Daniel McNulty facts for kids

Daniel ("Dal") McNulty (born June 20, 1920 – died October 21, 1996) was a talented Irish composer. He was especially known for creating beautiful and inspiring music for churches.

About Daniel McNulty's Life

Daniel McNulty was born in Dublin, Ireland. When he was just four years old, an accident caused him to lose his eyesight. Despite this, he went on to achieve great things in music.

He attended St. Mary's School for the Blind. Later, he studied at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. In 1944, he earned a Bachelor of Music degree from University College Dublin.

From 1939, McNulty worked as the organist and choirmaster at St. John's Augustinian Church in Dublin. There, he started a boys' choir called the Austin Singers. In 1967, he also became the organist at the new Church of the Holy Spirit in Ballyroan.

He also became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists in London in 1942. This was a very important achievement for organ players. His organ concerts were often played on the radio by RTÉ and Vatican Radio.

Daniel McNulty was also famous for his sacred choral music. This is music written for choirs to sing in church. His music often mixed traditional Irish folk songs with church music. Because of his amazing work, Pope John Paul II made him a knight in the Order of St. Gregory in 1984. Daniel McNulty passed away in Dublin.

Daniel McNulty's Music

McNulty's music can be divided into three main periods. First, he wrote sacred choral works, which are pieces for church choirs. Then, he focused mostly on music for orchestras and other instruments. Finally, he returned to writing sacred choral music again.

His most famous works are five masses. A mass is a type of musical composition often used in church services. The first of these masses, written in 1968, marked his return to writing church music. These masses are still sung in some Roman Catholic churches in the Republic of Ireland during Sunday services.

During his middle period, McNulty wrote many different kinds of music. These included:

• Divertimento (for orchestra)
• Three sinfoniettas (smaller symphonies)
  • No. 1: The Four Provinces (1957)
  • No. 2: The Shamrock (1958)
  • No. 3 (1965)
• Two piano concertinos (smaller concertos for piano and orchestra, both from 1964)
• Captain Thompson's Exploits (for piano and orchestra)
• Arrangements of traditional Irish music
• Pieces for solo piano
• Songs