Frank Corcoran

Corcoran, Frank Ireland Music 1980

Esterházy, Péter Hungary Literature 1980

Grisey, Gérard France Music 1980

Hoover, Nan Netherlands Visual Arts 1980

Janz, Robert Great Britain / USA Visual Arts 1980
Jovánovics, György Hungary Visual Arts 1980
Jungwirth-Schmeller, Martha Austria Visual Arts 1980
Kajzar, Helmut Poland Literature 1980

Kang, Sukhi South Korea Music 1980

Kounellis, Yannis Italy Visual Arts 1980

Maros, Miklós Sweden Music 1980
Peri Rossi, Cristina Uruguay Literature 1980

Schaeffer, Bogus?aw Poland Music 1980

Schidlowsky, Leon Israel Music 1980

FRANK CORCORAN

Geboren 1944 in Tipperary (Irland). Studierte alte Sprachen, Philosophie, Musik und Theologie in Irland und Rom und Komposition in Berlin bei Boris Blacher.
1980-81 war er Stipendiat des Berliner Künstlerprogramms, seit 1983 lehrt er als Professor in Hamburg.

1989-90 war Corcoran Fulbright Professor in den USA, später auch Gastdozent unter anderem am CalArts, an der Harvard University, am Boston College und an Universitäten in New York und Indiana.
Zahlreiche CD-Einspielungen und Aufführungen seiner Werke im In- und Ausland.
Mitglied der Irischen Akademie der Künste, Aosdana.

#4 – Frühjahr 2005

CLARENZ BARLOW
JENS BRAND

FRANK CORCORAN

BRIAN FERNEYHOUGH
MAURICIO KAGEL
PÈTER KÖSZEGHY
KUNSU SHIM
CHRISTIAN UTZ

Die Synaesthesie hat bei beiden,
Malern wie Komponisten,in Europa,wenigstens seit Mussorgsky ´s “Bilder einer Ausstellung”,
eine hervorgehobene Bedeutung.

Farben und Töne sind häufig näher beieinander,als wir erwarten.
Man denkt an Klee und Kandinsky auf der einen Seite und Skriabin und Messiaen auf der anderen.

Titel wie “Der gelbe Klang” (Kandinsky 1909) oder “Couleurs De la Cite Cèleste (Messiaen 1919),erzählen ihre eigene Geschichte.

2014 hörte der Hamburger Maler Heinz Gellrich die 2.te Symphonie des irischen Komponisten Frank Corcoran.
Während vieler Monate im Jahr 2015 malte er das zentrale Bild,das später zum “Corcoran Tryptichon” erweitert werden sollte.
Er “übersetzte” tiefe,ozeanische Töne und Linien und Rhytmen des ersten Satzes der Symphonie

in seine eigene abstrakte Komposition,mit eigenerTextur,Dichtigkeit und Bewegung.

In diesem Konzert (Veranstaltung?) präsentieren die beiden Künstler ihre zwei Kunstformen mit ihren beiden Werken.

Corinna Meyer-Esche(sopran) und Jennifer Hymer (Klavier) illustrieren musikalisch.

FRANK CORCORAN

– ‘No. 2 – Winter’ from ” Nine Medieval Irish Epigrams” (1973)

Instrumentation: satb [div.]
Range: Soprano C4 – E flat 5
Alto C4 – E flat 4
Tenor B flat 3 – E flat 3
Bass B2 – D3

Language: English

Text: Anon. (Middle Irish) trans. Frank Corcoran

Metre: Varied (mostly alternating 3/4 & 3/8)

Tempo: Andante

Duration: 1’

Publisher: Score supplied by CMC

This is a great place to start with Corcoran’s work. Although the metre at first may seem
difficult, patterns are repeated as are melodic intervals. !!!!

Massive slapped waves against the quay wall on the left, two metres high;

awesome.

Terror of strength , whack, wallow , strike , smash, destroy my jaw, my left thigh, shoulder, a bleeding gash

right down the whole left side.

White noise, groaning and sliding , pitch and toss and threaten. Once again destroy me?

Pull me out, no chance, no pity.

Big basses, celli, low violas, a dark moiling.

Moyle not silent but roaring , – yet not Debussy or nor any Vaughan/Williamseries.

Me in aweful awe.

Sounding sliding like soft and low trombone glissandi in this oceanic stew.

( Maybe for strings – full ? Or only 11 strings ? Or A SEXTETT ?

( Only one movement? ) We shall see. Hear.

But NO imitations or whole tones or soft options.

FRANK CORCORAN “MEDIEVAL IRISH EPIGRAMMES” in CMC Choral Catalogue:

Mixed Choir Repertoire

The catalogue for mixed choir is the first in a series of curated choral catalogues drawn from CMC’s collection.

Aimed at offering guidance to choral directors, teachers and singers in search of new repertoire, the catalogue is curated by composer Rhona Clarke.

All of the works listed are supplied by CMC and can be ordered direct or for purchase online by licensed download, except where other publisher details are outlined.

When asked by the CMC to curate a catalogue of choral music by Irish Composers, my first instinct was to include a title by a large number of composers who have a body of works for this genre. Almost all of the composers included here have written at least three pieces for SATB choir, a capella or with one or two instruments.

