Seán Ó Riada

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Seán Ó Riada
Birth name John Reidy
Born (1931-08-01)1 August 1931
Origin Cork, Ireland
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London, England
Occupation(s) Composer

Seán Ó Riada (1 August 1931 – 3 October 1971), was a composer and perhaps the single most influential figure in the revival of Irish traditional music during the 1960s. He became a household figure in Ireland through his participation in Ceoltóirí Chualann, compositions, writings and broadcasts on the topic.

Early life

File:Séan Ó Riada.jpg
Séan Ó Riada in Copper Sculpture

Born John Reidy in Cork City,[1] he was educated at St Finbarr's College, Farranferris. He then transferred to St Munchin's College in Limerick where he completed his Leaving Certificate in 1948. He played the violin, piano and organ and studied the Greek and Latin classics at University College Cork, studying with Aloys Fleischmann and graduating in 1952. While at College, Ó Riada was the auditor of the UCC Philosophical Society. In the same year he became assistant director for Radio Éireann. He married Ruth Coughlan in 1953; his daughter Liadh Ní Riada is a prominent Sinn Féin member who was elected to the European Parliament in 2014.[2] During the evening he played piano with dance bands. In 1955 Ó Riada spent several months in France and consolidated his interest in techniques of musical modernism. On his return in July he became music director of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin (until 1962), where he wrote, arranged and directed music for the small pit orchestra, also continuing his work in radio. Most of his original, modern orchestral compositions were also written in this time, which included his Nomos No. 1: Hercules Dux Ferrariae for string orchestra (1957), Nomos No. 4 for piano and orchestra (1958) and the Triptyche pour orchestre (1960) as well as an early version of his ambitious Nomos No. 2 for baritone solo, mixed choir and orchestra (1965). As his work with Ceoltóirí Chualann (see below) intensified, his engagement with the modern musical avantgarde decreased, but was never abandoned.

Mise Éire

Ó Riada also composed and directed orchestral music for theatre and film, combining traditional Irish tunes and "sean-nós" (old style) songs in the classical tradition, similar to noted nationalist composers such as Dvořák (Czech), Bartók (Hungarian) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (English). In 1959 he scored a documentary film by George Morrison called Mise Éire (I am Ireland), about the founding of the Irish Republic. It has repeatedly been used in other documentaries and is available on CD, together with other film music – "Saoirse" (1960) and An Tine Bheo (The Living Fire). The recording is conducted by Ó Riada himself. Mise Éire brought him national acclaim and allowed him to start a series of programmes on Irish radio called Our Musical Heritage. Ó Riada told people that one should listen to sean-nós song either as a child would listen or as if they were songs from India.

Ceoltóirí Chualann

Between 1961 and 1969 Ó Riada was leader of a group called Ceoltóirí Chualann. Although they played in concert halls dressed in black suits with white shirts and black bow ties, they played traditional songs and tunes. An ordinary céilidh band or show-band would have musicians who competed with each other to grab the attention of the audience. Ceoltóirí Chualann played sparse lucid arrangements. Ó Riada sat in the middle at front playing a harpsichord and a bodhrán, a hand-held frame-drum. This was an instrument that had almost died out, being played only by small boys in street parades. Ceilí bands generally had jazz-band drum-kits. Ó Riada also wanted to use the clarsach or wire-strung harp in the band, but as these were as yet unavailable, he played the harpsichord instead – in his opinion the nearest sound to a clarsach.[3] The harpsichord he used on a regular basis was made by Cathal Gannon. Unknown to Ó Riada, Irish folk music was being played ensemble-style in London pubs, but for most people of Ireland this was the first time they heard these tunes played by a band. For some, the membership of Ceoltóirí Chualann overlapped with that of The Chieftains. They recorded the soundtrack of the film "Playboy of the Western World" (original play by John Millington Synge) in 1962. Their last public performance was in 1969, and issued as the album "Ó Riada Sa Gaiety".

Final years

In 1963 Ó Riada was appointed lecturer in music at University College, Cork. He moved to Cúil Aodha in West Cork, an Irish-speaking area, where he established Cór Chúil Aodha, a male voice choir.[4] He turned toward choral church music, composing two settings of the mass.[5] Ceol an Aifrinn ("Music of the Mass") was the first mass written in the Irish language, and featured the hymn "Ag Críost an Síol", which has become popular in its own right.[6][7] Aifreann 2 ("Mass 2") premiered posthumously in 1979. Further works in the "classical" tradition include Five Epigrams from the Greek Anthology (1958) and In memoriam Aloys G. Fleischmann (1964) to words by Hölderlin. In 1996 Kate Bush recorded the Peadar Ó Doirnín lyric Mná na hÉireann, set to music by Sean Ó Riada and Ceoltóirí Chualann, for the compilation album Common Ground. Mná na hÉireann, as performed by the Chieftains, is used as a romantic overture throughout the Stanley Kubrick movie Barry Lyndon and is the basis of The Christians' 1989 single Words. Ó Riada also set the poetry of Thomas Kinsella, who returned the favour by praising Ó Riada in verse. He became involved in Irish politics and was a friend of several influential leaders[citation needed]. Ó Riada and Ruth both drank regularly at a local pub which still advertises itself as being his local. He suffered cirrhosis of the liver. He was flown to King's College Hospital, London for treatment and died there. He is buried in St Gobnait's graveyard, Baile Bhuirne, County Cork. Willie Clancy played at his funeral.

