ORA QUARTET
Siún Milne, violin
Molly O’Shea, violin
Ali Comerford, viola
Yseult Cooper-Stockdale, cello
Elizabeth Maconchy - Quartet No.3 [1938]
Caroline Shaw - Blueprint [2016]
Ailbhe McDonagh - Lore Quartet [2023]
Florence Price - Quartet in A minor [1935]
Elizabeth Maconchy was born in England in 1907 to Irish parents and was a prolific and successful composer through much of the twentieth century. The third of her thirteen quartets is among the most popular and was written with Europe on the cusp of yet another war; it is dramatic, yearning and very much according to her feeling that ‘the best music is an impassioned argument’.
Grammy award-winning composer Caroline Shaw wrote ‘Blueprint’ in 2016. It is hypnotically beautiful, full of inventive conversation and bearing many traces - especially the comically brilliant ending - of the quartet which was its blueprint, Beethoven’s B flat major quartet Op.18/6 La Malinconia
Ailbhe McDonagh’s ‘Lore Quartet’ was commissioned by NSQF and first performed by the Ficino Quartet - with the composer as cellist - in December 2023. Its three short movements (Dolmen - Fairies - Púca) take us on a journey through some of Ireland’s most treasured myths and legends
Florence Price’s music has been re-discovered in the last ten years or so and it is a treasure trove of over 300 compositions. Her gorgeous A minor quartet will surely become a regular feature of string quartet programmes in the coming years
Please download the concert programmes for more in-depth background:
CORK/DUBLIN
ALL OTHER VENUES
SUMMER GALA CONCERT
Our summer gala will be at UCC's Aula Maxima on Saturday 14th June at 7.30pm. Details will be announced soon but lots of treats in store including performances by Vanbrugh & Friends, Ora Quartet and Solas Quartet. If you're within reach of Cork, hold the date!
IRISH QUARTET ARCHIVE
Quite a few additions in recent weeks including quartets by Raymond Deane, Donnacha Dennehy, Seán Doherty, Dave Fennessy, Dave Flynn, Paul Frost, Harry O'Connor and Caterina Schembri. Feel free to explore at https://nsqf.ie/icsqa!
There is constant financial pressure on the Foundation as we work to bring great concerts to audiences nationwide, so all donations, no matter how small, are very gratefully received. As we are a registered charity, donations over €250 also attract tax relief, adding to their value to the Foundation. If you would like to join our supporters, there is a donations page on our website here: https://nsqf.ie/donate
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