Dublin
Gospel Choir Dates 27 Jul at 8pm
Enchanted Summer Evening - John Field Room, National Concert Hall; 05
Aug at Time tbc Clonakilty Waterfront Festival, Clonakilty; 08 Aug at
8pm FAI National Awards - RTE September 2010; 04 Sep at 8.30pm Night of
Soul - Roundwood Parish, Wicklow; 05 Sep at 12pm Electric Picnic; 24 Sep
at 10pm Galway Oyster Festival; 25 Sep at 8pm International Gospel Festival
- The Helix, Dublin; 02 Oct at 8pm TLT Drogheda www.thetlt.ie; 09 Oct
at 8pm Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo - 071 916 1518; 23 Oct at 8pm Belfast
Festival at Queens - May Street Church.
Liam
Lawton - The Hope Prayer Tour Following on from his book ‘The Hope
Prayer’ Liam Lawton will present a series of performaces which explore
the stories and songs behind the man and his book. Such themes as Love,
Loss, Hope and Healing are presented with anecdotes and reflections from
the Book linked with some new and old songs. Dates: 12th September St
Carthages Church, Lismore, Co.Waterford Tickets: 087 7704466 (after 6pm);
16th September Moat Theatre, Kildare Tickets: 045 883030; 24th September
The Barbican, St. Peters Parish Centre, Drogheda,Co.Louth Tickets: 046
90 51814; 25th September Patrick Kavanagh Theatre, Inniskeen, Co.Monaghan
Tickets: 042 937 8560; 26th September Backstage Theatre, Longford Tickets:
043 3347888; 30th September An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Tickets: 074 91 20111 / 074 9120777; 2nd October The Venue Theatre Ratoath,
Co.Meath Tickets: 01 6895600; 7th October Dunamaise Arts Centre Portlaoise
Tickets: 057 866 3355; 8th October The strand theatre, Carrick on suir
Tickets: 051-645050; 9th October The Ramor Theatre Virginia, Co.Cavan
Tickets: 049 8547074.
John
Angotti Concert Tickets
go on sale through Ticketmaster
this coming Friday 23rd July for the John Angotti
Sept 19th concert
in Vicar Street. There's now also a Facebook
page for “John
Angotti’s Irish Tour”. Full itinerary: Sept 15th: Mission Day Lurgan/Craigavon/Banbridge
Schools Sept 16th: Mission Day Newry/Bessbrook/Ballygawley Schools Sept
17th: Mission Day Arklow Schools Sept 18th: 2nd Chance Mass; St Andrew's
Westland Row, Dublin Sept 19th: Vicar St Concert. John Angotti is a full
time music missionary who travels throughout many parts of the world providing
inspirational music and witness to all ages through concerts, workshops,
retreats, missions, conferences, and worship.
Award
for Janey Mary Dubliner
Paul Brady has won the Best Director
Award for his short film Janey Mary, at the Mirabile Dictu International
Catholic Film Festival in Rome. The film is based on a short story by
James Plunkett. This is 5th international award for the film. For more
info, trailers and a facility to buy the film check out the film's official
website.
Tom
Jones Gospel Album The
next album from Welsh pop singer Tom Jones will be a gospel album! Praise
and Blame is due for release on July 26 and features many of the songs
Jones grew up singing in the Welsh valleys. There has been some controversy
about a leaked email in which the record company's Vice President is supposed
to have called the project "a sick joke", but others wonder
if this might be a marketing ploy by the company.
There's a video
about the making of the album at Amazon, along with track details.
The
Dream of Gerontius
To celebrate the beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman Our Lady's
Choral Society will present the Dream of Gerontius (Text by Newman, Music
by Elgar) at the National Concert Hall, on Thursday 2nd Sept at 8 pm.
Also taking part are the RTE Concert Orchestra and the UCD Choral Scholars.
More info and booking here.
John Angotti Catholic gospel singer and recording artist John
Angotti will be on a short Irish tour with his band this September.
Angotti, who performed at this year's Religious Education Conference in
Anaheim, California, will be involved in workshops and performances. Main
event will be in Vicar Street, Dublin, on Sunday 19th September. More
details to follow. Contact Áine
for more details.
New
Emmaus Album Ronan
Johnston and Emmaus have released their new album "Let's not go back to
Egypt", a reflection on things economic and spiritual in Ireland for these
past couple of years. The album begins with the title track "Let's not
go back to Egypt", a romp through the American spiritual landscape recently
so successfully occupied by the Blind Boys of Alabama. Then an immediate
change of pace with the orchestral (and choral) "Arise Shine", lyrics
taken from Isaiah 60. From folk rock (All who are born of the Spirit)
to Rock rock (I Belong), from quiet meditation of "because of the Lord's
great love" to the wig out of "Hush (and listen)" this is Emmaus back
to their collective ideal of having a real wild mix on every album. More
info here.
Oberammergau
Passion Play 2010 is the year of the famous Oberammergau Passion Play in
Bavaria, which is performed every ten years. This year it started on May
15th and will continue through to October. For more background information
and the history of the event click here.
Christian Artists The
International Society of Christian Artists is holding a conference
in September 2010, from 28th Sept until 2nd Oct. Location of the conference
will be the Abbey in the beautiful village of Schlierbach in Austria.
