Early Music Day Celebration in Waterford

Waterford Libraries and Europe Direct Waterford are delighted to partner with our Bealtaine Library Choir  led by their director Anne Woodworth to celebrate Early Music Day this year. These four beautiful pieces of music “Alleluia” by Mozart; “The Minstrel Boy”- Irish Traditional Air with words by Thomas Moore (Irish nineteenth century composer); Va pensiero – Song of the Hebrew slaves from the Opera Nabucco by Verdi; Ode to Joy (Anthem of the EU) from 9th Symphony by Beethoven were recorded in Christ Church Cathedral in Waterford City. We hope that you enjoy them as much as we did.

Early Music Day is held every year on 21st March, a day celebrating the beginning of spring, and the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach. Early Music Day is a celebration of more than a millennium of music, through concerts, events, and happenings taking place simultaneously across Europe. The Early Music Day is a focal point for the promotion of the historical musical heritage in Europe.

Early music is a central part of the cultural heritage shared by Europeans, closely connected with other artistic expressions such as dance, theatre, and architecture. It spans more than 1000 years of music, written down or transmitted by oral tradition, from the Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century.