09.06.2017
Cathedral Choir Premier New Irish Language Anthem
Christ Church Cathedral Choir gave the first performance of a new anthem, composed by Eoghan Desmond, on the Eve of the Feast of St Columba, Thursday 8 June, at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin. The new piece, entitled De Ascensione Eius in Caelum, was commissioned by Organist & Director of Music, Ian Keatley, and the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral in association with Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise.
Commenting on the commission Ian Keatley said, “We thank our good friends at Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise for their generous financial support of this exciting new work in the ancient Irish language. This new anthem forms part of a project in which I am seeking to commission a new piece of music, in the Irish language, for as many of the Celtic saints as I can, following the shape of the liturgical year.”
De Ascenscione Eius in Caelum comes from a lengthy poem entitled Amra Choluimb Chille (The Elegy of Colum Cille) which was probably written by a disciple of Columba, named Dolláin Forgaill. Due to its great age, it is considered one of the most important Irish poems from the early Christian church. The original is written in a mix of obscure old Irish and Latin, and is divided into 10 sections, each with a heading in Latin. De Ascenscione is the second section, detailing the ascension of Columba’s spirit into heaven, his impressive scholarship, and the great extent of his influence and teaching.