Schola Cantorum in Dublin
The Schola Cantorum have recently returned from a very successful trip to the Irish capital. Members of Schola were the resident choir at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, for the weekend from July 7th – 10th, singing Evensongs and the Cathedral Eucharist on Sunday morning.
Handel’s Messiah received its first performance in Dublin in 1742 sung by the choir of St Patrick’s and others; and the composer Charles Villers Stanford received his earliest musical training at the Cathedral. It was therefore a great privilege for the Schola Cantorum to lead the congregation’s worship for the weekend, performing music by Mozart, Stainer and Ives, amongst others.
The Cathedral, was founded in the 5th century close to a site where the patron Saint of Ireland, St Patrick, is reputed to have baptised converts to Christianity. Since then the Cathedral has contributed much to Irish life; Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, was Dean of the Cathedral from 1713-45 and is buried in the building.
In addition to singing, the members of the choir experienced some of what Dublin has to offer including a bus tour round the city and a visit to Trinity College and the famous 5th century Gospels manuscript The Book of Kells.
To round it all off the choir enjoyed a tour around the Guinness Storehouse, learning about the procedure and science which create the famous drink, and enjoying panoramic views of Dublin from the top of the building.
Alastair Tighe