johannes Brahms: O schöne Nacht
  • Josef Rheinberger: Abendlied

Gallus – Maribor International Choral Competition Slovenia

April 2023 – Union Hall, Maribor
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Opening concert (Friday 21 April)
  • arr. Desmond Earley: Mo ghile mear
  • John Buckley: Kitty of Coleraine
Compulsory programme (Saturday 22 April)
  • Iacobus Gallus: Elisabethae vero impletum est tempus
  • Edward Elgar: Love’s tempest
  • Nana Forte: Godec pred peklom
Free programme (Saturday 22 April)
  • Heinrich Schütz: Das ist je gewißlich wahr
  • Johannes Brahms: Nachtwache II
  • Roxanna Panufnik: Love endureth
  • György Orbán: Pange lingua

Love Endureth

11 March 2023 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Henry Purcell: I was glad
  • Heinrich Schütz: Das ist je gewißlich wahr
  • Iacobus Gallus: Elisabethae vero impletum est tempus
  • Edward Elgar: Love’s tempest
  • Roxanna Panufnik: Love endureth
  • Johannes Brahms: Nachtwache II
  • Nana Forte: Godec pred peklom
  • Nana Forte: Tanto tempore
  • György Orbán: Pange lingua
  • Benjamin Britten: Advance democracy
  • Trad. Irish arr. Desmond Earley: Mo ghile mear
  • John Buckley: Kitty of Coleraine

2022

Noël

10 December 2022 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
17 December 2022 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • H.J. Gauntlett arr. A.H. Mann and Willcocks: Once in royal David’s city
  • Rhona Clarke: Lullay, my liking*
  • Rhona Clarke: Glad and blithe
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God rest you merry, gentlemen*
  • Colm Ó Foghlú: Réalt na hOíche*
  • Irish trad. arr. Eoghan Desmond: Don oíche úd i mBeithil*
  • trad. arr. Eoin Conway: The holly and the ivy
  • 14th century Irish arr. Willcocks: Angelus ad virginem*
  • W. Mathias: Sir Christèmas*
  • L. Mason arr. Rutter: Joy to the world!*
  • J.F Wade arr. Willcocks: O come, all ye faithful
  • 16th century French arr. Willcocks: Ding dong! merrily on high*
  • M. Praetorius – J. Sandström: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen*
  • French trad. arr. Willcocks: Il est né le divin enfant*
  • French trad. arr. Michael McGlynn: Noël nouvelet*
  • H. Darke: In the bleak mid-winter*
  • F. Gruber arr. Nana Forte: Silent Night*
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: Sussex carol
  • A. Adam arr. John E. West: O holy night
  • F. Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! the herald-angels sing
  • German arr. Pearsall: In dulci jubilo
  • Kirkpatrick arr. David Hill: Away in a manger
  • Cornelius arr. I. Atkins: The three kings
  • Welsh trad. arr. Willcocks: Deck the hall
  • English trad. arr. Rutter: The twelve days of Christmas
  • Marks arr. Philip Colls: Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
  • Coots and Gillespie arr. Trevor Jones: Santa Claus is coming to town
  • Pierpont arr. Willcocks: Jingle, bells

* 10 December only
† 17 December only

Autumn Landscapes

12 November 2022 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Thomas Weelkes: Thule, the period of cosmography and The Andalusian merchant
  • Heinrich Schütz: Das ist je gewißlich wahr
  • Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: Canticum calamitatis maritimae
  • Egidija Medeksaite: Nunc dimittis
  • Roxanna Panufnik: Love endureth
  • Edward Elgar: Love’s tempest
  • Fanny Hensel: Abendlich schon rauscht der Wald
    O Herbst
  • Veljo Tormis: Sügismaastikud (Autumn landscapes) (exc.)
    On hilissuvi
    Tuul kõnnumaa kohal
    Külm sügisöö
    Kanarbik
  • Emma O’Halloran: Natural history
  • Stephen Chatman: A magical machine

Night on Earth

12 June 2022 – Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford
Orla Flanagan, conductor
with organ improvisation by Aleksandr Nisse
18 June 2022 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Eriks Esenvalds: Stars
  • Anna Cederberg-Orreteg: That night of falling stars
  • Heinrich Schütz: Ich bin eine rufende Stimme
    Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes
  • Anna-Karin Klockar: The Best Friend
  • Karin Rehnqvist: Night on our Earth
  • Fanny Hensel: Lockung
  • Felix Mendelssohn : Denn er hat seinen Engeln befohlen über dir
  • Clara Schumann: Abendfeier in Venedig
  • Xabier Sarasola: Neskatx’ ederra
  • Trad. Irish, arr. Michael McGlynn: The Flower of Maherally
  • Harold Arlen arr. Guy Turner: Over the rainbow

2021

Noël

11 December 2021 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
18 December 2021 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • HJ Gauntlett arr. Willcocks: Once in royal David’s city
  • Elizabeth Poston: Jesus Christ the apple tree
  • arr. Orla Flanagan: Good King Wenceslas / In the bleak midwinter
  • English trad. arr. Sullivan / Willcocks: It came upon the midnight clear
  • arr. Norah Walsh: Oíche Nollag
  • Rhona Clarke: Glad and blithe
  • arr. Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill: Gaoth bhog ag seoladh
  • arr. Timothy Noon: The Wexford carol
  • French trad. arr. Willcocks: Il est né le divin enfant
  • arr. Eoin Conway: The holly and the ivy
  • Lowell Mason arr. Rutter: Joy to the world!
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God rest you merry, gentlemen
  • Rhona Clarke: Lullay, my liking
  • Seán Doherty: A nywe werk
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: The Sussex carol
  • Kirkpatrick arr. David Hill: Away in a manger
  • Peter Cornelius arr. Atkins: The three kings
  • arr. Stuart Nicholson: I saw three ships
  • Adolphe Adam: O holy night
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! the herald-angels sing

Pipeworks Autumn Festival

24 October 2021 – St Michael’s Church, Dún Laoghaire
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • Benjamin Britten: Festival Te Deum, Op. 32
  • Josef Rheinberger: Ricercare, Op.174, No.9
    Hymne (Psalm 89), Op. 69, No.2
    Tema variato, Op.167, No.9
  • Felix Mendelssohn: Richte mich, Gott (Psalm 43), Op. 78, No. 2
  • Josef Rheinberger: Canzonetta, Op. 167, No.3
    Abendlied, Op. 69, No.3
    Ernste Feier, Op. 174, No.7
  • Benjamin Britten: Rejoice in the Lamb, Op. 30

2020

Trinity Long Room Hub Celebration Showcase

19 February 2020 – Edmund Burke Theatre, Trinity College Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The choir was part of a special celebration of Trinity’s Arts and Humanities to mark 10 years since the opening of the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts and Humanities Research Institute. This event featured a series of conversations, performances and recitals with special guests and friends of the Hub as well as researchers, staff and students from Trinity’s Arts and Humanities.

  • Ēriks Ešenvalds: Stars
  • Danny Forde, text by Amy Conroy: Crumlin 3am

2019

Noël

14 December 2019 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
21 December 2019 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • Roxanna Panufnik: O hearken
  • HJ Gauntlett arr. Willcocks: Once in royal David’s city
  • Herbert Howells: A spotless rose
  • Elizabeth Poston: Jesus Christ the apple tree
  • Hector Berlioz: Shepherds’ farewell
  • Lowell Mason arr. Rutter: Joy to the world!
  • Rhona Clarke: Lullay my liking
  • Rhona Clarke: Glad & blithe
  • Irish trad. arr. Eoghan Desmond: Don oíche úd i mBeithil
  • Seán Doherty: A nywe werk
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God rest you merry, gentlemen
  • JF Wade arr. Willcocks: O come, all ye faithful
  • GF Handel: For unto us a child is born
  • Praetorius-Sandström: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
  • French trad. arr. Willcocks: Il est né le divin enfant
  • Anon. Spanish: Ríu ríu chíu
  • Lajos Bárdos: Karácsonyi bölcsődal
  • William Kirkpatrick arr. Hill: Away in a manger
  • Text Sr Cholmcille Ní Chonáin, arr. Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill: Gaoth bhog ag seoladh
  • Alex Ryan: In the bleak midwinter
  • Adolphe Adam: O holy night
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! the herald-angels sing

Requiem: Fauré & Duruflé

2 November 2019 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • Duruflé: Requiem
  • Fauré: Requiem

4th International Baltic Sea Choir Competition

20–22 September 2019 – Jūrmala, Latvia
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Mornington Singers was the winner of the International Baltic Sea Choir Competition and recipient of the Jūrmala City Grand Prix Trophy.