In looking at the body of choral music by Irish composers born since the 1930s, it is clear that there are differences in styles, not only from one composer to another, but invariably, even within the body of work of a single composer. While just a single piece by each is selected for this catalogue, in finding a composer whose work appeals to them, it is hoped that the choral director will look beyond this and delve into the greater body of work in the CMC library.

– Rhona Clarke

The river begins
To flow away from dark Cong,
Back up the mountain.

I am swimming now
But Cong’s dark pool’s pulling me
Back to my first hour.

Sound the name ” Conga ”
Time spools backwards like a film
( Towards Fionn and his men )

The great gong of Cong,
Struck, stroked by a jazz wire-brush
Or merely hanging

Up visiting Cong
My evening began to flow
Backwards to morning

FRANK CORCORAN

Conga , is
An t-am ag dul
Siar

GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK

Jan 6 Bayerischer Rundfunk Frank Corcoran Portrait

Winter Hessischer Rundfunk ” ”

Concertzender Dutch Radio ” ”

April composing : MY ALTO RHAPSODIES for Contralto and Orchestra. Texts by Frank Corcoran

Various choral works ( Hayo-Verlag ) Medieval Irish Epigrammes, Farewell To Ireland, John O Dwyer Of The Glen,

AN IRISH CAROL

Choral “EIGHT HAIKUS” published by Schott Verlag. Winter 2014.

Preparing “QUASI UNA STORIA” for New York Premiere March 13. 2015.

Preparing CELLO CONCERTO for 2015 Dublin Premiere.

October 12 Concert in Bolsena, Piccolo Teatro Cavour, CELLO CONCERTO piano reduction version.

3 Pieces For Violin and Piano ( Hayo-Verlag )

3 Pictures for Oboe and String Trio

Making FRANK CORCORAN film “THE LIGHT GLEAMS”

Dublin Concert with ” and Bassclarinet ” A DARK SONG ”

Preparing ” 7 Pieces for Violin Solo ” for Hayo-Verlag.

” ” Festschrift Frank Corcoran ” for FRANK CORCORAN Seventieth Birthday

Alan Smale and Jennifer Hymer play Frank Corcoran in Le Rocchette Castle, August 2014

Hamburg 27. 1. 2018 CORCORAN PREMIERE :

FUENF HAIKUS for Mezzosoprano and Pianoforte ( Corinna Meyer-Esche and Jennifer Hymer )

( Texts by Frank Corcoran )

Five dogs or seven Fuenf Hunde, sieben,
Snarl in the cold April air Bellen im kalten April:
Barking: ” Kill the Spring !” “Toetet den Fruehling !”

Who goes here ? – Summer! Wer ist’s ? – Der Sommer.
My pen moves on white paper…. Stift schreibt auf weissem Papier.
Soft horns . Clarinets. Klarinettenmusik

Bits if sticky sleep. Der Schlaf noch klebend
( My eye tries to see itself ) Das Aug will sich selbst anglotzen
Morning-birds chitter. Die Morgenvoegel.

Suppose God is light ? Ob Gott doch Licht sei ?
A mountain’s shadow purple ? Ist der Bergschatten purpur ?
” Ciunas, a h-anaim !” Sei still, o Seele!

Whisper “Tramonto ” – ” that sunset” “Sonnenuntergang”
Tiptoes through this , my window. Wispernd durch mein Fenster
– Well, is this , then, death ? Ist dies dann der Tod ?

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Corcoran, Frank(b Borrisokane, Tipperary,1 May 1944 ).

Irish composer.

He studied music at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth (1961–4), music, philosophyand theology in Rome (1964–7) at the Pontificio Istituto di Musica Sacra andthe Università del Laterano, and composition in Berlin with Blacher (1969–71).He has served as music inspector for the Irish Department of Education(1971–9), been a guest of the Berlin Artist’s Programme (1980–81) and has taught at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Stuttgart (1982–3) and the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst, Hamburg (from 1983).

He was elected to Aosdána, the Irish academy of creative artists, in 1983.

He was a Fulbright visiting professor and Fulbright scholarin the U.S. in 1989-1990.

His compositions have won a number of prizes including :
the Studio Akustische Kunst First Prize in 1996 for Joycepeak Music,
first prize at the Bourges International Electro-acoustic Music Competition in 1999 for Sweeny´s Vision, the EMS Prize,Stockholm in 2002 for Quasi Una Missa and the International Federation for Choral Music’s Second International Competition for Choral Composition for EightHaikus in 2013.

Corcoran has developed a distinctand complex language of aleatory macro-counterpoint in which sound layers are superimposed polyphonically but retain independence through distinctive polymetric, agogic and dynamic indications. This technique is evident from theearly Piano Trio (1978) to Ice Etchings no.1 and Mad Sweeney(both 1996). The later was the first of a series of works initially inspired by Seamus Heaney’s translation of the Irish epic.