The aim of the conference is mainly to build on relationships and also
to provide the possibility of taking part in two workshops: leaded glass
and glass fusing.
New Liturgical CD Ancient
Promise is a new CD of liturgical music
arranged by Ronan McDonagh. At the recent launch in Maynooth it was presented
by music group Fuaimlaoi. The CD includes many musical settings, in Irish
and English. There is an accompanying book as well. Further details will
be available at the Fuaimlaoi
website.
Bleeding
Hands, Weeping Stone Bleeding
Hands, Weeping Stone - True Stories of Divine Wonders, Miracles, and Messages.
This is the title of a new book by Elizabeth Ficocelli, aimed at teens
and adults. It is a compilation of extraordinary phenomena in the Catholic
Church - Eucharistic miracles, the stigmata, incorrupt bodies, apparitions,
amazing abilities of the saints, and weeping statues and artwork. See
author's
website for more details. The book can be purchased from Amazon.
On the Amazon page it is possible to view the first few pages of the book.
Bible
Online Catholic.net has launched a new Bible search engine useful
to find quotes or full readings. The Bible can be searched by part, book,
chapter verse, phrase etc. It should be useful for teachers planning graduation
masses and other ceremonies. Quotes can be easily added to Facebook and
other social networking sites (You may have to temporarily allow pop-ups
to use this feature - e.g. by holding down the "Ctrl" button
when clicking the Facebook link). Try it here.
Music
to Unite East and West May 21st: At a concert in the Vatican with Eastern Orthodox
representatives Pope Benedict reflected on the potential of music to bring
East and West closer together. Read the full story here.
The Russian Patriarch of Moscow sent a message to the Pope for the occasion
- "To Understand a People, It Is Necessary to Listen to Its Music", he
said. Read his address here.
Pope
Benedict on Music After a recent (late April) concert in the Vatican Pope Benedict
spoke of the value of music in education - ""The study of music has
high value in the educational process of the person, inasmuch as it produces
positive effects in the individual's development, fostering his harmonious
human and spiritual growth," he said. "We know that the formative value
of music, in its implications of expressive, creative, relational, social
and cultural nature, is commonly recognized." In relation to spirituality
in particular he said that music is "capable of opening minds and hearts
to the dimension of the spirit and of leading persons to raise their gaze
on High, to open to absolute Goodness and Beauty, which have their ultimate
source in God."
Eucharistic
Congress CD A new CD of music
for the Eucharistic Congress (Dublin 2012) has been launched (April 2010).
Becoming the Body of Christ features music by the Dublin diocesan music
group directed by Fr Pat O'Donoghue. More info on liturgical music and
resources in Dublin Diocese here.
Nigel
Connell Album Nothing
Left to Say is the new album from Nigel Connell. Connell has performed
with Liam Lawton, a features some of Lawton's songs on the album. Much
of the material is self written, and some of the songs have spiritual
themes. The album credits feature one "to God above for blessing
me with my talents". Sample tracks can be heard on the artist's website
and on Amazon.
There will a special event to celebrate the album on Mon April 19th in
The Old Darnley Lodge, Athboy. Read the Faitharts review
of the album here.
Diploma
in Church Music at Maynooth Diploma in Arts (Church Music) is a part-time
course offered by the Department of Music, NUI Maynooth. It is conducted
in association with the National Centre for Liturgy. For further information
see www.may.ie/academic
for access to the Department of Music, NUIM or contact Professor Gerard
Gillen, Department of Music, NUIM, Maynooth, Co Kildare. Contact information:
The Pontifical University Office, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, Co.
Kildare. Tel (01) 708 3600/708 3890 Fax (01) 708 3441
Song
For Year of Evangelisation At the recent Emmanuel choirs event the
winning song in the competition for the Year of Evangelisation was performed
for the first time. Raise Your Voice was written by Padraig Meredith,
from Newbridge and Anna Keegan from Dun Laoghaire.The sheet music for the song can be downloaded
here
(piano) and here
(guitar).
Catholic
Novels Carmen Marcoux
has been writing novels with a romantic flavour for Catholic young people,
which aim to promote Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body, and to
encourage good values relating to marriage and relationships. Arms
of Love and Surrender are the two novels published so far.
For more info click here.
Stations
of the Cross Resource
The Kildare and Loughlin website is currently offering a Stations of the
Cross resource - it can be downloaded as a pdf file or as a Powerpoint
presentation. The resource is a combination of art works and meditation
- art work is by Ken Cooke. The Resource can be downloaded here.
Post
Grad Diploma
There's a Post Grad Diploma in Spirituality and Leadership in Education
organised by Marino Institute of Education. This one-year programme aims
to provide participants with the knowledge, values and skills in Catholic
educational leadership that will enable them to facilitate efficient and
effective leadership and administrative practices. For more information
contact: Aiveen Mullally Course Director Marino Institute of Education
Griffith Avenue Dublin 9 Ph: Email: aiveen.mullally@mie.ie
More info here.