Opening concert (Friday 20 September)
  • Frank Corcoran: Caoine
Compulsory Programme (Saturday 21 September)
  • Uģis Prauliņš: Laughing Song
  • Irish trad.: Siúil a Rún
  • Felix Mendelssohn: Richte mich, Gott
  • Michael Ostrzyga: Iuppiter
Free Programme (Saturday 21 September)
  • Heinrich Schütz: Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes
  • Roxanna Panufnik: O Hearken
  • Seán Doherty: A Nywe Werk
Grand Prix (Sunday 22 September)
  • Michael Ostrzyga: Iuppiter
  • Seán Doherty: Under-Song
  • György Ligeti: Reggel

Graduate Composition Show of Trinity College Dublin

22 May 2019 – The Studio, National Concert Hall, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Mornington Singers performed two new works as part of the annual showcase of compositions by Trinity College Dublin’s MPhil and PhD composers.

  • Lindsey Vincent: Lux Aeterna
  • Aoife Kavanagh: Coiscéimeanna

65th Cork International Choral Festival

3–5 May 2019 – Cork, Ireland
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Mornington Singers was named Ireland’s Choir of the Year 2019. The choir was also awarded:

  • The Perpetual Trophy for the Performance of Irish Contemporary Choral Music, for Seán Doherty’s A Nywe Werk in Ireland’s Choir of the Year
  • The Heinrich Schütz Perpetual Trophy, for Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition
  • Fleischmann International Trophy Competition: 4th place
Fleischmann International Trophy Competition (Saturday 4 May)
  • Heinrich Schütz: Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes
  • Roxanna Panufnik: O Hearken
  • Michael Holohan: Bagairt na Marbh
  • György Ligeti: Reggel
Ireland’s Choir of the Year (Sunday 5 May)
  • Henry Purcell: I was glad
  • Seán Doherty: A Nywe Werk
  • Michael Ostrzyga: Iuppiter
Gala concert (Sunday 5 May)
  • Trad. Irish, arr. Michael McGlynn: The Flower of Maherally
  • Albert Hammond/Mike Hazelwood, arr. Peter Knight: I’m A Train

Trinity Week Launch

29 April 2019 – Museum Building, Trinity College Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • György Ligeti: Reggel
  • Seán Doherty: Under-Song
  • Henry Purcell: I was glad
  • Michael Holohan: Bagairt na Marbh
  • Michael Ostrzyga: Iuppiter
  • trad. Irish, arr. Michael McGlynn – The Flower of Maherally
  • Albert Hammond/Mike Hazelwood, arr. Peter Knight: I’m A Train

Constellations

30 March 2019 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, Róisín Blunnie and Amy Ryan, conductors

A collaboration between Mornington Singers, Laetare Vocal Ensemble and Cuore Chamber Choir. The choirs presented their own programmes and joined together at the close of the concert for a 100-strong performance of Kodály’s Esti Dal.

Mornington Singers
  • Heinrich Schütz: Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes
  • Roxanna Panufnik: O Hearken
  • Michael Holohan: Bagairt na Marbh
  • György Ligeti: Reggel
Laetare Vocal Ensemble
  • Orlande de Lassus: Timor et Tremor
  • Charles Villiers Stanford: Beati Quorum Via
  • William Byrd: Sing Joyfully
  • Kate Rusby, arr. Jim Clements: Underneath the Stars
  • Rhona Clarke: The Old Woman
  • Seán Doherty: The Destroyer
Cuore Chamber Choir
  • Alessandro Scarlatti: Iustitiae Domini
  • Anton Bruckner: Christus factus est
  • Alberto Ginastera: Lamentaciones de Jeremías Propheta
    O vos omnes
    Ego vir videns
    Recordare
Mornington Singers
  • Henry Purcell: I was glad
  • Seán Doherty: A Nywe Werk
  • Michael Ostrzyga: Iuppiter

To the Northeast – The Choral Music of John Buckley: album launch

6 March 2019 – The Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Professor Harry White, guest speaker

John Buckley and Mornington Singers launched their new album To the Northeast. Professor Harry White was the guest speaker and the choir gave live performances of a selection of tracks from the album.

  • Music, when soft voices die
  • Jabberwocky
  • Down by the Salley Gardens (from Three Irish Folksongs)
  • Harbour Song (from To the Northeast)

2018

Noël

15 December 2018 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
22 December 2018 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • H.J. Gauntlett arr. Willcocks: Once in royal David’s city
  • William Byrd: This day Christ was born
  • Irish trad. arr. Timothy Noon: Wexford carol
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: Sussex carol
  • 16th century arr. Hamond: Swete was the song the Virgine soong
  • Gustav Holst: In the bleak midwinter
  • Mark Armstrong: Love came down at Christmas
  • Seán Doherty: A nywe werk
  • Irish trad. arr. Eoghan Desmond: Don oíche úd i mBeithil
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! the herald-angels sing
  • Anton Bruckner: Ave Maria
  • Benjamin Britten: Hymn to the Virgin
  • Rhona Clarke: Lullay my liking
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God rest you merry, gentlemen
  • French trad. arr. McGlynn: Noël nouvelet
  • French trad. arr. Willcocks: Il est né le divin enfant
  • Peter Cornelius arr. Atkins: The three kings
  • Adolphe Adam: O holy night
  • Lowell Mason arr. Rutter: Joy to the world!

Trócaire Christmas Gala Concert

2 December 2018 – Mount Argus Church, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Mornington Singers was part of a line up of award winning artists for the annual Christmas Gala Concert in aid of Trócaire.

Libera Me

24 November 2018 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Parry: Lord, let me know mine end
  • Pizzetti: Messa di Requiem
  • Howells: Take him, earth, for cherishing
  • Tavener: Funeral Ikos

Festival of Families

25 August 2018 – Croke Park, Dublin

Mornington Singers was the featured choir in this event involving singers, dancers, performers and musicians from across Ireland and all over the world, with a musical score arranged and conducted by David Brophy.

21: anniversary concert

23 June 2018 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

2018 marks the 21st anniversary of Mornington Singers. We celebrated this milestone and our twenty-one year history with a concert featuring some of our favourite music from over the years, and were delighted to have a number of our former members join us in an encore.

  • William Byrd: Sing joyfully
  • Colin Mawby: Alleluia, Christus resurrexit
  • Rhona Clarke: Regina coeli
  • Frank Corcoran: Caoine
  • James MacMillan: The gallant weaver
  • Hubert Parry: There is an old belief
  • John Buckley: Jabberwocky
  • Seán Doherty: Under-Song
  • Selga Mence: Kalējs kala debesīs
  • Felix Mendelssohn: Richte mich, Gott
  • Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: Pseudo-yoik

Enduring Fictions: Celebrating The Long Gaze Back

5 April 2018 – Regent House, Trinity College Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The choir featured in an evening of readings and music from The Long Gaze Back, an anthology of short stories by 30 Irish women writers and the Dublin: One City One Book choice for 2018.

  • Frank Corcoran: Caoine
  • Seán Doherty: Under-Song
  • Éna Brennan: L’Étranger
  • Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill: An raibh tú ar an gcarraig?

Tenebrae

30 March 2018 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson St, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Lotti: Crucifixus for 8-part choir
  • Lobo: Versa est in luctum
  • Byrd: Ne irascaris Domine
  • Victoria: Tenebrae responsories (1585) (exc.)
    Tamquam ad latronem
    Tenebrae factae sunt
    Animam meam dilectam
  • Mendelssohn: Mein Gott, mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen?
  • Victoria: Tenebrae responsories (1585) (exc.)
    Tradiderunt me
    Iesum tradidit impius
    Caligaverunt oculi mei
  • Allegri: Miserere mei Deus

Of Night and Light

17 February 2018 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
Orla Flanagan and Róisín Blunnie, conductors

A collaboration between Mornington Singers and Laetare Vocal Ensemble

Mornington Singers and Laetare Vocal Ensemble
  • Sergei Rachmaninoff: Bogoroditse Devo
Mornington Singers
  • John Buckley:
    • Lux aeterna
    • There is a spot mid barren hills
    • He wishes for the cloths of heaven
    • Jabberwocky
Laetare Vocal Ensemble
  • Rihards Dubra: Stetit Angelus
  • Ēriks Ešenvalds: O salutaris Hostia
  • Moses Hogan: My soul’s been anchored in the Lord
  • Claude Debussy: Dieu, qu’il la fait bon regarder
  • Seán Doherty: Rise up, my love
  • Seán Doherty: The salley gardens
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams: Rest
  • Rhona Clarke: Do not stand by my grave and weep
  • Seán Doherty: It’s strange about stars
Mornington Singers
  • John Buckley:
    • Music, when soft voices die
    • To Sleep
    • My Lagan love
    • Kitty of Coleraine
Mornington Singers and Laetare Vocal Ensemble
  • Josef Rheinberger: Abendlied

2017

Noël

9 December 2017 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
16 December 2017 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Stuart Nicholson, organ

