Siobhán Cleary
Siobhán Cleary (born 10 May 1970) is an Irish composer. Her most successful compositions have been her orchestral works Alchemy and Cokaygne and her choral piece Theophilus Thistle and the Myth of Miss Muffett. Her opera Vampirella was first performed in Dublin in March 2017.[1][2] She is a member of Aosdána.
Early life and education
Born in
Composition
Inspired by the alchemists' Opus Alchymicum which describes how cheaper metals are transmuted into gold, Cleary's orchestral work Alchemy (2001) is, like the stages in the Opus, presented in four parts: it evolves from the slow nigrendo, the moderate albedo, the strong citronatus, and the burning rubedo.
Her tone poem Cokaygne (2009), which, like Alchemy, was commissioned by RTÉ for the National Symphony Orchestra, is based on a poem and old sources which evoke a land of extreme luxury and contentment.[3] The elaborately orchestrated piece was performed by the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in November 2009, Vladimir Altschuler conducting.[7] It was performed by the RTÉNSO once again in June 2016, this time under the baton of Alan Buribayev.[8]
Cleary's choral work Theophilus Thistle and the Myth of Miss Muffett (2010), commissioned by the Cork Choral Festival was first performed in April 2011 by Chamber Choir Ireland directed by Paul Hillier.[9] The work is based on a series of tongue twisters and other strange combinations of words popular in various European languages and dialects, moving from Italy, through Germany and Spain, finishing in Ireland.[10] In 2013, it was performed twice by Chamber Choir Ireland in Dublin and Cork in connection with Ireland's presidency of the European Union.[11] The journalist and music critic Terry Blain commented on the choir's "dazzlingly virtuosic performance" in Belfast in 2013, qualifying the piece as "a tour de force of 21st-century vocal chicanery, a clever and richly entertaining composition".[12] Theophilus Thistle was also performed the same year in the United States as part of the "Imagine Ireland" festival.[13]
The chamber opera Vampirella with a libretto by Katy Hayes was first performed by students from the
Awards
In 1996, Cleary received a young artists award from Pépinières européennes pour jeunes artistes, followed in 1997 by the first prize in the Arklow Music Festival Composers' Competition.[4] In 2008, she was invited to become a member of Aosdána, an Irish association of creative artists.[16]
References
- ^ "Siobhán Cleary on her new opera 'Vampirella'". cmc.ie. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ "Gothic Outsiders". The Journal of Music. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ a b Dervan, Michael (23 November 2009). "How to stay composed in an unsure career". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b "Siobhán Cleary". Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Alchemy (RTE)". Soundcloud. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Alchemy (2001)". Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Cockaygne". Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Dervan, Michael (1 June 2016). "Changing of the guard at RTÉ orchestras presents an opportunity". The Irish Times. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Theophilus Thistle & The Myth of Miss Muffett". Contemporary Music Centre, Ireland. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Theophilus Thistle Part 2". Soundcloud. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "A Eurocry". Chamber Choir Ireland. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Love & Other Nonsense". Culture Northern Ireland. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Imagine Ireland Programme". Imagine Ireland. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Vampirella". RIAM Royal Irish Academy of Music. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ Dervan, Michael (29 March 2017). "Vampire seduction". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Siobhán Cleary". Aosdána. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
External links
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