There Be Dragons There Be Dragons
is a new film by Roland Joffé (The Mission, The Killing Fields,
City of Joy), which deals with incidents in the life of St Josemaria
Escriva, founder of Opus Dei. Arising out of the horror of the Spanish
Civil War, a candidate for canonization is investigated by a journalist
who discovers his own estranged father had a deep, dark and devastating
connection to the saint's life. A release date in 2010 is expected. IMDB
Entry here.
Official film website here.
Caravaggio
Exhibition Running March to June 2010 in Rome is
an exhibiton of the work of renowned artist Caravaggio. For more information
and an article on the works on show click here.
Whistle Down the Wind This
stage musical will play in the Grand canal Theatre Dublin, from 11th to
22nd May 2010. Jonathan Ansell, lead vocalist in X-Factor runners-up G4,
has been cast in his musical debut, starring in Bill Kenwright's production
of Jim Steinman and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down The Wind, a
stage adaptation of the 1961 novel by Mary Hayley Bell, which was
also made into a film starring Hayley Mills and Alan Bates. The stage
version is set in the American deep south just before Christmas, and follows
three children who discover a man hiding in the barn on the farm where
they live. Thinking him to be Jesus, they hide him from the adults in
their community to protect him from harm, not realising that he is in
fact an escaped criminal. More info and booking at Ticketmaster.
Soundtrack available from Amazon.
The
Perfect Game Coming to cinemas in the USA in April - The Perfect Game,
the true story of young Mexican baseball players finding dignity and success
with the help of a dedicated coach and a helpful priest. It is reported
as having a strong faith element. No Irish release dates planned yet.
Check out the official
website.
New
Beth Nielsen Chapman Album Back
to Love is the title of Beth Nielsen Chapman's new album (released January
2010). This doesn't seem to be as overtly religious as her Hymns
and Prism albums, but it looks like there are some general spiritual
and uplifting themes. Tracks include, Peace, Happiness, and The
Path of Love. Previews of the songs can be heard on Amazon.
New
Teachers' Group The Association
of Catholic Teachers is a new network, mostly of Primary Teachers, with
the aim of sourcing good RE resources for the primary classroom. They
produce a regular E-Bulletin with lots of such ideas including arts resources.
Some of the resources would also suit junior classes in secondary school.
Anyone interested can email irishcatholicteachers@gmail.com
Patty
Griffin Gospel Album Highly
regarded US roots singer Patty Griffin has released an album of gospel
songs. Downtown Church was produced by Buddy Miller, no stranger
to gospel, and features guests like Shawn Colvin, Emmylou Harris and gospel
group The Fairfiled Four. Songs include All Creatures of Our God and
King, Wade in the Water, Virgen de Gaudalupe, We Shall All Be United,
and House of Gold. Previews of the songs can be heard on Amazon.
Catholic
Underground Ireland Advance notice of dates for forthcoming
events from Catholic
Underground Ireland - prayer/music events. Saturday 20th March 2010
Location: Our Lady of the Angels Church, Church St. Dublin 7. Saturday
22nd May 2010 Location: Our Lady of the Angels Church, Church St. Dublin
7. Artist details to be confirmed in both cases.
Book
on Stained Glass Windows Lumen Christi
- The Stained Glass Windows of Mount St Joseph Abbey by Laurence Walsh
OCSO is a new book from Cistercian Press. Mount St Joseph is in Roscrea
Co. Tipperary. There's a detailed review (by Raymond Gillespie of NUI
Maynooth) of the book in the Irish Times Weekend Review section for Jan
16 2010. Click here
to read the review.
Lassus
Scholars Dublin choir, The
Lassus Scholars, provided the sacred music for an event in Rome to
mark the Year For Priests. Choir director Ite O'Donovan described the
concluding mass as one of the highlights of the trip. Ms O'Donovan's diary
of the event can be read here.
For forthcoming events featuring the Lassus Scholars
click here.
Advent
and Christmas Psalms New
CD of Advent and Christmas Psalms: Catholic composer Brian J. Nelson has
released a new recording of Lectionary Psalms for organ, cantor and choir.
The music is deeply rooted in the chant tradition, reflecting both Brian's
classical training and immersion in the Liturgical life of the Catholic
Church. More info here.
Simpsons
and the Vatican Vatican Newspaper L'Osservatore Romano
has commented on the Simpsons, congratulating the show on its 20th Anniversary.
The show is praised for "realistic and intelligent writing", but there
is also a reference to "excessively crude language, the violence of certain
episodes or some extreme choices by the scriptwriters." More details here.
Free
MP3 Download
At the time
of writing (28/12/09) there's a free MP3 download available from Liam
Lawton. For your free version of his song The Darkest Midnight
go to www.liamlawton.com
and follow the simple instructions.
Dublin
Gospel Choir - 2010 Dates 22 Jan at 8pm
The Venue, Ratoath - Tel 01 689 5600; 20 Feb at 8pm SET Theatre, Kilkenny
- Tel 056 776 5133; 27 Feb at 8pm An Grianan Theatre Letterkenny – Tel
074 912 0777; 12 Mar at 8.30pm Night of Soul, Shankill; 13 Mar at 8pm
Saturday 13th March - Tenerife Musicematico Festival, Tenerife, Spain;
20 Mar at 8pm Hamlet Court Hotel, Johnstown Bridge, Co Kildare – 046 954
1200; 02 Apr at 1.30-3.30pm Paddy Power Irish Poker Open - Burlington
Hotel; 10 Apr at 8pm Jerome Hynes Theatre, Wexford - Tel 053 91 22144;
16 Apr at 8pm St. Agnes Church, Crumlin - 75 year celebration. 29 May
at 8pm Draoicht, Blanchardstown. More info here.
