AD/BC: An Archaeomusicological Adventure

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The voluntary committee of Galway Early Music has organised innovative and entertaining medieval, renaissance and baroque festival programmes in Galway for the past 18 years, but this year’s festival (May 8-11) is certainly the most daring yet!

Our 2014 programme concentrates on VERY early music, music that can only be brought to life through expert archeological, musicological and iconographical study. It’s an exciting area of music, and we are very lucky to be bringing some outstanding international scholars and performers in this area to Galway.

This will be a unique chance to see and hear all sorts of early horns such as the bronze-age Irish trumpas, the amazing animal headed carnyx, and latin bucinae as well as lyres, tibia, early Irish harp, triple pipes and all sorts of rattles, percussion and many other early sound tools. Not all the music is VERY early. Archeology plays a large part in Mare Balticum’s multi-media concert, based on instruments found on the Swedish flagship Kronan (lost 1627).

The funds raised in our Fund it campaign will allow us to bring Ludi Scaenici, specialists in Roman Music, and medieval flautist Norbert Rodenkirchen with his programme Hameln Anno 1284, a musical look at the story and history of the Pied Piper of Hameln. We will also use the funds to include a number of free public events in the programme, including Buile Shuibhne – Mad Sweeney, a family theatre event by award-winning Moonfish Theatre Company with live music from Ancient Music Ireland; an illustrated talk on prehistoric Celtic horns by Simon O’Dwyer and brass expert John Kenny; and Roman Legion battle reenactments.

These are only a few of the wonderful performers and events in the Festival. This year we are partners with the European Music Archaeology Project, who are supporting Mare Balticum’s concert, as well as some talks and demonstrations on Scandinavian prehistoric music and Greek music. We are also grateful for support from the Arts Council and Galway City Council. But we still need to raise funds for the events described above.

We would be thrilled if you will join us in our adventure by supporting our Fund it campaign. Your support helps us to bring this music to a local and international audience and also supports the musicians and performers who come to the festival. It also helps to foster interest in and support for early music studies and performance in Ireland, something that is very close to our hearts.

With your help, the 2014 Galway Early Music Festival will be an exciting, educational, challenging and FUN experience for all.

Please view our video for a taste of the full Festival programme!