Two schools are named 'Scoil Uí Riada' after him: a Gaelscoil in Kilcock, Co. Kildare, and another, in Bishopstown, Cork City.

Commemorating Ó Riada

File:Seán Ó Riada Sculpture.jpg
Seán Ó Riada Sculpture in Cúil Aodha church yard

In 2008, a life-sized statue was erected in the grounds of Sépéil Naomh Gobnait, Cúil Aodha.

On 23 April 2010 Ceoltoiri Chualann reformed under the leadership of Peadar Ó Riada to play a tribute concert to Sean Ó Riada in Dublin's Liberty Hall.

File:Paidi O Lionaird.jpg
Páidí Ó Lionáird opening Féile na Laoch

In 2011, A festival, Féile na Laoch, was organised in his honour by his son, Peadar, between 30 September and 3 October in the honour of heroes (laochra) from the seven 'Muses': Storytelling, Sport, Singing, Poetry, Music, Dancing and Acting centring on Ó Riada.

Works

Opera

  • Spailpín a Rúin. Opera in 3 acts (1960). First performance: Dublin, Damer Theatre (St Stephen's Green), 15 September 1960.[8]

Orchestral

  • Overture Olynthiac (1955)
  • The Banks of Sulán. A Pastoral Elegy (1956)
  • Nomos No. 1: Hercules Dux Ferrariae for string orchestra (1957)
  • Nomos No. 4 for piano and orchestra (1958)
  • Aspects of Irish Traditional Music (1959)
  • Seoladh na nGamhan. Festival Overture (1959)
  • Triptyche pour orchestre symphonique (1960)
  • Nomos No. 6 (1966)

Voice with orchestra

  • The Lords and the Bards (Robert Farren) for narrator, soloists, chorus, orch. (1959)
  • Nomos No. 2 (Sophocles) for baritone, chorus, orch. (1963)

Choral music (without orchestra)

  • 'Five Epigrams from the Greek Anthology (anon.) for flute, guitar and mixed chorus (1958)
  • Ceathramhhaintí Éagsamhla (author?) for satb choir a capella (1962)
  • Requiem for a Soldier (author?) for soloists, chorus and organ (1968)

Songs for voice and piano

  • Four Songs (1954). Contains: Autumn; Winter; Spring; Summer.
  • Lustra (anon. Chinese in transl.) (1954)
  • Three Poems by Thomas Kinsella (1954). Contains: Classical; Night Song 1; Night Song 2.
  • Serenade (author?) (1955)
  • Four Nursery Rhymes (trad.) (1956). Contains: Humpty Dumpty; Tom, Tom; Rockabye, Baby; Seothín Seó.
  • In memoriam Aloys G. Fleischmann (Johann Christian Hölderlin) (1956). Contains: Die Heimath; Fragment; Hälfte des Lebens; An Zimmern.
  • Hill Field (John Montague) (1965)
  • Sekundenzeiger (Hans Arp) (1966)
  • Lovers on Aran (Seámus Heaney) (1968)
  • Mná na hÉireann (Peadar Ó Doirnín) (1968)

Piano

  • Eight Short Preludes (1953)
  • Five Epigrams (1954)
  • Piano Piece (1957)
  • Aon lá sa Mhuileann for harpsichord (1968)
  • Ceol (n.d.)

Film scores for orchestra

  • Mise Éire (1959)
  • Saoirse? (1960)
  • Kennedy's Ireland (1960)
  • The Death of a Lord Mayor (1960)
  • Young Cassidy (1965)
  • An Tine Bheo (1966)
  • Ceol na Laoi (c.1966)

Others

  • Suite of Greek Folksongs for flute, oboe, viola, cello, piano (1958)
  • Ceol Máirseála i gcóir Socraide for military band (1968)

Religious music

  • Ceol an Aifrinn / Ó Riada Mass (1968)
  • Aifreann nua / Aifreann 2 (1970)
  • Requiem Mass (1970)

Incidental music to several plays at the Abbey Theatre including An Crúiscín Lán (1956), The Playboy of the Western World (1956), Súgán Sneachta (1959), Mac Uí Rudaí (1961), Ulysses agus Penelope (1965).