The Priests: New CD Harmony
is the new CD by the Priests. Their previous CD broke the Guinness world
record for the fastest selling classical debut album of all time. This
new album features well known songs like Amazing Grace, You'll Never
Walk Alone and How Great Thou Art, along with lesser known pieces
like When Thou Art Near, King of Kings and Lift Thine Eyes. There
are audio samples at the relevant page on Amazon,
along with a video of The Priests singing Amazing Grace live at
Gladstone Library.
Gerard Manley Hopkins Summer School The 23rd Annual
Hopkins Festival, will be moving to Newbridge College for 2010 - July
24 - 30. There will be poetry readings, study and a wide variety of other
cultural activities. At least, 20 countries will be represented and there
will be a strong presence by leading Irish Writers, Artists and Scholars.
More info at the festival website.
Splendors
of the Magnificat Splendors of the
Magnificat is a beautiful art book and audio CD with 11 of the most inspiring
musical renditions of Mary's Magnificat. - 11 meditations on Mary's Magnificat
prayer of praise, along with 65 high-quality reproductions of sacred art
with commentaries - More than 1 hour of splendid music. More info and
sales here.
Mary
Duff CD Recently
released CD from Irish singer Mary Duff features 13 INSPIRATIONAL SONGS,
FEATURING THE PRAGUE FILM HARMONIC ORCHESTRA. Track Listing: 1. Voice
Of An Angel 2. Be Still And Know I Am With You 3. Panis Angelicus 4. Ag
Criost An Siol 5. There Is A Place 6. Nearer My God To thee 7. Ave Maria
8. If I Can Help Somebody 9. Amazing Grace 10.O Holy Night 11.Let There
Be Peace On Earth 12.How Great Thou Art 13.Goin' Home
Susan
Boyle CD "I
Dreamed a Dream" is the new CD from Susan Boyle (Britain's Got Talent
star) which features some spiritual music, including Amazing Grace,
Silent Night and How Great Thou Art, along with some popular
secular material, like Daydream Believer, Cry Me a River and title
track I Dreamed a Dream. Audio samples are available here
at CD Universe.
CD:
Christmas at St. Michael's Abbey This CD features
the propers of the 3 Christmas Masses sung by the choir of priests and
seminarians at St. Michael's Abbey, in Silverado California. The chants
of the Norbertine Order are slightly different from the Roman versions
and add a richness to the patrimony of Church music. They are recorded
here by the fathers in the abbey church. More info and audio samples here
Daniel
O'Donnell Gospel Album Daniel
O'Donnel's new album Peace In The Valley features 15 new recordings
of inspirational favourites, including "Peace In The Valley", "Mansion
Over The Hilltop", "Just A Closer Walk With Thee" and "I'll Fly Away",
all of which have been recorded by some of the most famous artists in
the Country/Gospel genre, including the title track which was made famous
by Elvis Presley. Tracks can be previewed at Amazon.
Song for a Winter's Night Tommy
Fleming's new album Song
for a Winter’s Night is available
from Friday 4th December 2009. Tracks: Walking in the Air, Bells are Ringing,
Angels We Have Heard on High, In the Bleak Mid Winter, Christmas 1915,
O Little Town of Bethlehem, The First Noel, It Came upon a Midnight, Who
Comes This Night, Wexford Carol, O Holy Night, Silent Night, Song for
a Winter's Night. Also released is the DVD of the same title, recorded
live in Belleek Castle, Ballina, Co. Mayo in a unique intimate setting
with an invited audience of family and friends. The DVD features 20 tracks
including many Christmas songs from the album "Song for a Winter Night",
along with some of Tommy's favorites including "The Orchard", "Wait ‘till
the Clouds roll by", "Old Clothes" and many more. The CD and DVD are available
from the usual outlets and from the artist's website.
Alma
Mater Album Released The highly
anticipated album from Music From The Vatican, 'Alma Mater' featuring
the voice of Pope Benedict XVI is out now - Dec 09. You can order your
copy of this album now from Amazon, or buy in the usual oulets. At Amazon
you can also preview all eight pieces of the specially commissioned beautiful
blend of gregorian chants and contemporary classical melodies. At the
official
site of the album there are videos relating to the album including
a performance from the Vatican Choir.
Choirs
for Christmas Competition Now
in its eleventh year, the established RTÉ lyric fm Choirs for Christmas
Competition invites choirs from all around to country to share their music
making with lyric listeners throughout the Christmas Season. Choirs from
all corners of Ireland competed in last year's celebration with some outstanding
entries coming from Dublin, Kilkenny, Wexford, Limerick, Mayo and Wicklow.
Deadline for entry is Friday December 4th 2009. More info here.
