Ó Riada Mass for a wedding/music for mass in Irish

Dostoevsky

Does anybody know anything about the Ó Riada Mass?

We're having our mass in Irish and when we said this to a prospective singer she asked are we doing the [Seán] Ó Riada Mass. Neither of us had heard of this but a google later and it's quite well known. It's from Ó Riada's mass that the music from Ag Críost an Síol comes, for instance. Anyway, I've never heard the entire Ó Riada Mass. Has anybody been at mass where all of the Ó Riada Mass was performed? What did you think of it? What was the general view of it?

Listening to clips of the Ó Riada Mass on Amazon - Ceol An Aifrinn - it might need an unusual degree of participation by the congregation. I'd be one of those people who isn't mad about contributing at mass. Unlike those clips, we won't have a choir at the wedding. Would it be just as successful if we didn't put an obligation to sing on the congregation and just let the singer do that, or would that defeat the purpose of this Mass? At present, we're planning on a singer and a quartet who can play Ó Cearbhalláin and other traditional music in the church.

Any ideas or suggestions for wedding music would be much appreciated. Initially we were going to focus on Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin pieces and the like, but now we're not sure what would be the best.

* I see from this search that the Louth Contemporary Music Society are presenting a retake on the Ó Riada Mass on Saturday 10 March 2012 in the Church of Ireland/Green Church in Dundalk, with, among others, Iarla Ó Lionáird singing and Zoë Conway on fiddle so I'll head up and see what that's like.

ballsymchugh

hiya,
we used to do the o'riada mass in irish college years back.
to be honest, i wouldn't put it down for a wedding. it's slow, some of it minor key (which doesn't lend itself to happy occasions).
if you want to get a copy of it, this crowd may be able to help.
http://www.colaistenabhfiann.ie/?lang=en

actually, you could ask them what they use nowadays (if they still do the mass at their courses) as the music became a little bit livelier/cheery in the last couple of years i was on their courses.

neemish

what parts of the Mass are you hoping to have music for? Will have a look tomorrow and see what might be good. And are you hoping for more Irish traditional or classical? O'Carolan is beautiful - have a listen to Planxty Irwin, Eleanor Plunkett and O'Carolan's Concerto for starterd.

TheDriver

I concur, its very sombre music which isnt great wedding music. However there are some parts which are uplifting and of course the Ar N'Athair etc which everyone knows

Denisocal

Dostoevsky wrote: »

Does anybody know anything about the Ó Riada Mass?

We're having our mass in Irish and when we said this to a prospective singer she asked are we doing the [Seán] Ó Riada Mass. Neither of us had heard of this but a google later and it's quite well known. It's from Ó Riada's mass that the music from Ag Críost an Síol comes, for instance. Anyway, I've never heard the entire Ó Riada Mass. Has anybody been at mass where all of the Ó Riada Mass was performed? What did you think of it? What was the general view of it?

Listening to clips of the Ó Riada Mass on Amazon - Ceol An Aifrinn - it might need an unusual degree of participation by the congregation. I'd be one of those people who isn't mad about contributing at mass. Unlike those clips, we won't have a choir at the wedding. Would it be just as successful if we didn't put an obligation to sing on the congregation and just let the singer do that, or would that defeat the purpose of this Mass? At present, we're planning on a singer and a quartet who can play Ó Cearbhalláin and other traditional music in the church.

Any ideas or suggestions for wedding music would be much appreciated. Initially we were going to focus on Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin pieces and the like, but now we're not sure what would be the best.

* I see from this search that the Louth Contemporary Music Society are presenting a retake on the Ó Riada Mass on Saturday 10 March 2012 in the Church of Ireland/Green Church in Dundalk, with, among others, Iarla Ó Lionáird singing and Zoë Conway on fiddle so I'll head up and see what that's like.

It is probably too late to be responding, but yes, some of the Ó Riada pieces are a little too... sombre, but there are other more joyful ones like Beannaigh Sinn A Athair, Réir Dé and Is Beannaithe Tigh Dé.

Being from close to Cúil Aodha, I know a fair bit about the Riadas and the mass. I know that they would sing or play different songs for occasions like wedding, such as Tabhair Dom Do Lámh. If I were you, I would go to Peadar Ó Riada's website, get his email address and contact him. He would be extremely helpful with regard to this kind of thing.

You said that you/the congregation wouldn't want to participate in this way in the mass, which is completely understandable. In this case, I think you can get the choir or a portion of them to sing/play for you! You should get in contact with Cathal Ó Riada for this. He lives in Cúil Aodha too. Just write him a letter at:
Cathal Ó Riada,
Cúil Aodha,
Co. Chorcaí

byhookorbycrook

I'd use the "ag Críost an Síol" and "Ár n-Athair" as many people would know them. The "Molaise" mass by Liam Lawton would be more up-beat for a wedding.

http://www.liamlawton.com/album-covers/liam-lawton-discography.html