His many cultural interests are reflected in the texts of his vocal works; theopera Gilgamesh (1990), for example, is based on a Sumerian epic. The IrischeMikrokosmoi for piano (1993) are based on traditional Irish melodies andrhythms. From 1999 until 2009 to he worked on a seriesof works utilizing the descriptor ‘quasi.’

++++++++++++++These ranged from orchestral workssuch as Quasi un canto and Quasi un Visione to solo instrumental works such as Quasi un Basso.

Works (selective list)Op:

Gilgamesh (G. Rosenstock and Corcoran), 1990 Orch:Carraig Aonair Suite, 1976; Chbr Sym., 1976; 3 Pieces ‘Pictures from MyExhibition’, 1976; Caoine [Lament], fl, str, 1979; Sym. no.1 ‘Syms. of Syms. ofWind Insts’, 1981; Sym. no.2, 1981; Conc., str, 1982; Farewell Syms.(Corcoran), spkr, orch, tape, 1982; Shadows of Gilgamesh, 1988; Cantus decalamitate hiberniorum in patria antiqua, 1991; 6 Irische Mikrokosmoi, str,1994; Sym. no.3, 1994; Sym. no.4, 1996; Quasi un canto,2002; Quasi un concertino, 2003; Quasi un vision, 2004; Quasi un fuga, 2005;

Violin Concerto, 2011; Cello Concerto, 2012

Vocal(SATB, unless otherwise stated):

Aifreann [Mass], unison vv, org, 1973; Dá nAimhirgín (old Irish), 1973; 9 Medieval Irish Epigrams, 1973; 2 Meditations (J.Barth), spkr, orch, 1973; More (J. Pupacic), 1976; Herr Jesu Christ (P. Eber),1978; 5 Liric de Chuid Rosenstock [5 Lyrics after Rosenstock], S, pf, trio,1980; Das Stundenbuch (R.M. Rilke), SATB, org, 1990; Mad Sweeney (S. Heaney),spkr, chbr orch, 1996; Quasi una melodia (Anon), S, asax, vib, mar, vn, va, pf, 2000; Beyond Beckett, S, vn, vc, b cl, 2006; Songs of Terror and Love (F. Corcoran & Jacopone Da Todi), B, fl+picc+afl,cl+bcl, pf, vn+va, vc, 2011; Two UnholyHaikus (G. Rosenstock, F. Corcoran), 2011; Eight Haikus (F. Corcoran),SSAATTBB, 2012 Chbr:Brass Qnt, 1973; Chbr Sonata, fl, vn, va, vc, perc, 1974; Gestures of Sound and Silence, vc, pf, 1976; Str Qt no.1, 1976; Pf Trio, 1978; Shorts, vn, vc, 1978;Wind Qnt, 1978; Str Qt no.2, 1979; Rhapsodies on a Windy Night, cl, vn, va, vc,db, perc, 1981; Lines and Configurations, b cl, mar, 1983; 5 Amhráin ganFhocail [5 Songs without Words], ob, eng hn, trbn, perc, pf, str, 1984; Musicfor the Book of Kells, 5 perc, pf, 1990; 4 Concertini of Ice, fl, ob, cl, hn,vn, vc, db, perc, 1992; Dream Song, fl, cl, bn, vc, gui, pf, 1992; See-Through Music, fl, vn, va, vc, pf, perc, 1993; 4 Miniatures, fl, vc, 1994; Rhapsodic Thinking, 4 vn, 1994; Rhapsodic Delight, 2 vn, 1995; Trauerfelder, 4 perc,1995; Ice Etchings, wind nonet, 1996; Str Qt no.3,1997; Wind Qnt no. 3, 1999; Sweeney’sSmithereens, fl, pic, cl+bcl, perc, pf, vn, db, 2000; Quasi una Sarabanda, cl,bn, hn, 2 vn, va, vc, db, 2009; Clarinet Qnt, 2011Soloinst: Suite, vc, 1972; Sonata, org, 1973; The Quare Hawk, fl, 1974; Variations with Air, a sax, 1976; Hernia, db, 1978; Changes, pf, 1979; Mythologies, perc,1979; Variations on Caleno Costure, hpd, 1982; 3 Pieces, cl, 1987; 3 Pieces,gui, 1990; Irische Mikrokosmoi, pf, 1993; Ice-Etchingsno. 2, vc, 1996; Sweeney’s Total Rondo, pf, 2002; Quasi un basso, db, 2005; Inthe deep heart’s core, hp, 2011; A dark song, b cl, 2011

Tape: Balthasar’s Dream, 1980; Joycespeak, 1995; Sweeney’s Vision, 1997; Sweeney’s Last Poem, 1998; Quasi una missa, 1999 MSS in IRL-Dc
Principal publishers: Naxos . Selfhelp, Schott. Hayo Music. Edition Ferrimontana.

Bibliography KdG (A. Kreutziger-Herr) A.Klein: Die Musik Irlands im 20. Jahrhundert (Hildesheim, 1996) J. Page: ‘A Post-War “Irish” Symphony: Fran kCorcoran’s Symphony no. 2’ in Cox & Klein (eds) Irish Musical Studies 7: Irish Music in the Twentieth Century(Dublin, 2002)Gareth Cox . Different Voices: Benjamin Dwyer 2016.

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