Resonance
of the Gift
Theology of the Body inspires beautiful music - Resonance of the Gift:
Musical Reflections on Theology of the Body. A set of 12 piano hymns
by Peter Gerard Baklinski, to soothe the heart and uplift the spirit,
celebrating the truth, meaning, and power of human love within the divine
plan. Available on CD or downloadable mp3. Listen to a sample or order
here.
All orders shipped FREE until Christmas.
New
Christmas Albums New
Christmas albums for this year include: Christmas in the Heart,
by Bob Dylan (see left), My Christmas by Andrea Bocelli, A Cherry
Cherry Christmas by Neil Diamond, and The Irish Tenors Christmas.
There are also some Christmas songs, including
"Gabriel's Message" on Sting's new album If on a Winter's
Night, and Midwinter Graces by Tori Amos also features some
Christmas material, including "Coventry Carol". For more details,
including song samples go here
at CD Universe.
Music
From the Vatican - Alma Mater This new album, Alma Mater, is due out on 30th November
2009. It features a range of music and includes the voice of Pope Benedict,
who along with the Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome will be releasing
recordings of eight original pieces of modern classical music – proceeds
from the album will be used to provide music education for underprivileged
children around the world. The video clip on left provides a short introduction
to the project, which is produced by Geffen/Universal music. More info,
including the facility to pre-order the album, is available on the official
website for the project.
Pope
Benedict on Music At a piano concert in the Vatican on
18th October 2009, Pope Benedict reflected on the power of music: "Music
is a part of all cultures and, we might say, accompanies every human experience,
from pain to pleasure, from hatred to love, from sadness to joy, from
death to life ... We see how, over the course of the centuries and millennia,
music has always been used to give a form to that which we are not able
to speak in words, because it awakens emotions that are difficult to communicate
otherwise". He also referred to the ability of music to become prayer:
"Music," he said, "great music, gives the spirit repose, awakens profound
sentiments and almost naturally invites us to lift up our mind and heart
to God in every situation, whether joyous or sad, of human existence.
Music can become prayer." Full text of the speech here.
New
Film on Fatima Due for release in USA in October 2009, The 13th Day is
a new film about the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. There are no plans
currently to release it in Ireland, but the DVD can be pre-ordered from
the film's website - www.the13thdaymovie.com
where a trailer (also on left) from the film can also be seen. The film
is written and directed by Ian And Dominic Higgins.
Conference
on Sacred Music St Colman's Society
for Catholic Liturgy will hold its third International Liturgy Conference
from 10th to 12th July 2010 in Cork and Fota. The title for the Conference
is "Psallite Sapentier: Benedict XVI on Sacred Music". An international
panel of experts will discuss theological, historical and practical issues
relating to sacred music in the Roman rite. Details and booking from colman.liturgy
@ yahoo.co.uk or from the Secretary at Leeview, Rushbrooke, Cobh, Co.
Cork.
New
Film on Life of Mary Mary, Mother
of Christ is due for release to cinemas in April 2010. It will star,
among others, Al Pacino (Herod), Camilla Belle (Mary), Peter O'Toole (Simeon)
and Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Gabriel and Lucifer!). The script was written
by Barbara Nicolosi (a Catholic and founder of ACT One–a screenwriting
school aiming to empower Christians in Hollywood) and The Passion of
the Christ co-writer Benedict Fitzgerald. More info here.
Pope's
New Album Reported by Reuters
news agency: - A Muslim, a Catholic and an agnostic composer have contributed
music to an album called Alma Mater featuring Pope Benedict singing
and reciting prayers, which is due for release in November. Read more
here.
NEW
CD from Louth The
Louth Contemporary Music
Society has released a new CD featuring many spiritual pieces. The
new disc is titled A Place Between, and features world première
recordings of works by John Tavener, Arvo Pärt, Valentin Silvestrov, Alexander
Knaifel as well as pieces by Henryk Górecki and John Cage. All of these
composers have, in various ways, been deeply influenced by profound spiritual,
religious or cultural encounters. The CD intersperses beautiful works
for string quartet (Silvestrov's meditative “Ikon”, Tavener's deeply moving
“Ikon of Joy/Sorrow," Pärt's reflective “Da Pacem Domine”) with two solo
piano works (Pärt's uplifting “Hymn to a Great City," Cage’s melodic and
expressive “In a Landscape”). Górecki's memorial for Michael Vyner "Good
Night" and Knaifel’s mystical “O Heavenly King” both feature the haunting
voice of soprano Patricia Rozario. Silvestrov's 25.X.1893 lullaby is a
melancholic and lyrical piece for violin and piano.
Quilty
Artists Quilty Artists
is new group for Catholics intersted in the arts, especially those who
pratice the arts. Their new website
is in blog/forum format and is in the early stages of development. There's
an opportunity to share personal stories of one's experiences with the
arts and faith, a chance to share song lyrics, a prayer section, and ideas
to inspire beautiful artists!
