Morisca is an Irish based ensemble whose members have a mutual interest in early classical, folk and world music. The core members of the ensemble have all studied in the Netherlands where their various disciplines have brought them in the direction of this largely unexplored repertoire. Morisca is breaking the rules of classical music performance by engaging with audiences in ways usually reserved for traditional and contemporary artists. Having received excellent responses from audiences and critics they are keen to bring their unique style of performing old music to new audiences.

This quartet is flexible in format, generally featuring the three core members below, in addition to a fourth guest member, according to the chosen repertoire.

Pauline Graham is a soprano with a passion for early music whose singing invites audiences to discover the expressive power of plainchant, Machaut and Monteverdi, as well as Purcell and Poulenc. She has performed widely across Europe, appearing at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, Cremona Festival and Galway Early Music Festival with conductors such as Ton Koopman, Paul McCreesh, Jed Wentz and Paul Goodwin. Pauline’s operatic roles include Susanna and Cherubino in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Despina (Così fan tutte), and Grilletta in Haydn’s Lo speziale. She is currently undertaking a doctorate in Renaissance vocal music.

Francesco Turrisi was born in Turin, Italy. He studied music at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Netherlands where he obtained a Bachelor and a Masters degree in Jazz Piano. During his studies Francesco researched improvisation and basso continuo in early baroque keyboard music. Later he studied piano accordion and many different percussion instruments from the Middle East and the Mediterranean area. He has collaborated with many important artists such as Jazz artists Dave Liebman, Jean Toussaint, Gianluigi Trovesi, Fay Claeesen, Maria Pia de Vito, John Ruocco, Eric Ineke. Early Music artists Ensemble L’Arpeggiata, The King’s Singers, Veronique Gens, Dominique Visse, Philippe Jaroussky, Vittorio Ghielmi, Marco Beasley, Marco Ambrosini and  World musicians Pepe el Habichuela, Lucilla Galeazzi, Marcello Vitale, Mihaly Borbely, Ens. Myriad, Patricio Hidalgo and Andrea Piccioni.

Laoise O’Brien is well known to Irish audiences as one of the country’s leading early wind specialists. She has performed in many capacities; as soloist, chamber musician and consort player in a wide variety of styles. She performs regularly with many groups including the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Camerata Kilkenny, the Irish Consort and the Orchestra of St Cecilia. Laoise lectures in Recorder and Early Music at the DIT, Conservatory of Music and Drama. She is also in regular demand as a tutor at masterclasses and workshops in Ireland and abroad.

Reviews

"Their well-chosen programme… presented a sequence of four groups of songs and dances from the middle ages, the singing plaintively straight, the players ringing the full range of changes in the combinations of instrumental colours."

Michael Dervan, Irish Times

Sample Programmes

Ce fu en Mai - Songs and Dances from the Middle Ages

In the Month of May

Ce fu en Mai Moniot d’Arras (fl 1213-1239)       
Saltarello Italian (Late 14th Century)                    
Huic Main/Hec Dies Anon. French motet (13th Century)               
Muwashah Anon.

By the Fountain

Bryd one Brere English (14th Century)                        
La Manfredina/La Rotta  Italian (14th Century)
Quan lo rius de la fontana Jaufre Rudel (fl. 1125–1148)                                 
Tre Fontane Estampie, Italian (Late 14th Century)                         

Courtly Love

De Bonte Guillaume de Machaut (1300–1377)
La Quarte Estampie Royale French (13th Century)                                         
Basse Dance no. 17 Francesco Landini (c1325-1397)
Three troubadour songs:
Ab lo temps agradiu gai Guiraut Riquier (c1230–1290)
L’altrier, a lissada d’abriu Marcabru (fl. 1130–1149)
Tant ai mo cor ple de joja Bernart de Ventadorn (fl. 1147–1170)

At the Feast

Percussion solo
Saltarello Italian (Late 14th Century)    
On parole/A Paris/Frèse nouvele Anon. French motet (13th Century)
Quant ces moissons sont cueillies Guillaume le Vinier (fl. 1260–1300)

Links

www.laoiseobrien.com

www.francescoturrisi.com

For further information on availability or artist fees, or to discuss a booking please contact the Performance Programmes Manager by emailing performance@musicnetwork.ie or telephone: 01 6719429.