Music specially commissioned for Drogheda

A memorable night is promised in St Peter's on West Street this Friday, when musicians and singers from Drogheda perform a specially-written piece of music with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. This special concert, which starts at 7.30pm, commemorates a historic event which brought the town of Drogheda together 600 years ago. So it's very apt that to mark this event, another historical event, bringing people together from all over the town, will take place in St. Peter's Church on West Street. The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra will visit Drogheda for the first time ever, and will perform with members of the Lourdes and Drogheda Brass Bands and a specially-formed community choir made up of singers of all ages from all over Drogheda. Together, they will perform a piece of music written specially to celebrate the history and heritage of the town through the talent of its musicians and singers. By utilising monies set aside by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to commission an artwork associated with a local housing development, an open competition was held for a commission to create a piece of music. The competition was won by Brian Irvine, whose music has been described by The Guardian as "exhilarating". Irvine, who was born in Belfast, has had his compositions performed all over the world. No less than the Washington Post described Irvine's category-defying music as - "a kinetic, freewheeling circus making some of the most exhilarating and imaginative music you'll ever hope to hear.... exuberant, spontaneous and irresistibly alive." Irvine is famous not only for the music he composes, but also for the way he brings the local musical community into the creative process. As arts officer Brian Harten puts it - "Brian Irvine understands that the music is about Drogheda's past, but it's also about Drogheda's musicians and singers now." The new piece of music is entitled 'Merge', and as well as the premiere, the RTÉ NSO will be performing music by Beethoven, Bartók, and Mendelssohn. "Everyone should hear a symphony orchestra at least once. It's a genuinely jaw-dropping sound, and I'd encourage everyone to get a ticket from the Droichead Arts Centre, and come along on Friday. We can't guarantee admittance without a ticket for health and safety reasons, and we'd encourage those with tickets to come on time, as the RTÉ NSO will be start playing dead on 7.30pm.", says Brian Harten. Full concert programme Mendelsshon: Hebrides Overture Bartók: Rumanian Folk Dances Beethoven: Symphony No 5 Irvine: Merge The concert will finish on or before 9pm. Tickets are free, and are available from the Droichead Arts Centre, www.droichead.com, Narrow West Street, Drogheda.