Award for Secret of Kells Film Tomm
Moore, Director of Cartoon Saloon's THE SECRET OF KELLS accepted the prestigious
audience award for best Feature film at the 33rd Annecy Animation festival
in France on Saturday June 13th. Moore received his Crystal award from
Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director of Amelie and Alien 4. The
festival, one of the most respected events for animation film in the world,
screened 525 films including 27 feature films over a week. With over 120,000
tickets sold it is one of the largest film festivals in Europe. Henry
Selicks's feature CORALINE and Adam Elliots film MARY AND MAX shared the
Jury prize for best feature, with the audience choice going to THE SECRET
OF KELLS. Tomm Moore was not the only Kilkenny native to be honoured on
the night. David O'Reilly, who trained in Cartoon Saloon while a student
and also from Kilkenny received the Special Distinction Award for his
film Please say something, a film which won him a Golden Bear at
the Berlin festival earlier this year. THE SECRET OF KELLS is released
on DVD in Ireland August 7th 2009
Latest CD from the Hutchisons Songs
is the latest CD from Canadian group The Hutchisons- it's gospel folk,
acoustic style with great harmonies and subtle backing. Three songs from
the album can be played from their new
website, where there's also an option to buy the album and earlier
releases, including Angela Hutchison's solo albums. "Songs" has a particular
focus on heaven, and how the hope of eternity sustains us through earthly
suffering.
Musical
Setting of Hail Mary
US Composer David Burke has released a beautiful musical setting of the
Hail Mary, which you can play below. The song is free and is included
here with the kind permission of the author. You can read about David's
other spiritual work, including his musical The Wonders of His Love
at his website.
The sheet music is also available free (here),
again by kind permission of the author. His own commentary on the song
can be found here.
Little
Oak Glass
This is a stained class workshop in Kerry that produces all sorts of stained
glass works, some of a spiritual nature. Check out the "Glance at
Glass" series on their blog.
One of the items on the page is a stained glass window featuring Our Lady,
which can be seen in Waterville Church Co. Kerry.
CD
- A Song for all Seasons This CD by Emmanuel
Mc Stravick from Belfast will feature 10 catholic songs and a new song
dedicated to Our Lady that will be released as a single.This album will
help fund the Passionist Fathers in Ireland and also a major pro-life
organisation. Each song will be represent a particular saint from the
Catholic Church and features themes of hope and healing. It will be released
in September 2009.
Scorcese
Movie on Martyrs Renowned
director Martin Scorsese is reported to be working on a movie about the
Japanese Martyrs. Filming is due to begin in New Zealand in 2010. The
work will be based on a novel, Silence, by Catholic author Shusaku
Endo, which tells the story of a Portuguese missionary from the 17th Century
and the martyrdom of early Christians in Japan.
Resource
for Music Ministers The Diocese of
Kildare and Loughlin has produced a guide for music ministers. On their
website there is an introduction and extracts from the resource along
with a link for downloading the full resource. Click here.
New Album from Liam Lawton Healing
Song is the latest album from Liam Lawton, due to be released in May
2009. It is a new collection of liturgical music, featuring the orchestrations
of Mark Cahill, The Prague Philharmonic Orchestra and the St Colman's
Cathedral Choir under the direction of Dominic Finn. Added 7/6/09: Hear clips from the album here. Added 31/10/09: Read review of album here.
The
Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler This
is the title of a new TV movie premiering on April 19th in USA. It tells
the story of Irena Sendler, a Catholic social worker in Warsaw during
World War Two who risked her life to save Jewish children from the Nazis.
Anna Paquin stars in the title role, with Goran Visnjic co-starring. For
the official website of the film click here.
The site includes materials for teachers, including links for further
study, and a short video on the making of the film. Sendler died in 2008.
Ireland's
Own Article
The Ireland's Own issue of March 6th 2009 features an article on
"Holy Hollywood", a wry and lively view of the relationship
between Hollywood and religion, by Tom McParland.
The
Secret of Kells The
Secret of Kells is an animated film featuring a fictional story about
the writing of the Book of Kells currently showing in Irish cinemas. Music
is by Kila and Bruno Coulais (Les Choristes). The official website
for the film is impressive (www.thesecretofkells.com)
and includes related worksheets for primary and secondary schools. The
secondary version is here.
See also the blog entry for 24/3/09.
Celtic
Joy Celtic
Joy: A Celebration of Christmas - another new Christmas album for
2008 - this time featuring Nóirín Ní Riain with her
sons Eoin and Micheál Ó Súilleabhain. Style ranges
from Sean Nós to Gregorian Chant, and tracks include: Coventry
Carol, Ave Maria, Salve Regina, The Holly and the Ivy, Song for Jerusalem
and The Beatitudes.
Enya
- And Winter Came Enya
has released a seasonal album And Winter Came, which features some
Christmas music - including the standards O Come O Come Emmanuel
and a choral version of Oíche Chiúin (she released
a solo version a few years ago). Other tracks include Journey of the
Angels, Spirit of Christmas Past and White as the Winter's Night.
The lyrics are available here.
Chant
- Re-release for Christmas Chant
- Music for Paradise (Universal Music) an album of Gregorian
Chant recorded by a group of young
monks of Holy Cross, a Cistercian Abbey in Austria. was
released in May 2008, and has now been re-released in a 2-disc edition
for Christmas, with extra tracks for the season, including music
for Advent Vespers, Advent Mass, Christmas Lauds and Christmas Mass.
For more information
and reviews see the Amazon
listing.