  • Anton Bruckner: Virga Jesse
  • H.J. Gauntlett arr. Willcocks: Once in royal David’s city
  • French 15th century arr. Sherry Hazlett-Gallen: O come, o come Emmanuel
  • Eoghan Desmond: The darkest midnight
  • Irish trad. arr. Timothy Noon: Wexford carol
  • Irish 14th century arr. Willcocks: Angelus ad virginem
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God rest you merry, gentlemen
  • Peter Cornelius arr. Atkins: The three kings
  • German trad. arr. Pearsall : In dulci jubilo
  • Cornish trad. arr. Rutter: Sans Day carol
  • John Goss arr. Willcocks: See amid the winter’s snow
  • Lowell Mason arr. Rutter: Joy to the world!
  • J.F. Wade arr. Willcocks: Adeste, fideles
  • M. Praetorius – J. Sandström: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
  • French trad. arr. McGlynn: Noël nouvelet
  • French trad. arr. Willcocks: Il est né le divin enfant
  • English trad. harm. Vaughan Williams arr. Armstrong: O little town of Bethlehem
  • Kenneth Leighton: Lully, lulla, thou little tiny child
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: Sussex Carol
  • German arr. Ledger : Still, still, still
  • Czech carol arr. David Hill: Rocking
  • William J. Kirkpatrick arr. David Hill: Away in a manger
  • Adolphe Adam: O holy night
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! the herald-angels sing

Echoes of Eternity

18 November 2017 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Howells: Requiem
  • Frank Martin: Mass for Double Choir

Fano international choral festival

27 August 2017 – San Domenico Church, Fano, Italy
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Corteccia: Ingredere
  • Brahms: Letztes Glück, Op. 104, no. 3
  • Pietro Ferrario: Benedetto sia’l giorno
  • John Buckley: Jabberwocky
  • Rautavaara: Suite de Lorca
  • Seán Doherty: Under-Song
  • Selga Mence: Kalējs kala debesīs

28 August 2017 – San Paterniano Basilica, Fano, Italy
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Lassus: Timor et Tremor
  • Mendelssohn: Warum toben die Heiden (Op. 78/1)
  • Mendelssohn: Richte mich, Gott (Op. 78/2)
  • Rheinberger: Abendlied
  • Stanford: Beati quorum via
  • Colin Mawby: Alleluia, Christus resurrexit
  • Rhona Clarke: Regina coeli

Arezzo international choral competition

23-26 August 2017 – Arezzo, Italy
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The choir was awarded:

  • Compulsory programme (mixed choirs): 2nd prize
  • Secular programme: 3rd prize
  • Sacred programme: 3rd prize

Pipeworks Festival: Mighty Fortress
Inspirations and Revelations

24 June 2017 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, director
Gerben Mourik, organ

A concert exploring some of the most popular chorales by Martin Luther in a variety of musical forms and settings. The chorale melodies were sung by the choir and audience, many of whom had participated in an introductory rehearsal, interspersed with settings of some of the verses performed by the choir, and organ improvisations by Dutch organist Gerben Mourik.

  • Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland
    including settings by Michael Praetorius and Michael Altenburg
  • Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her
    including settings by Adam Gumpelzhaimer, Johann Schein and Michael Praetorius
  • Christ lag in Todesbanden
    including settings by Johannes Eccard and Johann Walter
  • Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
    including a setting by Johannes Brahms
  • Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott
    including a setting by Melchior Franck

To the Northeast: concert and album launch

20 May 2017 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

A concert of contemporary choral music from Ireland, featuring the premieres of John Buckley’s thrilling To the Northeast and Ben Hanlon’s moving World War I Letters alongside music from our new album Under-Song. The programme consisted entirely of works by living Irish composers, many of whom were present on the night.

The concert culminated in the launch of Under-Song by John Buckley.

  • Rhona Clarke (b. 1958): Regina coeli
  • Eoghan Desmond (b. 1989): Oh, most merciful!
  • Colin Mawby (b. 1936): Alleluia, Christus resurrexit
  • Ben Hanlon (b. 1952): World War I Letters (first performance)
  • Mark Armstrong (b. 1963): Dreaming
  • Seán Doherty (b. 1987): Under-Song
  • Éna Brennan (b. 1990): L’Étranger
  • John Buckley (b. 1951): To the Northeast (first performance)
  • Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill (b. 1975): An raibh tú ar an gcarraig?
  • Frank Corcoran (b. 1944): Caoine
  • Eoin Mulvany (b. 1978): Is úar geimred

2016

Noël

Noël 2016 flyer10 December 2016 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
17 December 2016 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • Elizabeth Poston: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
  • J.F Wade arr. Willcocks: Adeste Fideles
  • Rhona Clarke: Lullay, my Liking
  • Irish trad. arr. Noon: Wexford Carol
  • Irish 14th century arr. Willcocks: Angelus ad Virginem
  • English trad. arr. Vaughan Williams/Armstrong: O Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Harold Darke: In the Bleak Midwinter
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: Tomorrow shall be my dancing day
  • Lajos Bárdos: Hungarian Lullaby
  • William J. Kirkpatrick arr. Hill: Away in a Manger
  • John Goss arr. Willcocks: See amid the Winter’s snow
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: The First Nowell
  • Herbert Howells: A Spotless Rose
  • Peter Warlock: Bethlehem Down
  • anon. 14th century: There is no Rose
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God rest you merry, gentlemen
  • Francis Poulenc: O Magnum Mysterium
  • Hector Berlioz: The Shepherds’ Farewell
  • French trad. arr. Willcocks: Il est né le divin enfant
  • Franz Gruber arr. Rose: Silent Night
  • Cornish trad. arr. Rutter: Sans Day Carol
  • William Mathias: Sir Christèmas
  • Adolphe Adam: O Holy Night
  • Felix Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

RTÉ NSO Video Games Classic

2 December 2016 – National Concert Hall, Dublin
Eimear Noone, conductor

Mornington Singers joined forces with New Dublin Voices to provide the vocals in a concert of major video game soundtracks and classical music hits with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, under award-winning LA-based Irish video games music composer and conductor Eimear Noone. The programme featured music from games including World of Warcraft, Resident Evil and Final Fantasy 7 alongside extracts from Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Requiem, Holst’s The Planets and more.

City of Derry International Choir Festival

22-23 October 2016 – Derry, Northern Ireland
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The choir was awarded 3rd prize in the international competition.

Musicke Divine

Musicke Divine poster11 June 2016 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
Róisín Blunnie, conductor

  • Tomkins: Music Divine
  • Bach: Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
  • Sandström: Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf (excerpts)
  • Lassus: Timor et Tremor
  • Tomkins: When David Heard
  • Ešenvalds: O Salutaris Hostia
  • Schnittke: Drei geistliche Gesänge
  • Bach: Komm, Jesu, komm
  • Sandström: Komm, Jesu, komm (chorale)

Music for a While

27 February 2016 – St Bartholomew’s Church, Dublin
13 March 2016 – Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Purcell/Eriksson: Music for a While
  • Barber: Reincarnations
  • Vaughan-Williams: Three Shakespeare Songs
  • Kocsár: Six Female Choruses on poems by Carl Sandburg
  • Lang: Again
  • MacMillan: A Child’s Prayer
  • MacMillan: The Gallant Weaver
  • Rautavaara: Lorca Suite

2015

Noël

Noël 2015 poster12 December 2015 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
19 December 2015 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • Otto Goldschmidt: A Tender Shoot
  • H.J. Gauntlett arr. Willcocks: Once in Royal David’s City
  • Rhona Clarke: Lullay, my Liking
  • Seán Doherty: Blessed be that Maid Marie
  • German 1360 arr. Holst: Personent Hodie
  • John Joubert: Torches
  • Peter Warlock: Balulalow
  • William Mathias : Sir Christèmas
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God Rest you Merry, Gentlemen
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day
  • John Goss arr Willcocks: See amid the Winter’s Snow
  • Piae Cantiones arr. Jacques: Good King Wenceslas
  • J.F. Wade arr. Willcocks: Adeste fideles
  • Palestrina arr. Jackson and Moore: Arise, Shine O Jerusalem
  • Anon. medieval English: Alma Redemptoris Mater
  • French trad. arr. McGlynn: Noël Nouvelet
  • French trad. arr. Willcocks: Il est né le divin Enfant
  • Harold Darke: In the Bleak Midwinter
  • Lowell Mason arr. Rutter: Joy to the World!
  • William J. Kirkpatrick arr. Hill: Away in a Manger
  • Cornish trad. arr. Rutter: Sans Day Carol
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: Sussex Carol
  • Franz Gruber arr. Rose: Silent Night
  • Adolphe Adam: O Holy Night!
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! The Herald-angels Sing

The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses

22 November 2015 – National Convention Centre, Dublin
Amy Andersson, conductor

Mornington Singers provided vocals for the Dublin performance of the touring Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses programme. Based on one of the most popular video game series of all time, the tour features live orchestral performances of music from Nintendo’s classic The Legend of Zelda franchise.

