SUNDAYS @ NOON CONCERT SERIES ONLINE

Filmed live from the sculpture hall in the Hugh Lane Gallery, Parnell Square

Cahal Masterson - piano

Programme

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) - Children’s Corner
I. Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum
II. Jimbo's Lullaby
III. Serenade for the Doll
IV. The Snow Is Dancing
V. The Little Shepherd
VI. The Final Movement *

Olivier Messiaen (1908-1992) - Préludes Pour Piano
I. La columbe
II. Chant d’extase dans un paysage triste
III. Le nombre léger
IV. Instants défunts
V. Les sons impalpables du rêve
VIII. Un reflet dans le vent

Anselm McDonnell (1994 –) - Ceaselessly Into The Past
I. Red Branches
II. Lorica
III. Fomorian Columns
IV. Alban Hefin, Light of Shore

* We have opted to remove the title of the final movement, simply listing it as The Final Movement. The original title of the piece is offensive, referencing a doll and a dance that were popular at the time of composition. Both title elements have complicated and controversial histories and are symbolic of the racism black people had to deal with. We do not believe that great music should not continue to be played due to a title, but we should not continue to use words and phrases that are offensive.
(Programme notes by Cahal Masterson, with edits by Moving On Music/Sundays at Noon)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A pianist of growing reputation, Cahal Masterson was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His musical family includes four siblings who are all professional or aspiring violinists. Cahal has performed throughout the UK and Ireland, and has given European performances in cities of Berlin, Salzburg, Nice, Verona, Marbella, and Novi Sad. In the US and Canada performances have included both Washington D.C. and Toronto. In May 2019 he completed his postgraduate studies, graduating with a Masters in Music Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, USA as one of a select number of full scholarship students. In April 2018 he recorded his inaugural album Transition at Sono Luminous Studios in Boyce, Virginia, USA. This achievement marked the beginning of his journey as a professional pianist, and the album featured a collection of the artist's most loved pieces written for the piano. Following this album release in the USA and Canada Cahal returned to Northern Ireland to engage and reconnect with his home audiences. He worked with aspiring music students giving concert previews and piano workshops in secondary schools throughout Northern Ireland in the autumn of 2019 and received an Emerging Artist Platform with Moving On Music in 2020.

At the beginning of 2020 concertising began in Ireland and Spain, with debut January performances in Marbella to mark the 250th anniversary celebrations of Ludwig Van Beethoven's birth. However, a recital at Portico Ards, Portaferry at the beginning of March proved to be one of the last allowed public performances in public before the the onset of the pandemic. Over the past year Cahal has none the less been involved in some exciting new collaborations which have been seen through in more remote means! Highlights have included the recording of a new four movement piano suite by Irish/Welsh composer Anselm McDonnell named "Ceaselessly Into The Past." The recording which was completed in February 2021 will feature on the composers debut album release later this year. Other digital performances have included a performance of Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 with family on New Year's day and video performances for Moving On Music, The Market Place Theatre and Belfast Music Society.
Prior to postgraduate study, Masterson completed an Artist Diploma at The Glenn Gould School in Toronto, Canada, and a Bachelor degree in Music Performance at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. His main teacher and mentor over the course of his study has been Dr. John O’Conor. Masterson was a recipient of the prestigious Lucien and Maura Tessier Scholarship during his time at the Royal Irish Academy and was also a multiple prizewinner in Dublin’s prestigious Feis Ceoil. He has worked with many of the world’s leading pianists including Pascal Rogé, Jaques Rouvier, Arnulf von Arnim, Pavel Nersessian, John Perry, Ronan O’Hora, Anton Nell, Jonathan Biss, Joanna MacGregor, and Leon McCawley.
Cahal is an international ambassador for the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished. Americans.
cahalmasterson.com

With thanks to IMMA and the Arts Council of Ireland