Soak up that “Olde Worlde” atmosphere and charm of the beautiful Galway city in the west of Ireland, when you attend the Galway Early Music Festival from May 16th - 18th 2008. The aim of the event is to showcase music, dance and costume from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods with the help of various concerts, workshops, master classes, school events and theatre throughout Galway city and county.
Billed as “Sensuous - A Multisensory Musical Experience” the jam-packed 3 days you have you transported back in time to explore music in earlier times.
The Festival opens on Friday the 16th of May with “Horns and Harps” - an event geared towards 4th to 6th class children. Also on the Friday you can sample 17th century music played on the gut strung renaissance harp and the silver and brass strung harp at “Poor Clares Chapel”, Nuns Island.
If music from the Baroque era is more to your liking, then you must not miss “Addicted to Love” on Friday night, 8pm at the Hotel Meyrick. The programme features the music of Handel and Geminiani and many more. For early music lovers - the night is still young and my advice to you is not to move from the Hotel Meyrick, because immediately after the show, the hotel is proud to present Galway’s 1st Classical Club - where the DJ will play some of your favourite early music CD’s!
Gather the family together on Saturday morning for a Medieval mystery play - given the Irish touch - this promises fun, music and a part for you the audience. It’s being held at the King’s Head Pub.
Continuing on the family theme, you are very welcome to join William Henry (looking quite the part in his period costume!), for one of his popular walking tours. Don’t feel too badly if you have missed the walking tour, as William will be out in full regalia again on Sunday - same time - same place - 12 noon outside the Kings Head Pub!
There is no doubt Saturday is certainly the focal point of the Festival when the afternoon sees the City Museum brimming over with the talents of Early Music artists. Eventually all this merriment and music will spill ontoo Quay Street/High Street, bringing Galway City back once again to its “Olde Worlde” days!
Other Saturday highlights include “The Call of the Phoenix”, “The Orlando Consort and Cois Cladaigh Chamber Choir”, a Recorder Ensemble Workshop with Laoise O’Brien and an Irish Historical Harp Master class with Javier Sainz.
The last day of this unique Festival is a grand finale of song and dance from the Middle Ages - at this event you will have the opportunity to sample some “Medieval finger food”.
The Festival is not confined to just these 3 days in the calendar - during the year the organisers hold concerts, talks and workshops. Galway Early Music is also very lucky and proud to have their own Renaissance ensemble, “Seoda”. During the year, Seoda have the honour of performing at many functions and local events.
Galway hotels will be in popular demand for this festival, so book your Galway hotel now.
