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Mullingar Choral Society, one of the gems in the cultural crown of Mullingar, is about to start rehearsals for the 2007/08 season. We're getting going again on the second Monday in September (the 10th), in St. Mary’s CBS (beside the Cathedral). The Choir is made up of ordinary men and women who turn in an extraordinary performance, year after year, with little or no fanfare and the annual concert in the Cathedral is one of the highlights of the towns cultural calendar. It’s a mixed Choir, meaning there is a section to suit every voice.The Society regularly brings in nationally and internationally-acclaimed soloists for the ‘big gig’ – the final concert in the Cathedral - but the real ‘stars’ are the members who turn up every week throughout the winter for rehearsals. And of course, our Musical Director Fergus O'Carroll is a star in his own right!
Last season's performance of Verdi's Requiem was an outstanding success Building on that strength, we're taking the choice of material right up to date, with two pieces from the last and current centuries. Maurice Duruflé's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Duruflé) Requiem is a less dramatic, more meditative treatment of the classic Requiem; while Verdi's is all about the terror and awe of meeting your maker, Duruflé's is more about taking a well-earned rest at the end of your days. It was originally composed in 1947, when the last thing post-war Europe needed was more 'shock and awe'!
If it's Drama you're after, though, the other piece selected for the new season is Karl Jenkins 'The Armed Man'. Karl Jenkins is very much alive and has his own website at www.karljenkins.com. This piece was commissioned in 2000 by the British Army as a 'Mass for Peace', and it's safe to say that it will be very different, not only from the Duruflé Requiem, but from anything Mullingar Choral Society has performed before.
And if all that isn't enough to get your attention, this season, for the first time, we'll be taking the concert on the road. Six days after our major performance in the Cathedral next March, we'll be taking to the most important stage in the country for choral performances, in the National Concert Hall in Dublin.
We're also going to make our Christmas Concert an annual event (it used to be every second year) due to popular request.
Mullingar Choral Society will commence rehearsals for the new season, and welcome new members and 'veteran campaigners' on Monday the 10th of September at 8:00pm sharp in St. Mary's CBS, Mullingar. Although a lot of work goes into the performances, rehearsals are informal and enjoyable, and are a great way to get out and meet some interesting people. Sight-reading ability is not essential.
Membership for the year costs €50 (which just about covers the tea & biccies) and there will be a charge for musical scores. If you think you might be interested you can come along for a couple of rehearsals without committing to anything, but the Society is entering a major phase in it’s development, so there’s never been a better time to be involved!
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