James
Kilbane Christmas Album Irish
gospel singer and former You're a Star finalist James Kilbane has
released (Nov 2008) his first Christmas album. The Christmas Collection
features many Christmas standards like Little Drummer Boy, When A Child
Is Born, Away In A Manger, One Holy Night and Mary's Boy Child, along
with some lesser known Christmas material. This is James' seventh album
- check out his other gospel material on his website.
All James Kilbane's music is available on download at iTunes,
Napster or CDBaby.
The
Priests Album Three
Northern Irish priests, Eugene O'Hagan, Martin O'Hagan and David Delargy
have a new album (Nov 2008) which is expected to do well in the Christmas
market. Released by Sony BMG, tracks include Ave Maria, Panis Angelicus,
Benedictus, Pie Jesu , Abide With Me, Ag Crióst an Síol and O Holy Night.
There's a full track listing, a video interview with the Priests and a
chance to buy at Amazon.
See The Priests singing here.
Mary Chapin Carpenter Christmas album Just released
(Oct '08) new Christmas album by Mary Chapin Carpenter - called Come
Darkness Come Light - Twelve Songs of Christmas it features traditional
songs like Once in Royal David's City and Children Go Where
I send Thee, with new songs writen by the singer. Genre
spans country/acoustic rock/folk.
Saints
and Scholars Saints and Scholars, a CD of rare liturgical plain chant sung by
the group Schola Gregoriana from Maynooth is now available from Veritas
shops, the National Concert Hall music shop and St Patrick's College Maynooth.
Works
of Art
This week (Issue 2/10/08) the Irish Catholic has started a series
on great works of art - this week it's The Vale of Rest by Sir
John Millais Everett.
Vision
- The Musical Vision is a musical re-telling the story
of Bernadette of Lourdes in a modern idiom, with rick, pop and jazz influences.
Written by Jonathan Smith and Dominic Hartley, and originally performed
in 2002, this year has seen performances in England, Nigeria and Lordes
itself. Check out the website
for more information, including upcoming performaces, a downloadable score
and a recording of the Lourdes event.
Irish
Priest's New Novel Fr
William King, parish priest of Drumcondra, has published a new novel -
Leaving Ardglass. Set in 1950's Ireland it tells the story of two
brothers, one of whom becomes a priest and one a builder in England. This
is his third novel. More info here.
Vatican
Bans Filming The Vatican has
banned the use of churches for the filming of Angels and Demons,
a new film based on one of Dan Brown's books, a prequel to the Da Vinci
Code story. Some scenes are set in the Vatican and other churches.
A Vatican spokesperson said that Brown has "turned the gospel upside
down to poison the faith".
New
Musical on Mary Mary of Nazareth,
a Story that Continues is a new musical
on the life of the Virgin Mary, which has Vatican support. Alma Menera,
a former Miss Italy plays the title role. The musical is also sponsored
by the Italian Senate. More details here.
Church
Architect North by Northwest: The Life and Work of Liam McCormick is a new
book by Paul Larmour and Shane O'Toole about one of Ireland's most prominent
architects of modern church buildings. His best known churches include
St
Aengus' Church, Burt, Co. Donegal.
Chant
Music Chant
- Music for Paradise (Universal Music) is a new CD (released in May)
of Gregorian Chant recorded by a group
of young monks of Holy Cross, a Cistercian Abbey in Austria.
Lourdes
CD Lourdes Where Miracles
Happen is a new (Feb 08) 17 track
music CD launched to mark the 150th anniversary of the appearances at
Lourdes. It is dedicated to the people who have travelled to Lourdes with
those who are ill.
New
John Michael Talbot Alum Living
Water is John Michael Talbot's latest album, his 50th. There are samples
to listen to on his website,
and the album can also be ordered from there. It includes more songs for
worship - A Kyrie, Sanctus, Gloria and many other
tracks. On
the news section of the Catholic Music Network site there's an enjoyable
account of a presentation made to JMT on the occasion of this 50th album.
Read it here.
Grammy
Awards Grammy Awards Feb 2008: Joint winners
in the Gospel section this year were - Blessed & Highly Favored
The Clark Sisters Track from: Live - One Last Time [EMI Gospel]
and Never Gonna Break My Faith Aretha Franklin & Mary J. Blige
(Featuring The Harlem Boys Choir) Track from: Bobby: Original Motion
Picture Soundtrack [Island Def Jam].
More detailed info here.
From 2007:
Angela
Hutchison
The Hutchisons from Canada (see Music page) have
set up online sales on theirwebsite. The albums Grace Child, Hope
for Sure and Christmas can all now be purchased through our
secure, PayPal-powered shopping cart, which you can find out more about
at www.angelahutchison.com/order.html.
Liam
Lawton - New CD/DVD
The Liam Lawton 'Song of the Celtic Soul' DVD and CD is on sale
in the shops from Friday 9th Nov 2007. The DVD and CD will be sold as
a set. The DVD was filmed in the Docklands of Dublin last year Set in
Dublin’s docklands this event was the first of its kind to be staged on
water in Ireland’s capital. The unique special event, with a stunning
stage designed around the theme of Angels by Alan Farquarson, featured
guests Roisin O’Reilly and the boy soprano Joseph Mc Manners, the full
Irish Film Orchestra and Chorus along with traditional Irish instruments.