One Equal Eternity

One Equal Eternity poster21 November 2015 – Adam & Eve’s Church, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Barber: Let down the Bars, O Death
  • Pizzetti: Messa di Requiem
  • Harris: Bring us, O Lord God
  • Mendelssohn: Mitten wir im Leben sind
  • Brahms: Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen
  • Harris: Faire is the Heaven
  • Vaughan-Williams: Rest

Friendship / Prijateljstvo

with St Nicholas Choir, Litija, Slovenia
27 October 2015 – St Andrew’s Church, Westland Row, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Mendelssohn: Mitten wir im Leben sind
  • Brahms: Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen
  • Vaughan-Williams: Rest
  • Harris: Bring us, O Lord God 
  • Irish trad.: An Irish Blessing

Summer Concert

Summer Concert poster13 June 2015 – St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin
20 June 2015 – St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Byrd: Sing Joyfully
  • Lotti: Crucifixus a 8
  • Lukaszewski: Memento mei, Domine
  • Machuel: Paroles contre l’oubli op. 57, no. 10
  • Mendelssohn: Am Himmelsfahrtstage
  • Brahms: Letztes Glück
  • Holst: I sowed the seeds of love
  • Armstrong: Dreaming
  • Doherty: Under-song
  • Doherty: Blessed be that Maid Marie
  • Buckley: Jabberwocky
  • Haywood: Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel (arr.)
  • Mäntyjärvi: Train to Morrow (arr.)

Cork International Choral Festival

1–3 May 2015 – Cork, Ireland
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The choir was awarded:

  • The Schuman/Europe Trophy for perfomance of a piece by a living European composer in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition
  • Fleischmann International Trophy Competition: 4th place
  • Ireland’s Choir of the Year: 3rd prize
Fleischmann International Trophy Competition (Saturday 2 May)
  • Thierry Machuel: Paroles contre l’oubli op. 57, no. 10
  • Byrd: Sing Joyfully
  • Mendelssohn: Am Himmelsfahrtstage
  • John Buckley: Jabberwocky
Ireland’s Choir of the Year (Sunday 3 May)
  • Lotti: Crucifixus a 8
  • Pawel Lukaszewski: Memento mei, Domine
  • Seán Doherty: Blessed be that Maid Marie
Gala Concert (Sunday 3 May)
  • Arr. Jaakko Mantyjarvi (trad. American/Irish): Train to Morrow
  • Arr. Carl Haywood (Spiritual): Didn’t my Lord Deliver Daniel

Miserere

Miserere poster3 April 2015 – Adam & Eve’s Church, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Victoria: Lamentations
  • Lobo: Versa est in luctum
  • Allegri: Miserere
  • Lotti: Crucifixus
  • Victoria: Pange Lingua
  • Lukaszewski: Memento mei, Domine

2014

Noël

20 December 2014 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Stuart Nicholson, organ

A selection of Christmas carols old and new

  • Benjamin Britten: A Boy was Born
  • J.F. Wade arr. Willcocks: Adeste fideles
  • Morten Lauridsen: O Magnum Mysterium
  • French trad. arr. Willcocks: Il est né le divin Enfant
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God Rest you Merry, Gentlemen
  • English anon: Coventry Carol
  • Appalachian carol arr. Rutter: I wonder as I wander
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: Sussex Carol
  • German trad., harm. J.S. Bach: O little one sweet
  • William J. Kirkpatrick arr. Hill: Away in a Manger
  • Lowell Mason arr. Rutter: Joy to the World!
  • Benjamin Britten: A Hymn to the Virgin
  • Irish trad. arr. Seán Creamer: Wexford Carol
  • Frank Corcoran: An Irish Carol
  • English trad. arr. Vaughan Williams/Armstrong: O Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Peter Warlock: Bethlehem Down
  • Harold Darke: In the Bleak Midwinter
  • German trad. arr. R.L. Pearsall: In Dulci Jubilo
  • Franz Gruber arr. Joost Slingerland: Stille Nacht/ Silent Night
  • Adolphe Adam: O Holy Night!
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! The Herald-angels Sing

Composing Mortals

Composing Mortals poster22 November 2014 – Church of Adam and Eve, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

A St Cecilia’s Day concert celebrating the art and inspiration of the composer

Mornington Singers Composition Competition

Mornington Singers during 2014 held a competition for original choral works, with entry open to all Irish composers and composers living in Ireland.

The competition, which was conceived with the aim of promoting choral music in Ireland, was held in acknowledgment of the contribution of Dr Orla Flanagan, musical director since 2002, to the choir and the Irish choral community.

On 18 October 2014 at an interactive workshop the choir read a selection of the competition entries in front of an audience consisting of singers, conductors, composers and members of the general public.

The three highest placed compositions were first performed as part of the choir’s concert programme Composing Mortals on St Cecilia’s Day (22 November) 2014.

The Pregnant Box at Discover Research Dublin

26 September 2014 – Trinity College, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The choir participated in the Discover Research Dublin event organised by Trinity College Dublin and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in September 2014 to showcase the work of researchers in Ireland.

The Pregnant Box saw individual audience members enter a confession box to hear performances delivered by a roving choir, which were designed to make the audience think about the secrets we harbour and the judgements we make. Collaborators from Trinity’s School of Social Work and Social Policy and School of Drama, Film and Music worked to translate women’s narratives about concealing pregnancy into this dramatic piece of music.

David Puttnam with RTÉ Concert Orchestra

13 September 2014 – National Concert Hall, Dublin
Benjamin Wallfisch, conductor

Mornington Singers was the featured choir in a special tribute concert to veteran film director David Puttnam with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.

The programme consisted of themes from Puttnam’s films, which include The Mission, The Killing Fields, Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express and Bugsy Malone, interspersed with the director’s recollections of moments and key scenes.

Cantemus

19 June 2014 – St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Dublin (part of the Pipeworks International Organ Festival)
21 June 2014 – St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Patrick O’Shea, guest conductor

A rich and varied programme, of contrasting eras and styles, it includes works by Byrd, Schütz, Lassus, Monteverdi, Schumann, Fauré, Vaughan Williams, Martin, Orbán, as well as contemporary Irish composers Rhona Clarke, Seán Doherty and Éna Brennan.

We will also be delighted to be performing “Cantemus”, a new work written for the Mornington Singers by American composer Patrick O’Shea, who will be conducting us for this piece.

  • Schutz: Selig sind die Toten
  • Lassus: Timor et Tremor
  • Byrd: Haec dies
  • Brennan: l’Étranger
  • Vaughan-Williams: The Cloud-Capp’d Towers
  • O’Shea: Cantemus in omni die (premiere)
  • Doherty: Et Clamabant
  • Clarke: Regina coeli
  • Schumann: Zuversicht
  • Machuel: Paroles contre l’oubli op. 57, no. 10
  • Martin: Credo

Florilège Vocal de Tours

30 May-2 June 2014 – Tours, France
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Mornington Singers was one of the participating choirs in the 2014 Florilège Vocal de Tours and was awarded 3rd prize in the Renaissance Competition.

Compulsory Programme (Friday 30 May)
  • Byrd: Haec Dies
  • Vaughan Williams: The Cloud Capp’d Towers
  • Frank Martin: Credo
  • Thierry Machuel: Paroles contre l’oubli op. 57, no. 10
Free Programme (Saturday 31 May)
  • Seán Doherty: Et Clamabant
  • Schumann: Zuversicht, op. 141, no. 3
  • Fauré: Madrigal
  • Rhona Clarke: Regina Caeli
Renaissance Programme (Saturday 31 May)
  • Lassus: Timor et Tremor
  • Lassus: Bonjour, mon cœur
  • Monteverdi: Io mi son giovinetta
  • Schütz: Selig sind die Toten

Cork International Choral Festival

2-4 May 2014 – Cork, Ireland
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The choir was awarded:

  • Ireland’s Choir of the Year: 1st prize
  • Fleischmann International Trophy Competition: 3rd prize
  • The Perpetual Trophy for the Performance of Irish Contemporary Choral Music

Orla Flanagan was awarded the International Jury Award for the performance of an imaginative and artistic programme.

Particular highlights included the opportunity to perform the works of three contemporary Irish composers who were there in person to hear us: Rhona Clarke, Seán Doherty and Éna Brennan.

Fleischmann International Competition (Saturday 3 May)
  • Schütz: Selig sind die Toten
  • Seán Doherty: Et Clamabant
  • Vaughan Williams: The Cloud Capp’d Towers
  • György Orbán: Daemon Irrepit Callidus
Ireland’s Choir of the Year (Sunday 4 May)
  • Byrd: Haec Dies
  • Éna Brennan: l’Étranger
  • Rhona Clarke: Regina Caeli
Gala Concert (Sunday 4 May)
  • Frank Corcoran: Caoine
  • Trad. arr. Jonathan Quick: Loch Lomond

Requiem Aeternam

18 April 2014 (Good Friday) – Church of Adam and Eve, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Stuart Nicholson, organ

The programme consisted of two Requiem settings: the hauntingly beautiful Requiem by Herbert Howells, and the well-loved Fauré Requiem.

