Seóirse Bodley

(* Dublin 1933)

Bodley is one the most important Irish composers of the older generation and was probably, in the 1960s and 1970s, the most modern voice sounding from Ireland. He studied at University College Dublin, 1952-5 (doctorate 1959) and at the Musikhochschule Stuttgart, Germany (with Johann Nepomuk David, 1957-59). He taught music at UCD from 1959 to 1998. From three visits to the summer courses of new music at Darmstadt (1963-5) he returned to Ireland with an awareness of modern continental trends in music which resulted in many pieces of great complexity. From c. 1972 he combined these modern influences with elements from Irish traditional music, producing a highly original music of contrasts. His works from the early 1980s returns to a more simple language maintaining many qualities of his earlier styles in more subtle reflections.

 

Recorded Works:


Music for Strings (1952) str-orch
Decca (USA) DL 9843, LP (1956): Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra, Milan Horvat (cond).

 

An Speic Seoigheach (arr. 1955/56) Bar, pf
Angel ANG 65016, LP (c. 1960): Tomás Ó Súilleabháin (Bar), Kitty O'Callaghan (cond).

 

Ailliliú na Gamhna (arr. 1956) orch
RTÉ 57, LP (1980): RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Proinnsías Ó Duinn (cond).

 

I Will Walk with My Love (arr. 1956) SATB
Harmonia Mundi HMS 30691, LP (1965): RTÉ Singers, Waldemar Rosen (cond).

New Irish Recording Co. DEB 002, LP (1974): Culwick Choral Society, Eric Sweeney (cond).

 

Tá im Gan Im Gan Ór (arr. 1956) orch
Gael-Linn CEF 004, LP (c. 1960): Radio Éireann Light Orchestra, Éimear Ó Broin (cond).
Re-issued on Gael-Linn CEF 019, LP (c. 1969).

 

Iníon an Phailitínigh (The Palatine's Daughter) (arr. 1956/57) orch
Gael-Linn CEF 001, LP (1958): Radio Éireann Light Orchestra, Eimear Ó Broin (cond).
Re-issued on Gael-Linn CEF 019, LP (c. 1969); Gael-Linn CEFCD 001, CD (2009).

 

Trí Aortha (1962) satb
Excerpt: Laoi Chainte an Tombac only:
Corkfest Records 94, CD (1994): Cór Naomh Múire, Fintan O Murchu (cond).

 

Prelude, Toccata and Epilogue (1963) pf
New Irish Recording Co. NIR 001, LP (1971): Charles Lynch.

 

Chamber Symphony No. 1 (1964) ch-orch
New Irish Recording Co. NIR 012, LP (1974): New Irish Chamber Orchestra, André Prieur (cond).

RTÉ lyric fm CD 121, CD (2008): National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Robert Houlihan (cond).

 

String Quartet (1968) str-qu
New Irish Recording Co. NIR 006, LP (1973): RTÉ String Quartet.

 

A Small White Cloud Drifts over Ireland (1975) orch
RTÉ lyric fm CD 121, CD (2008): National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Robert Houlihan (cond).

 

Mass of Peace (1976) spkr, satb, org
Network Tapes NTO 55C, MC (1977): Clonliffe College Choir, Seóirse Bodley (cond).

 

The Tightrope Walker Presents a Rose (1976) pf

Métier MSV 28558, CD (2016): Dearbhla Collins.

 

The Narrow Road to the Deep North (1977) pf
Gael-Linn CEF 085, LP/MC (1980): John O'Conor.

Diatribe Solo Series DIACDSOL 001, CD (2010): Isabelle O'Connell.

 

Mass of Joy (1978) spkr, satb, fl, 2trp, org, perc
Network Tapes NTO 102C, MC (1979): (no performers mentioned).

 

Hymn to St. John of God (1978)
Network Tapes NTO 102C, MC (1979): (no performers mentioned).

 

Symphony No. 2: I Have Loved the Lands of Ireland (1980) orch
RTÉ lyric fm CD 121, CD (2008): National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Robert Houlihan (cond).

 

Symphony No. 3: Ceol (1980) spkr, S, Mez, T, Bar, satb, children's choir, orch
RTÉ 61, LP (1981): Aindreas O Gallchoir (spkr), Violet Twomey (S), Bernadette Greevy (Mez), Louis Browne (T), William Young (Bar), RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Singers and Chorus, Our Lady's Choral Society, St. Patrick's Cathedral Boy Choir, Colman Pearce (cond).

 

A Girl (1980) Mez, pf
Gael-Linn CEF 085, LP/MC (1980): Bernadette Greevy (Mez), John O'Conor (pf).

 

The Naked Flame (1987) Mez, pf
Echo Classic Digital, CD (1996): Aylish Kerrigan (Mez), Seóirse Bodley (pf).

 

Carta Irlandesa (1988) Mez, pf
Echo Classic Digital, CD (1996): Aylish Kerrigan (Mez), Seóirse Bodley (pf).

 

Symphony No. 4 (1991) orch
Marco Polo 8.225157, CD (2001): National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Colman Pearce (cond).

 

Symphony No. 5 "The Limerick Symphony" (1991) orch
Marco Polo 8.225157, CD (2001): National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Colman Pearce (cond).

 

String Quartet No. 2 (1992) str-qu
Excerpt (3rd movt.):
CMC CD02, CD (1997): Degani String Quartet.

 

By the Margin of the Great Deep (1995) Mez, pf
Echo Classic Digital, CD (1996): Aylish Kerrigan (Mez), Seóirse Bodley (pf).

 

After Great Pain (2002) Mez, pf

Métier MSV 28558, CD (2016): Aylish Kerrigan (Mez), Dearbhla Collins (pf).

 

String Quartet No. 3: Ave atque vale (2004) strqu
Excerpt (2nd movt.):
CMC CD06, CD (2006): Vogler Quartet.

 

Islands (2006) gui
Overture Music 30, CD (2009): John Feeley.

 

Remember (2011) Mez, pf

Métier MSV 28558, CD (2016): Aylish Kerrigan (Mez), Dearbhla Collins (pf).

 

Piano Trio 'Dancing in Daylight' (2014) vn, vc, pf

Métier Records msv 28556, CD (2015): The Fidelio Trio.