Mark Duley 'Goldberg Variations'

About this event

Mark Duley was born in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, and studied at Auckland University, the North German Organ Academy and Amsterdam's Sweelinck Conservatorium, where he was an organ pupil of Jacques van Oortmerssen.

Mark came to Ireland in 1992 and has held several major posts in the country, including organist and director of music at Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, chorusmaster to the RTÉ Philharmonic Choir and artistic director of the Irish Baroque Orchestra. As conductor and organist he has appeared with most of the major Irish ensembles, including RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the National Chamber Choir, the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Opera Theatre Company, Orchestra of St Cecilia, and his own chamber choir Resurgam. He has performed at many of Ireland's premiere festivals, including the Wexford Opera Festival, the Cork International Choral Festival, the Kilkenny Arts Festival, the East Cork Early Music Festival and the Killaloe Chamber Music Festival. He has given organ recitals in all the major Irish venues as well as in the UK and his native New Zealand.

Mark is one of Ireland's most well-known choral specialists, and has led workshops and masterclasses for choirs and conductors in Ireland, the UK, and continental Europe. Aside from a busy freelance career, Mark holds the posts of Pipeworks artistic director, organist of the Collegiate Church of St Nicholas, Galway, founder-director of St Nicholas Schola Cantorum, and artistic director of Resurgam.

First published in 1741, and written for the two-keyboard harpsichord, the Goldberg Variations are considered to be the most important example of variation form, and one of the most iconic pieces of music ever composed.

The work comprises an opening aria, and 30 short variations -or improvisations- that are linked via the bass line and chord progression. It's a work that has been transcribed for every possible solo instrument and ensemble, including piano, guitars, synthesizer, string trio and even saxophone quartet! (as performed at Kilkenny Arts Festival 2015). It's also a work that has captivated musicians for more than 250 years, and shows no sign of loosening it's grip on the current or future generations of classical or jazz players.

This event is presented in association with St. Nicholas' Schola Cantorum.