Mayo cathedral hosts choral historical treat

St Muredach’s Cathedral in Ballina is hosting a very special concert this Friday night that is sure to appeal to choral music fans and history buffs alike.

‘Siege to Siege’ will see critically acclaimed Irish choral ensemble Resurgam and the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble partner with St Muredach’s Cathedral Choir for a unique take on a tumultuous time in European history, when the strategic missions of large empires were a driving force in the major political changes that helped shape the continent.

The Habsburg Empire, which dominated a large portion of Central Europe from the early 16th century to the turn of the 19th century, saw numerous bloody conflicts and bore witness to some of the biggest revolutions in history, culture, and music. The concert programme will follow the milestone battles of the 16th through 17th centuries, tracing the major lines of conflict and contact between the Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire, and presenting these points of meeting as musical and cultural confluences, as people and ideas moved throughout places and kingdoms in war and peace.

During these centuries, the Habsburg monarchies seemed to have trouble brewing at nearly every edge of their vast empire, and must have indeed seemed to live from siege to siege—but the reward of contact, trade, and interchange and a focus on arts patronage made this an era of thriving European musical activity.

This night of 16th and 17th century choral music from the Hapsburg Empire will feature the composers Heinrich Isaac, Paul Hofhaimer, Josquin des Prez, Cristóbal de Morales and Orlando de Lassus.

‘Seige to Seige’ will be performed in St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina, this Friday, May 31, from 8pm to 9.30pm. Tickets are available from Eventbrite and the Resurgam website.