Morisca

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 the critics we are keen to bring our unique style of performing old music to new audiences.

Pauline Graham (Voice), Laoise O’Brien (Recorders), Francesco Turrisi (Percussion), Sarah Groser (Vielle).

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.


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.

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 like Ensemble L’Arpeggiata, The King’s Singers, Veronique Gens, Dominique Visse, Philippe Jaroussky, Vittorio Ghielmi, Marco Beasley, Marco Ambrosini and  World musicians like Pepe el Habichuela, Lucilla Galeazzi, Marcello Vitale, Mihaly Borbely, Ens. Myriad, Patricio Hidalgo and Andrea Piccioni.

Sarah Groser studied both baroque cello and viol at Manchester University with Charles Medlam, then went on to Rotterdam’s Conservatorium to study Baroque Cello with Jap ter Linden, and later studied viol with Jordi Savall as an external student at Basel. Since her studies Sarah has concentrated on the viol and more recently also the violone. She was a member of the Rose Consort of viols for 15 years, Sonnerie for 3 years and has worked with many other ensembles including Fretwork, Charivari Agreable, London Baroque and Dowland Consort. In 2001 Sarah moved from England to West Cork with her daughter Gracie who was born here 17 years ago. Since then she has performed in Ireland with Camerata Kilkenny, the Orchestra of St Cecilia, Madrigal 75, the IBO and as a duo with Sarah Cunningham.

 

Programme:

A Medieval Christmas       

Invocation

Rorate caeli                                Plainchant

Petrone (Estampie)                   English (14th Century)

There is no rose                         English (ca. 1420)

I. The Annunciation

Symphony of the Blessed            Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179)

Ave generosa                                 Hildegard von Bingen (1098–1179)

Ghaetta                                           Italian (Late 14th Century)

Angelus ad Virginem                    Dublin Troper (14th Century)

Magnificat                                      John Dunstable (c1390–1453)

Maravillosoe piadosos                 Alfonso X (1221-1284) from Cantigas de Santa Maria

Pesar a Santa Maria                     Alfonso X (1221-1284) from Cantigas de Santa Maria

II.  The Shepherds

I pastori di Betleem                      Luke, Chapter 2

Quand je voy hyver retourner    Colin Muset (fl ca.1210–1250)

Quem pastores laudavere           German (14th Century)

Trotto                                              Italian (14th Century)

Wexford Carol                               Irish (12th Century)

III.  The Nativity

Today Christ is born

Puer natus est nobis                    Plainchant

Dances                                           English (13th Century)

Personent hodie                          German (14th Century)

IV.  The Magi

I magi d’Oriente                            Matthew, Chapter 2

Regis Tharsis                                  Plainchant antiphon

Seebouni ya nas                            Muwahshah (Traditional Arabic)

In dulci jubilo                                 German (14th Century)

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Morisca

Tour Dates

Tuesday 13 Dec, Dublin

  • The Coach House, Dublin Castle
  • 1pm, Free as part of the 'Christmas at the Castle' celebrations at Dublin Castle
  • Tel. 01 6719429

Wednesday 21 Dec, South Main Street, Cork