2013

Noël

12 December 2013 – St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin
14 December 2013 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

A selection of Christmas carols traditional and modern

  • John Tavener: God is with us all
  • J.F. Wade arr. Willcocks: Adeste fideles
  • Benjamin Britten: A Hymn to the Virgin
  • Herbert Howells: A Spotless Rose
  • Irish 14th century arr. Willcocks: Angelus ad Virginem
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: God Rest you Merry, Gentlemen
  • Irish trad. arr. John Rutter: Wexford Carol
  • John Tavener: The Lamb
  • French trad. arr. McGlynn: Noël Nouvelet
  • Lowell Mason arr. Rutter: Joy to the World!
  • Peter Warlock: Bethlehem Down
  • Irish trad. arr. Niamh O’Kelly: Don oíche úd i mBeithil
  • William J. Kirkpatrick arr. Hill: Away in a Manger
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: The Sussex Carol
  • Harold Darke: In the Bleak Midwinter
  • German trad. arr. R.L. Pearsall: In Dulci Jubilo
  • Adolphe Adam: O Holy Night!
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: The First Nowell
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! The Herald-angels Sing

Songs of Farewell

Songs of Farewell poster23 November 2013 – Church of Adam and Eve, Merchant’s Quay, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Howells: Requiem
  • Parry: Songs of Farewell

A very English programme, featuring the eponymous song cycle by Hubert Parry and Herbert Howells’ lovely Requiem.

De Profundis

De Profundis poster8 June 2013 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
15 June 2013 – St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway
Róisín Blunnie, conductor

  • Lassus: Timor et Tremor
  • Victoria: O Vos Omnes
  • Orbán: Popule Meus
  • Vide Homo
  • Nees: De Profundis
  • Kreek: Taaveti laul, Nr. 104 & 141
  • Whitacre: When David Heard
  • Orbán: Timor et Tremor
  • Kodály: Jézus és a Kufárok
  • Rheinberger: Abendlied
  • Stroope: The Conversion of Saul
  • Orbán: Daemon Irrepit Callidus
  • Kodály: Esti Dal

Our summer concert, De Profundis, explores themes of conflict, torment, betrayal and grief in music by Kodály, Whitacre, Lassus, Rheinberger, Bárdos, Nees and Kreek.

Navan Choral Festival

12 May 2013 – Navan, Ireland
Róisín Blunnie, conductor

The choir was awarded:

  • Choir of the Year: 1st prize
  • Sacred Music Competition: 1st prize

Dreams of Springtime

9 March 2013 – City Hall, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

A celebration of spring with a program of secular music, with works by Brahms, Britten, Hindemith, and Poulenc.

  • Brahms: Fünf Gesänge Op. 104
  • Hindemith: Six chansons de Rilke
  • Poulenc: Chansons française
  • Britten: Five flower songs

2012

Noël

13 December 2012 – St Peter’s Church, Phibsborough, Dublin
15 December 2012 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

A selection of beautiful and well-loved Christmas carols

  • H.J. Gauntlett arr. Willcocks: Once in Royal David’s City
  • Irish trad. arr. John Rutter: Wexford Carol
  • Elizabeth Poston: Jesus Christ the Apple Tree
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: Sussex Carol
  • Franz Gruber arr. Rose: Silent Night
  • Peter Cornelius: The Three Kings 
  • Hector Berlioz: The Shepherd’s Farewell
  • Harold Darke: In the Bleak Midwinter
  • J.F. Wade arr. Willcocks: Adeste fideles
  • Michael Praetorius – Jan Sandström: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
  • Anon. ed. John Stevens: There is no Rose
  • Herbert Howells: A Spotless Rose
  • English trad. arr. Willcocks: The First Nowell
  • Welsh trad. arr. Willcocks: Deck the Halls
  • Peter Gritton: Have yourself a merry little Christmas
  • Adolphe Adam: O Holy Night!
  • Mendelssohn arr. Willcocks: Hark! The Herald-angels Sing

Pillars of Heaven

24 November 2012 – Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Building on the themes of previous concerts, this programme explored the echoes of renaissance choral music in a twentieth century mass setting.

  • Frank Martin: Mass for Double Choir
  • Thomas Tallis:
    • Dum transisset sabbatum
    • O sacrum convivium
    • Salvator mundi
    • Candidi facti sunt
    • Videte miraculum
    • Loquebantur variis linguis

Fauré Requiem

2 November 2012 – Corpus Christi Church, Griffith Avenue, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

We participated in a celebration concert organised by Corpus Christi parish to mark the restoration of their organ. Along with an organ recital, the choir sang Fauré’s Requiem accompanied by Gerard Gillen, with soloists Niamh Fitzgerald and David Scott.

John Buckley at 60

28 October 2012 – Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Mornington Singers was delighted to be invited to take part in a special concert of the works of John Buckley, to help celebrate his 60th year, as part of the popular Hugh Lane Gallery Sunday concert series.

Public Master Class in Vocal Production with Colette McGahon

20 October 2012 – Church of St George and St Thomas, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin

A free, public master class with internationally renowned Irish mezzo-soprano Colette McGahon and Mornington Singers.

This master class was an opportunity for anybody interested in singing or choral music to see the techniques of vocal production in action in an informal setting, demonstrating how the advice of a professional soloist in relation to tone, colour and vowels sounds can help with the interpretation of beautiful music in a rich acoustic.

The event was sponsored by the Association of Irish Choirs, Arts Council Choral Training Bursaries.

Legacy

Legacy poster19 May 2012 – St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Dublin
9 June 2012 – Church of St Augustine, Galway
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Bach: Jesu, meine Freude (BWV 227)
  • Kavanagh: O Magnum Mysterium (premiere)
  • Flynn: Hymnus Sancti Camelaci (premiere)
  • Wilson: I carry your heart (premiere)
  • Mendelssohn: Mitten wir im Leben sind, Op. 23, No. 2
  • Brahms: Warum ist das Licht gegeben, Op. 74, No. 1

A programme of musical stepping-stones: from Bach through Mendelssohn and Brahms to three contemporary Irish composers, this performance was a celebration of inspiration, interpretation and invention.

Open rehearsal for Trinity College Dublin Composition Centre

29 March 2012 – Royal Irish Academy, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Mornington Singers performed as part of the 2012 series of events under the newly established Music Composition Centre at Trinity College Dublin.

The recently established centre provides a new platform to produce active, practical composers equipped for the emerging music of the 21st century.

Mozart Requiem

4 March 2012 – Templeogue Parish Church, Dublin
10 March 2012 – St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Dublin
Ciarán Crilly, conductor
Orla Flanagan, chorus director

The choir joined forces with the Dublin Orchestral Players in a performance of Mozart’s highly dramatic death mass.

2011

Illuminare

mornington-singers-2011-winter-concert-posters3 December 2011 – Trinity College Chapel, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Andrew Johnstone, organ

  • Byrd: Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem
  • Byrd: Rorate Coeli
  • Byrd: Tollite Portas
  • Byrd: Ave Maria
  • Byrd: Ecce Virgo concipiet
  • Britten: Rosa Mystica
  • Howells: A Spotless Rose
  • Bingham: Beneath these Alien Stars
  • Bingham: Our Faith is a Light
  • Rutter: Open thou mine eyes
  • Ruter: Hymn to the Creator of Light
  • Byrd: Vigilate
  • Byrd: Ne irascaris Domine
  • Byrd: Laetentur Coeli

A programme of English music from the sixteenth to the twenty-first century. The music of William Byrd frames the concert, with excerpts from the Advent Marian Masses of the Gradualia (1605), and a selection of Cantiones Sacrae (1589) providing examples of the golden age of polyphony, and shedding light on the fundamental human experiences of faith, hope, fear and joy.

The music of Byrd is partnered with some more recently-composed music that includes a further exploration of Marian themes, iin the sparse musical language of Benjamin Britten (Rosa Mystica) and the mellifluous warmth of Howells’ A Spotless Rose. The poetry of Lancelot Andrews provides a compelling text from the Advent theme of light: ‘visible, invisible and intellectual’, and John Rutter exploits the many facets of light in this text to dramatic and imaginative effect in his Hymn to the Creator of Light.

The choir is delighted to collaborate once again with Andrew Johnstone (organ) for the Irish premieres of two works by Judith Bingham: Our Faith is a Light (2004) and Beneath these Alien Stars (2001). Bingham’s music, with its homage to monody and polyphony, communicates with a bell-like clarity inspired by the music of Hildegarde of Bingen, and produces an effect of ethereal luminosity which resonates with the sacred works by Byrd presented here.

