Mayo man's musical composition to feature at Joe Biden's US presidential inauguration ceremony
A musical composition by Mayo man Patrick Cassidy, entitled 'The Proclamation', will feature in today's US presidential inauguration of Joe Biden.
It will be performed at the pre-inauguration Mass in Washington by Patricia Treacy on a 315-year-old stradivarious lended by Bein & Company for the special occasion.
It's a proud day for Patrick and his brother, Frank, his manager. The Cassidy brothers hail from Claremorris.
Here is a link below to a video by Bein & Company, honoured to participate in inauguration.
The video, produced by One City Films, was taken in Chicago's historic Old St. Patrick's church where the exceptional 'Blagrove' Stradivari violin filled the building with an incredibly beautiful tone.
This famous Stradivari violin is available for purchase for only the second time since 1963.
On having his composition performed at the inauguration, Patrick said it was a huge honour.
“I was delighted when Patricia let me know that she would be playing ‘Proclamation’ at this historic event. She previously performed this piece during the 1916 Centenary Commemorations when President Michael D. Higgins laid a wreath to honour those who fought and died in the Rising at the Garden of Remembrance in Dublin," he said.
‘This inauguration is particularly special, as President Biden brings a message of hope and unity to Americans at what is a very difficult time. I’m sure we can also look forward to him visiting his ancestral home in Ireland as soon as it’s safe to travel again.
“Patricia plays the piece beautifully and it’s especially nice to hear my composition played on a 315-year-old Stradivarius violin, which was provided by Joe Bein & Company Rare Violins, Chicago for the occasion. The violin is estimated to be worth $4m.”
This is not the first time that Patrick’s music has been performed at a presidential inauguration as one of the movements from his ‘Children of Lir’ cantata was performed by the Irish Army Band at the inauguration of President Higgins in 2011.
‘Proclamation’ was originally written as part of the score for 1916 The Irish Rebellion, a three-part documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, that tells the dramatic story of the events that took place in Dublin during Easter Week 1916.
The album, 1916 - The Irish Rebellion, is available on all major streaming platforms. including Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and Amazon Music.