The event was attended by almost 5,000 people. The orchestral arrangements
were done by the world renowned composer and arranger Nick Ingham whose
films include Shakespeare In Love, Cold Mountain, Billy Elliott and Finding
Neverland. The collection on this DVD and CD include many of the old favourites
- Cloud's Veil, Benedictus, Lament of the Virgin, Voice of an Angel
and more - there are also a few new pieces - 'Secret Land', 'I
Heard an Angel' 'Field of Dreams' - and Destiny (only on the
DVD).
See a sample video here.
New
Bruce Springsteen DVD/CD
The new Bruce Springsteen music DVD, Live in Dublin features most
of the songs from his Seeger Sessions concerts, and some gospel numbers
are included - e.g. Oh Mary Don't You Weep, Jacob's Ladder, When the
Saints Go marching in, This Little Light of Mine. This comes in DVD
only edition or Audio CD edition or combined DVD/double CD. Bruce's website
features links to video samples from the DVD.
New
Film on the Resurrection The Investigation is the title of a new film on the Resurrection.
The Pope recently received a private screening, has opened in Spain and
will shortly be released in the USA. It tells the story of a Roman official
given the job of investigating the disappeance of the body of Jesus from
the tomb.
In
Praise of Mary
This is the title of a new CD of Marian hymns and chant from the Cistercian
Nuns of St Mary's Abbey, Glencairn, Co. Waterford, who worked with singer
Nóirín Ní Riain on the project. Click here
for a video report on the abbey and the CD from RTE's Nationwide series.
Amazing
Grace
This new film on William Wilberforce's campaign to end slavery in the
British Empire, released in March 2007 to coincide with the 200th Anniversary
on the abolition, is now available on DVD. Wilberforce was motivated by
his Christian faith, which also features in the film, as does his connection
with John Newton, the writer of the hymn. The official site for the film
includes trailers, resource materials and study guides dealing with the
film and with the issue of slavery in general - www.amazinggracemovie.com/
There's also an Irish site for the film (www.amazinggrace.ie)
where you can find cinema information and some resources relating to Ireland.
CD
and Concert - James Kilbane
James Kilbane has released (March 07) a new album of spiritual songs -
Life's Miracle aims to be a collection that will be, according to the
singer, "practical for Christians in their everyday prayer".
In style it's praise and worship with a Country feel.
The
Nativity Story
The Nativity Story film is now available on DVD. For trailers, video clips,
screensavers and even an interactive Advent calendar go to the official
website for the film. The US Catholic Conference review is here;
a review from the Catholic Education Resource Centre is here.
Road
to Memphis Road to Memphis by Mildred D. Taylor is one of the novels on the
Leaving Cert English Course (for 2007 at least). It's also useful for
R.E. teaching, using extracts, to deal with the issue of racial prejudice
(it's set in the deep south USA around 1941). There are some religious
elements as well as the central characters, the Logan family are religious,
pray together, go to church. Notes are available on this theme of prejudice
in the novel using key scenes as a way of breaking it down into manageable
sections. These are available as a Word document, or as plain text, on
request - will send them by email as an attachment - use contact details
over.
Da
Vinci Code
With the release of the movie on DVD there's an Irish site to deal with
the issues raised - www.davincicodeireland.com
features, among other resources, free Powerpoint presentations and FAQ
sheets to download, with the offer of speakers to deliver the presentations
if required. There's also a comprehensive site from the U.S. Catholic
Conference - www.jesusdecoded.com
Hopkins
Poems Set to Music
Singer Sean O'Leary has an album of Hopkins poems set to music. There
are samples to listen to on the website
dedicated to this project - follow the link to "Play Demo". If the clips
don't work first time try the link to "Help" at the bottom the demo page
and you'll get an alternative way to play them. Particularly striking
are his versions of "I wake and feel the fell of dark" and "Spring". There
is a link on the site to buy the album.
Religious
Art in Tallaght
Five sculptures inspired by St Luke's gospel have been dedicated at Tallaght
Hospital in Dublin. The five scenes of healing are in bronze and ceramic
and depict Jesus healing illnesses and restoring peopl to their communities
and are in the chapel at the hospital.
Music
CD
Faith Alive is a group founded in England by Irish priest Fr Con Foley.
They are young people aiming to pass on the faith to other young people.
From One Generation to the Next is their new CD. Included are parts
of the Mass and new songs also. The CD can be ordered from their website,
which also has samples of the music to download: www.faithalivecyc.com
Wedding
Album
This is the title of a CD from Veritas, featuring appropriate music for
the Sacrament of Marriage. Read more.
Hollywood
and Religion
A new study by the Parents' Television Council in the USA looks at Hollywood
depictions of religion - finds negative depictions of religion but more
positive depiction of faith in general. Read the full story here.
Gospel
Movies
Hollywood producer Jake Eberts is to be involved in producing more gospel
movies, in association with Visual Bible International. In the short term
The Gospel of Mark will follow the most recent movie The Gospel
of John which gained cinema release. Eberts previous credits include
Chariots of Fire and Driving Miss Daisy.