Portaferry Proms

17 September 2011 – Portaferry Presbyterian Church
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Heinrich Schutz: Geistliche Chormusik (exc.)
    So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ
    Die mit Tranen säen
    Selig sind die Toten
  • Francis Poulenc: Quatre motets pour un temps de pénitence
    Timor et Tremor
    Vinea mea Electa
    Tenebrae factae sunt
    Tristis est Anima mea
  • Folksong set
    Blow the wind southerly (arr. White)
    Danny Boy (arr. Knight)
  • Thomas Tallis: If ye love me
  • William Byrd: Ave Verum Corpus
  • Parry: At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners
  • Claudio Monteverdi: Il Quarto Libro de Madrigali (exc.)
    Io mi son giovinetta
    Ah dolente partita
  • Eric Whitacre: Three Flower Songs
    I hide myself
    Go, lovely Rose
    With a lily in your hand

Music for a Summer’s Evening

22 June 2011 – Church of St George and St Thomas, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

An informal end-of-year concert, presented in our regular rehearsal venue and featuring some of our favourite pieces performed over the preceding couple of years.

Dundrum Arts and Cultural Festival

21 June 2011 – Holy Cross Church, Dundrum, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The Mornington Singers took part in the Dundrum Arts and Cultural Festival, performing as part of a Choral Fundraising Evening in aid of Cancer Clinical Research Trust.

The Mornington Singers were joined by singers from Opera in the Open and the Ballinteer Male Voice Choir. The evening was introduced by Senator Prof John Crown, who gave an outline of the great amount of research and advances made in the treatment of cancer.

Cork International Choral Festival

29 April-1 May 2011 – Cork, Ireland
Orla Flanagan, conductor

We performed in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition at the 57th Cork Choral Festival. Our performance of pieces by Schütz, Bodley, Poulenc and Whitacre gained us a fourth place, and the McCurtain and McSwiney award for the most imaginative and artistic programme.

Fleischmann International Competition
  • Schütz: So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ
  • Seóirse Bodley: Nocturne of the Self-Evident Presence
  • Poulenc: Vinea mea electa
  • Eric Whitacre: With a Lily in your Hand

Sacred & Profane

12 March 2011 – Church of St Nicholas of Myra, Francis Street, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

  • Britten: Sacred & Profane (exc.)
  • Poulenc: Four Lenten motets
  • Whitacre: Three Flower Songs
  • Parry: At the round earth’s imagined corners
  • Schütz: So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ
  • Bodley: The Radiant Moment (exc.)

2010

RTÉ1: Carols from the Fair City

24 December 2010

Lyric FM Choirs for Christmas

16 December 2010 – Suantraí ár Slánaitheora from Water Night was played as part of the Choirs for Christmas competition.

Carols at Farmleigh

12 December 2010 – Ballroom, Farmleigh, Phoenix Park, Castleknock, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Chichester Psalms

4 December 2010 – St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor
Jacek Wislocki (tenor), Aideen Rickard (soprano); Andreja Malir (harp); David Bremner (organ); Chris Stynes (percussion)

The roads may have been icy, but our concert went ahead as planned and we are very grateful to our loyal audience for turning up in such numbers. This exciting programme for choir, soloists, harp, percussion and organ included:

  • Bernstein – Chichester Psalms
  • Janáček – Otčenáš (Our Father)

and other seasonal favourites.

Launch of Water Night CD

27 October 2010 – Newman House, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The launch of our album Water Night, recorded in Windmill Lane during February. With a love theme, tracks include:

  • James MacMillan – The Gallant Weaver
  • Stanford – My love’s an arbutus
  • Veljo Tormis – Roundelay
  • trad. Irish, arr. Michael McGlynn – The Flower of Maherally
  • trad. Scottish, arr. Fintan O’Carroll – Suantraí
  • trad. Scottish, arr. Jonathan Quick – Loch Lomond
  • trad. Scottish, arr. Simon Carrington – O my love is like a red, red rose
  • Eric Whitacre – Water Night
  • Luciano Berio – …e si fussi pisci
  • trad. Irish, arr. King’s Singers – Danny Boy

Biorhythm Live

1 October 2010 – The Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The Mornington Singers closed the Science Gallery’s Summer exhibition, Biorhythm Live, with a series of a cappella contemporary pieces exploring vocal effects and spatial separation. Also on the programme were beatboxers, Sean Nós and jazz vocal improv.

Kodály Society Choral Workshop

14 July 2010 – St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin

We acted as the laboratory choir for conductor László Nemes in a choral workshop he gave as part of the Kodály Society of Ireland’s summer school.

Sung Mass

27 June 2010 – St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Sung Mass

20 June 2010 – Chapeltown Church, Valentia Island, Kerry
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Songs for Midsummer

19 June 2010 – St John the Baptist Church, Knightstown, Valentia Island, Kerry
Orla Flanagan, conductor

We sang many old favourites, plus the following from our forthcoming CD Water Night:

  • Stanford – My love’s an arbutus
  • Veljo Tormis – Roundelay
  • trad. Irish, arr. Michael McGlynn – The Flower of Maherally
  • trad. Scottish, arr. Fintan O’Carroll – Suantraí
  • trad. Scottish, arr. Jonathan Quick – Loch Lomond
  • trad. Scottish, arr. Simon Carrington – O my love is like a red, red rose
  • Eric Whitacre – Water Night
  • Luciano Berio – …e si fussi pisci
  • trad. Irish, arr. King’s Singers – Danny Boy

RTÉ Concert Orchestra Signature Series: Lesley Garrett

17 June 2010 – National Concert Hall, Dublin
David Brophy, conductor

The choir sang with Lesley Garrett and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra under David Brophy. Music included:

  • Handel – Zadok the Priest
  • Mozart – Laudate Dominum
  • Verdi – Merce, dilette Amiche (I Vespri Siciliani)
  • Borodin – Polovtsian Dances
  • Dvorak/Bateman – Goin’ Home
  • Rodgers & Hammerstein – Some Enchanted Evening
  • Rodgers & Hammerstein – You’ll Never Walk Alone

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

15 May 2010 – St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

This all contemporary programme included:

  • Veljo Tormis – Jaanilaulud (St John’s Day Songs)
  • Pēteris Vasks – Mate Saule (Mother Sun)
  • Eric Whitacre – Sleep; This Marriage; Water Night
  • Arvo Pärt – … which was the son of…
  • James MacMillan – The Gallant Weaver; A Child’s Prayer
  • David Lang – Again (After Ecclesiastes)

The Eclipse film soundtrack

17 March 2010, 9:35pm, RTÉ One Televison

The Mornington Singers feature on the soundtrack to Conor McPherson’s film The Eclipse, which aired on RTÉ One on St Patrick’s Day. The Kyrie was played on RTÉ Radio 1 on 14 March 2010 as part of a longer interview. The full film soundtrack is available in the US on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Sung Mass

14 February 2010, Church of the Assumption, Booterstown Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

The choir was delighted to return to the parish to provide service music including:

  • Mendelssohn – Die Deutsche Liturgie
  • Mendelssohn – Richte mich, Gott (Ps. 43)
  • Bruckner – Os Justi

2009

The Morning Show, TV3

(Tue 22nd and Weds 23rd Dec 2009)

The Mornington Singers featured on The Morning Show in the week leading up to Christmas, performing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas and Ring Christmas Bells (also known as Carol of the Bells).

Christmas Charity Concert

Sat 12th Dec 2009, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin.

The Mornington Singers presented Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and other seasonal favourites. All concert proceeds were in aid of Aware.

Sligo International Choral Festival

14th and 15th Nov 2009, Sligo

The choir enjoyed our first visit to Sligo, where we walked away with two top prizes.

Mendelssohn: A homage to Bach

Thu 24th Sep and 1st Oct 2009, St Audoen’s Church (RC), High Street, Dublin

Choral and organ works by JS Bach and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mendelssohn’s birth, in conjunction with Pipeworks.

Thu 24th Sep:

  • Bach – Komm Jesu, komm (BWV 229)
  • Mendelssohn – Sechs Sprüche (Op. 79)
    1. Weihnachten
    2. Neujahrstage
    3. Am Himmelsfahrtstage
    4. In der Passionszeit
    5. Im Advent
    6. Am Charfreitage
  • Mendelssohn – Warum toben die Heiden (Ps. 2)
  • Plus organ pieces performed by David Connolly and David Leigh.

Thu 1st Oct:

  • Mendelssohn – Mein Gott, warum hast du mich verlassen? (Ps. 22)
  • Mendelssohn – Die Deutsche Liturgie
  • Mendelssohn – Richte mich, Gott (Ps. 43)
  • Plus organ pieces performed by David Connolly.

