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Small Ensemble
2026
Bass Clarinet
Cello
Flute
Guitar
Soprano
Violin
Percussion
- Program Notes
- Caoineadh Niamh is based on an aul’ Irish folk tale, ‘OisÃn and TÃr na NÓg’, which follows the story of a young man who, whilst out hunting with a group of warriors known as the Fianna, comes across a beautiful fairy woman known as Niamh. He follows her back to her homeland, a mythical place called TÃr na NÓg, which means land of the young, in other words nobody ages there. After three years of living in TÃr na NÓg, OisÃn becomes homesick and wishes to return to Ireland a see his father one last time. Niamh warns him of the dangers of returning but he doesn’t listen. She tells him to take the white horse in which they initially rode to TÃr na NÓg and explains that no matter what, to not dismount the white horse. OisÃn is disappointed by his return as the land has changed vastly due to 300 years having passed (one year in TÃr na NÓg means 100 years pass in the real world), however, on his way back to TÃr na NÓg he stumbles across a group of men attempting to lift a heavy stone. Attempting to help the men, OisÃn falls from the horse and the magic breaks, and he transforms into a blind old man and dies. However, one part was left out. What happened to Niamh? How did she grieve? Did she ever move on and find someone else? We don’t know, and that’s what I wanted to explore in this piece, and I took inspiration from the old Irish tradition of caoineadh (or keening) to express this. Split into three sections (Jig, Caoineadh and Ochón) this piece explores Niamh’s love, her grief and potentially her acceptance and hope.
- Recording Notes
- Performer Credits
- Rachel Wheatley (soprano), Amelie Sainsbury (flute), Yuting Cao (bass clarinet), Amelia Leishmann (percussion(, Amy Tyson (guitar), Gabriella Kohler (violin), Celilo Swain (cello, and Sidney Patrick (conductor).