Elgar’s Sea Pictures comes to Westport in major fundraising concert

Classical music lovers are in for a treat on Sunday when the fundraising Sea Pictures concert takes place in Holy Trinity Church.

This musical extravaganza includes performances from Anne Marie Gibbons, Diva Voces choir conducted by Duncan Brickenden, and John Dexter.

It will include the renowned Sea Pictures song cycle by British composer Sir Edward Elgar. Monies raised from the concert will go towards the renovation of the historical 1882 Telford Organ in Holy Trinity Church.

Sea Pictures is a song cycle written in the late 1800s by composer Edward Elgar; it consists of five songs written by various poets and was set for contralto and orchestra, though a distinct version for piano was often performed by Elgar.

The five songs are 'Sea Slumber Song' by Roden Noel, 'In Haven (Capri)' by Caroline Alice Elgar (the composer’s wife), 'Sabbath Morning at Sea' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 'Where Corals Lie' by Richard Garnett and 'The Swimmer' by Adam Lindsay Gordon. On this occasion, Sea Pictures will be performed by contralto solo, violin, cello and piano.

Multi award-wining Dublin based female voice choir Diva Voces was formed in 2006 and has grown to a 60-voice four-part choir. Their aim, under the baton of vastly experienced musical director Duncan Brickenden, is to increase musicianship while having great fun.

Louisburgh native mezzo-soprano Anne Marie Gibbons never fails to enchant audiences with her outstanding voice, while John Dexter was, for many years organist and master of the choristers in St. Patrick’s Cathedral and is capable of extracting magical music from the old Holy Trinity Church organ, even in its ailing state! John’s son, cellist Patrick Dexter, lives in Newport.

Emerging amateur pianist and composer Richard Hughes, from Westport but currently based in Dublin, will perform a piano solo on the night.

Funds raised by this concert will go towards the ongoing restoration of 150-year-old Holy Trinity Church, which is of significant architectural importance. Extensive restoration works began in 2013 and are now in the third phase. The first two phases involved work on the roof, including restoring or replacing cast iron downpipes and guttering, as well as works on the buttresses and chimneys. The current phase involves works on the windows, including restoration of the wonderful stained glass windows.

These restoration works are extremely costly and could not be carried out without the support of the public and the help of public bodies.

Restoration committee member Stevie Brickenden said: “Holy Trinity Church would like to thank Mayo County Council for all their help through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme. We would also like to thank Aine Doyle and Chris Southgate for putting together a practical conservation management plan and the Heritage Council for their help towards the cost of this plan. We look forward to working with Richard McLoughlin from Lotts Architecture and Michael McHale from Build Smart as we go forward with the restoration of this beautiful building.”

Tickets for Sea Pictures cost €20 and are available from Steve Brickenden on (087) 6961329. The concert takes place on Sunday (May 5) at 3.30 p.m.