The two other organ concerts in this Pipeworks series were on Tue 22nd and 29th Sep.

The Horse Killer Film Soundtrack

(Autumn 2009)

Our recording of Lux Aeterna from SOLAS appears on the closing credits to Pursued by a Bear Productions’ new World War I drama.

Sung Mass

Sun 19th July 2009, 11am, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin.

We were the visiting choir this Sunday morning while the resident Palestrina Choir were on holidays. Music included

  • Mendelssohn – Die Deutsche Liturgie
  • Rachmaninoff – Bogoroditsye Dyevo
  • Whitacre – Lux Aurumque

Chanticleer Masterclass

Mon 6th July 2009, 7:30-9pm, St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street, Dublin.

This world-renowned male ensemble worked with us as they presented an informal workshop on performance and interpretation of some common repertoire, followed by a question and answer session with the audience.
Music performed included Barber’s Reincarnations and Tomkins’ When David Heard.

Chanticleer’s Irish tour was jointly presented by Pipeworks and Cois Cladaigh.

Reincarnations

Sat 16th May 2009, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin.

  • Tomkins – When David Heard
  • Vaughan Williams – Three Shakespeare Songs
  • Vaughan Williams – Agnus Dei from Mass in G minor
  • Anderson – Beautiful Valley of Eden from Four American Choruses (Irish Premiere)
  • Whitacre – When David Heard (Dublin Premiere)
  • Barber – Reincarnations
  • Barber – Agnus Dei (Adagio for Strings)

These a cappella choral gems from America and England included Samuel Barber’s haunting Adagio (perhaps more popularly known as the theme from Platoon) arranged for choir, along with his setting of poems after the Irish of Rafterí.

Our recording of Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque placed first in Lyric FM’s Choirs for Christmas competition.
In this concert we returned to his music with the Dublin premiere of When David Heard, a stunning setting of text from the Book of Samuel.

The Irish premiere of Julian Anderson’s exciting aleatoric contemporary work saw each vocal part spatially, rhythmically and melodically separated into four distinct choirs, conducted by Orla Flanagan, Róisín Blunnie, John White, and George Jackson.

The Eclipse Film Soundtrack

The choir feature on much of the soundtrack to The Eclipse (premiered April 2009), a film co-written and directed by Conor McPherson. This exciting collaboration features scenes shot specifically with the choir’s sound in mind and music written by Fionnuala NíChiosáin, Conor’s wife.

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York in April 2009, to rave reviews, and has won many awards, including three IFTAs. Distributed by Magnolia Pictures, it opened in North America in February 2010. RTÉ have the rights to the Irish premiere.

International Choral Competition Maribor

(17th-19th Apr 2009)

We were one of only 12 choirs selected to compete at this prestigious international choral festival, which included three performances in Maribor, Slovenia.

Andrea Bocelli

(Thur 5th and Fri 6th Mar 2009)

The Mornington Singers, former members and friends formed the sixty strong chorus who accompanied this world famous singer during his two concerts in Dublin.

Sung Mass

Sun 22nd Feb 2009, 12:30pm, Church of the Assumption, Booterstown Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

The choir was delighted to return to the parish to provide service music, which included the following

  • Victoria – Missa O Magnum Mysterium
  • Tomkins – When David Heard
  • Mendelssohn – Frohlocket ihr Völker auf Erden

2008

Christmas Carols (Dec 2008)

Our concert provisionally advertised for 7 December 2008 was cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control.

However we sang at various Dublin city centre venues throughout December.

O Magnum Mysterium

29 Nov 2008 – City Hall, Dame Street, Dublin 2
Orla Flanagan, conductor

This programme of music for Advent and Christmas included

  • Victoria – Missa O Magnum Mysterium
  • Pärt – Seven Magnificat Antiphons
  • Praetorius / Sandström – Es ist ein Ros entsprungen
  • Tavener – Magnificat (Collegium Regale)
  • Britten – A Hymn to the Virgin
  • Poulenc – Four Christmas Motets

We enjoyed singing to a capacity crowd in the beautifully resonant acoustic of the Rotunda in City Hall.

Culture Night

19 Sep 2008
Leinster House 2000 Wing, Oireachtas, Dublin

We performed to three different audiences at the end of each guided tour. Our short slot consisted of a cappella contemporary choral music from SOLAS, plus spirituals and folk music from our lighter programme.

Electric Picnic

30 Aug 2008 – IMC Jazz & World Music Stage
Orla Flanagan, conductor

We performed a cappella contemporary choral music from SOLAS, spirituals and folk music, in the Improvised Music Company tent. We gave it some welly and were rewarded with a standing ovation.

Farmleigh Affair (Sun 3rd Aug 2008)

The first of our two summer festival appearances. We were privileged to open the affair with a cappella contemporary choral music from SOLAS, plus spirituals and folk music from our lighter programme.

Pipeworks Festival (June 2008)

We joined with New Dublin Voices, Cois Cladaigh and
Resurgam in two concerts under the direction of Mark Duley:

  • Choral Cornucopia (28 June 2008)
  • Lutheran Vespers (29 June 2008)

MMT Grad Show

17 June 2008 – Broadstone Studios, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

We (with some assistance) formed the 32-voice “surround choir” for the premiere of two polychoral electroacoustic pieces composed as part of TCD’s MMT degree programme:

  • Laura Kilty – Letum Tenebrae
  • Louise Harte – Bom Apego

Sung Mass

15 June 2008 – St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin
Orla Flanagan, conductor

Music included Frank Martin’s Mass for Double Chorus and extracts from SOLAS, our new CD.

Estonian Tour (May-June 2008)

We spent four nights in Estonia as part of an exchange with the Tallinn Chamber Choir.
We are very grateful to Culture Ireland for their generous support of this tour, which included two concerts and a workshop on Irish choral music.
Music sung included pieces from SOLAS, plus lighter selections from our spirituals and folk music repertoire.

Cork International Choral Festival (May 2008)

We were delighted to have been asked to return to Cork to compete in the Fleischmann International Trophy Competition. This trip included a prize-winning performance opening the Fleischmann competition, a sung Mass, the Festival Fringe (where we joined with our friends in Cois Cladaigh) and the closing Gala concert.

Fleischmann International Trophy Competition (Saturday 3 May)
  • Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill: Is Naofa thú (Sanctus-Benedictus)
  • Purcell: Hear my prayer, O Lord
  • Rautavaara: Lorca Suite
Gala concert (Sunday 4 May)
  • Elgar: Lux aeterna
  • Trad. arr. John White: Rocky Road to Dublin

Kerlin Gallery re-opening (April 2008)

We entertained guests at the opening of the newly redecorated Kerlin Gallery. Music sung included pieces from SOLAS, plus lighter selections from our spirituals and folk music repertoire.

SOLAS concert and CD launch

12 April 2008 at 8pm
St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin

SOLAS included:

  • Martin – Mass for Double Chorus
  • Cyrillus Kreek – Psalms of David
  • Elgar – Lux aeterna (Nimrod choral arrangement)

and the launch of our second CD by Liz Nolan of RTÉ lyric fm.

2007

Consider my calling: Responses to War (December 2007)

This concert took place in St George’s Church, Belfast
at 8pm on 8 December 2007. This was a repeat of our well received concert in Christ Church Cathedral Dublin on November 24th.

Consider my calling: Responses to War included:

  • Parry – Songs of Farewell (1, 3, 4 and 6)
  • Britten – Hymn to St Cecilia
  • Poulenc – Un Soir de Neige
  • Tippett – Five Spirituals from A Child of our Time

Read more on the programme!

25% of the proceeds of the above concerts were used to support Trócaire’s work in areas affected by war.

Festival 500 – Sharing the Voices

St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada
July 2007

Dublin Philharmonic Society (June 2007)

On 9 June 2007 the choir performed in an evening concert at Adelaide Road Church Dublin. This private concert was hosted by the Dublin Philharmonic Society.

10th Anniversary Concert (May 2007)

In 2007 we celebrated the tenth year since the choir’s formation in Trinity College. Our anniversary concert in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on 19 May 2007 included invited former members and music by:

  • Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill
  • Rautavaara
  • Barber
  • Whitacre
  • Alcaraz

Bach Cantatas (February 2007)

In February the Mornington Singers were pleased to take part in the Orchestra of St Cecilia’s Bach Cantata Project, an ambitious 10-year programme begun in 2001 to perform all 200 of Bach’s surviving church cantatas. In St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin the choir performed:

  • BWV 46 – Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgend ein Schmerz sei
  • BWV 101 – Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott
  • BWV 102 – Herr, deine Augen sehen nach dem Glauben

2006

In illo tempore (November 2006)

This concert featured Italian music both early and modern; Monteverdi’s Missa ‘In illo tempore’ alongside Dallapiccola’s Due cori: Il coro delle malmaritate, Il coro dei malammogliati, the songs of unhappy husbands and wives. Also performed were works by Mäntyjärvi and Berio, complemented with a selection of Monteverdi madrigals.