Recordings

  • Ceolta Éireann / Music of Ireland: Gael-Linn CEF 001 (LP, 1958), re-issued as Gael-Linn CEFCD 001 (CD, 2009). Contains eight traditional Irish songs arranged for baritone and piano.
  • Mise Éire: Gael-Linn CEF 002 (EP, 1960); re-issued on Gael-Linn CEF 080 (LP & MC, 1979).
  • Saoirse?: Gael-Linn GL 1 (EP, 1960); re-issued on Gael-Linn CEF 080 (LP & MC, 1979).
  • Irische Volkslieder: Harmonia Mundi HMS 30691 (LP, 1965). Contains five traditional Irish songs arranged for chamber choir.
  • An Tine Bheo: Gael-Linn GL 2 (EP, 1966); re-issued on Gael-Linn CEF 080 (LP & MC, 1979).
  • Ceol na Laoi: Gael-Linn GL 14 (EP, 1966).
  • Vertical Man (Claddagh Records CSM 1 (LP & MC, 1969). Contains: Nomos No. 1: Hercules Dux Ferrariae, Three Poems by Thomas Kinsella, In memoriam Aloys G. Fleischmann, Hill Field, Sekundenzeiger, Lovers on Aran.
  • Ceol na hÉireann - Music of Ireland: Gael-Linn CEF 019 (LP, 1969). Contains: Slán le máigh, Feirmeoir an ghallbhaile (trad. arr. for orch.).
  • Ceol an Aifrinn / Ó Riada Mass: Gael-Linn CB 3 (LP & MC, 1971).
  • Aifreann nua / Aifreann 2: Gael-Linn CEF 081 (LP & MC, 1979).
  • Mise Éire: Gael-Linn CEF CD 134 (CD & LP, 1987). Contains: Mise Éire, Saoirse?, An Tine Bheo.
  • Romantic Ireland: Marco Polo 8.223804 (CD, 1995). Contains: The Banks of Sulán.
  • Seán Ó Riada: Orchestral Works: RTÉ Lyric fm CD 136 (CD, 2011). Contains: Overture Olynthiac, The Banks of Sulán, Nomos No. 1: Hercules Dux Ferrariae, Seoladh na nGamhan, Nomos No. 4, Mise Éire.

Recordings by Ceoltóirí Chualann

  • Reacaireacht an Riadaigh: Gael-Linn CEF 010 (LP, 1961).
  • The Playboy of the Western World: Gael-Linn CEF 012 (LP, 1962).
  • Ceol na nUasal: Gael-Linn CEF 015 (LP, 1967).
  • ding dong: Gael-Linn CEF 016 (LP, 1967).
  • Ó Riada sa Gaiety: (LP, 1971); currently available as Gael-Linn ORIADACD01.
  • Ó Riada's Farewell: Claddagh Records CC 12 (LP, 1972).
  • Port na bPúcaí (Ó Riada solo, but with trad. material, previously unreleased recordings): Gael-Linn ORIADACD07 (CD, 2014)

References

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  8. ↑ See photos of the rehearsals and premiere at the Irish Photo Archive.

Bibliography

  • Charles Acton: "Seán Ó Riada: The Next Phase", in: Éire-Ireland 2 (1967) 4, pp. 113–22.
  • Charles Acton: "Interview with Seán Ó Riada", in: Éire-Ireland 6 (1970) 4, pp. 106–15.
  • Bernard Harris & Grattan Freyer: Integrating Tradition: The Achievement of Seán O Riada (Ballina: Irish Humanities Centre & Keohanes, and Chester Springs, Penn.: Dufour Editions, 1981), ISBN 0-906-462-04-5.
  • Thomas Kinsella & Tomas Ó Cannain: Our Musical Heritage (Dublin: Dolmen Press, 1982), ISBN 0-85105-389-0.
  • Tomas Ó Canainn / Gearóid Mac an Bhua [Gerard Victory]: Seán Ó Riada: A Shaol agus a Shaothar (Blackrock, Co. Dublin: Gartan, 1993), ISBN 1-85607-090-5.
  • Harry White: The Keeper's Recital: Music and Cultural History in Ireland 1770-1970 (Cork: Cork University Press, 1998), ISBN 1-85918-171-6.
  • Tomás Ó Canainn: Seán Ó Riada: His Life and Work (Cork: Collins Press, 2003), ISBN 1903464404.
  • Harry White: "Ó Riada, Seán", in: The Encyclopaedia of Music in Ireland, ed. H. White & B.Boydell (Dublin: UCD Press, 2013), vol. 2, p. 803-6. ISBN 978-1-906359-78-2.
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