Songs for the Longest Day (June 2006)

On the day of the summer solstice, we beckoned the approaching darkness with Wilbye’s Draw on, Sweet night. This concert at the Goethe-Institut was the first to include a work dedicated to the choir by the Finnish composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, The Train to Morrow. Stanford, Berio, Gibbons, and Monteverdi also featured.

Music for a While (March 2006)

Purcell’s Music for a While began this concert of works which eventually made up our award-winning selection at the Cork International Choral Festival. Wilson, Monteverdi, Alcaraz, and Ligeti featured; also Rheinberger and Kocsár as well as our favourite Spirituals. The choir took this programme to Galway before returning to Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral, where saxophonist Nick Roth performed an improvised solo accompaniment to Po Moner got a home at las.

2005

The choir in Turin, 2005

Bach and Rheinberger (November 2005)

Bach’s unaccompanied motet Jesu meine Freude, preceded by the double-choir motet attributed to J.S. Bach, Ich lasse dich nicht. The second half of the concert featured Rheinberger’s Mass in E flat, for double choir.

Mendelssohn in the Long Nineteenth century (July 2005)

Presented as part of an international conference hosted in Trinity entitled Mendelssohn and the Long Nineteenth century, this programme featured works by the composer and his German contemporaries, Brahms, Bruckner and Rheinberger.
Organist: Andrew Johnstone
Soprano solo: Elizabeth Hilliard

Exchange with Torino Vocalensemble (March / May 2005)

Choir return from workshop and rehearsal venue in Turin
One of the choir’s most notable ventures this year was to engage in an exchange with the highly regarded Torino Vocalensemble (TVE). This Turin-based choir has gained a reputation for innovative programming and performance, using improvisation, extended choral techniques and an imaginative re-working of old masters.

The Mornington Singers, at the invitation of the TVE, participated in their Voci e incontri festival held in Turin in March. The Mornington Singers were delighted to host TVE on an Irish tour taking in Galway and Dublin, in May. Both choirs joined forces for concerts in Ireland and Italy.

Sagastipean: Songs for Springtime (March 2005)

A programme combining contemporary and traditional Irish works, together with European works, featuring Xavier Busto, Parry, Elgar and others, and some arrangements of spirituals. Also presented were new works, commissioned by the choir, from Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill and Corrado Margutti.

The choir brought this programme on tour to Turin (see above).

2004

The choir in Cork, 2004

Fauré Requiem, and other French music (November 2004)

A concert of sacred and secular works by French composers from the mid 19th to the mid 20th century, including Saint-Saëns, Fauré, Debussy, Ravel and Poulenc. This was performed in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
Organist: Andrew Johnstone.

Songs for a Summer Evening (June 2004)

A programme of Monteverdi madrigals and music by Brahms, Mendelssohn along with some popular jazz standards, including Night and Day, Tea for Two, and Autumn Leaves amongst others. We performed this concert in Trinity College, Dublin and as part of our annual Irish tour, we travelled to Kilkenny where we sang in the beautiful surrounds of St Canice’s Cathedral.

Concordia — Music from Ireland to Hungary (March 2004)

This concert was presented as a celebration of European music to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the European Union and the accession of ten new member states. It included works by Stanford, Debussy, Schütz, Monteverdi and Kocsár. It also featured a composition by Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill, a young Irish composer. Caitríona studied in Trinity College, Dublin, was a choral scholar with Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and a past member of the Mornington Singers.

2003

A Ceremony of Carols – Music by Benjamin Britten (December 2003)

The Mornington Singers return to Trinity College chapel to present a programme of music by Benjamin Britten, including A Ceremony of Carols, Rejoice in the Lamb, Hymn to St Columba and Hymn to the Virgin.

Carols at Farmleigh (December 2003)

The Mornington Singers was invited to perform a selection of carols at Farmleigh House, Dublin. Our repertoire included carol arrangements by one of the choir’s tenors, John White. Ryan Tubridy, who was at Farmleigh on the day, gave the choir a special mention on his breakfast show, extolling our “… beautiful harmonies, … tremendous discipline”.

Songs for a Summer Evening (June 2003)

Our first concert in the lovely confines of Christ Church Cathedral. The concert included music by Brahms, Mozart, Monteverdi, Tomkins and Gershwin. The Friday performance was followed by a whirlwind trip to Cavan to give a concert in St Patrick’s College Chapel.

OTCENÁS – Shakespeare, Sandburg and Sacred Music (March 2003)

A programme from Russia and Eastern Europe, including works by Janácek, Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Part, Stravinsky, Kodály, Orbán and Kocsár.

2002

German Music – from Bach to Bruckner (December 2002)

A concert featuring German music, including works by Bach, Brahms, Schumann, Mendelssohn and Bruckner, performed in Trinity College Chapel.
This was our first concert with Orla Flanagan as musical director.

Mornington – Sacred (June 2002)

To launch our new CD Sacred we presented a selection from the CD including works by Palestrina, Bruckner and Morton Lauridsen. This was our last concert with Rosemary Collier as musical director.

Alleluia: a concert of 20th century sacred works (June 2002)

A selection of 20th century works including composers Britten, Tavener, Stravinsky, Poulenc and Randall Thompson. This was presented in the Church of St Nicholas of Myra, Francis Street, Dublin 8, as part of the Dublin International Organ and Choral Festival.

Marian Music (May 2002)

A selection of music dedicated to celebrate the month of May and the Virgin Mary. Following a successful concert in Dublin, we also took this programme to Ennis and to Galway.

2001

Gloria (December 2001)

A programme of music based on the text of the Gloria, including settings by Vivaldi, Haydn, Rachmaninov, culiminating in John Rutter’s Gloria, accompanied by the Mornington Brass Ensemble.
Musical Director: Rosemary Collier

Summer Music (June 2001)

A concert featuring a selection of negro spirituals, Italian and English madrigals, and twentieth-century British music, including music by Britten, Monteverdi, Bennett, Sund and Hogan, performed in St Stephen’s Church, Dublin. Special guest Teresa O’Donnell (harp).
Musical Director: Rosemary Collier

Walton, Belshazzar’s Feast; Adams, Harmonium (May 2001)

The Mornington Singers were invived to join the Guinness Choir for their 50th anniversary concert in the National Concert Hall, Dublin, singing the semi-chorus in “Belshazzar’s Feast”.
Musical Director: David Milne

2000

O Magnum Mysterium: A Christmas Fantasia (December 2000)

A concert of twentieth-century Christmas music, including works by Vaughan Williams, Tavener, Holst, Pärt and Busto. Our first concert with Rosemary Collier.

Bruckner, Mass in E Minor; Rachmaninov, Vespers (June 2000)

A performance of Bruckner’s Mass in E Minor and Rachmaninov’s vespers, with soloists Caitríona Ní Dhubhghaill, Stuart Kinsella and Ewan Cowley, and organist David Adams.
Musical Director: John Page

Mozart, Requiem (April 2000)

A concert with the Dublin Symphony Orchestra, featuring Mozart’s Requiem, with soloists Fionnuala De Búrca, Léan Ní Chuilleanáin, Stuart Kinsella and Ewan Cowley, performed in the Pro Cathedral, Dublin.
Musical Director: John Page

1999

Wolcum Yole (December 1999)

Christmas music of the twentieth century, including Britten’s Ceremony of Carols and Rejoice in the Lamb, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, and music by Pärt, Poulenc and Gorecki. This was the choir’s first concert with conductor John Page.

The Full Monte (June 1999)

A summer evening programme of Monteverdi madrigals and his Mass for four voices. The choir’s final concert with its co-founder and first conductor, Shane O’Shea.

1998

A Mornington Christmas (December 1998)

A candlelit evening of Christmas music and poetry, performed in Trinity College Chapel and Waterford City Hall.
Musical Director: Shane O’Shea

Opera classics, with the Three Irish Tenors (November 1998)

Sponsored by Van den Bergh Foods, this was the choir’s first performance in the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Musical Director: Shane O’Shea

Mozart, Mass in C Minor; Mendelssohn, “Hebrides” Overture; Beethoven, Symphony No. 7 (June 1998)

A collaboration with the Cambridge University Chamber Orchestra.
Musical Director: Shane O’Shea

Camera Della Morte (March 1998)

A concert of a cappella music and readings on the theme of death, performed in Trinity College Chapel.
Musical Director: Shane O’Shea

1997

J.S. Bach, Mass in B Minor (December 1997)

The choir’s first performance, held in Trinity College Chapel and featuring soloists Ailis Tynan, Rosemary Collier, Petrina McAleer, Stuart Kinsella and Andrew Redmond.
Musical Director: Shane O’Shea

Orla Flanagan, conductor

toggle