Fintan O'Carroll facts for kids

Fintan Patrick O'Carroll was a talented Irish composer. A composer is someone who writes music. He was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1922. Later, his family moved to Waterford, where he lived for the rest of his life. He passed away in 1981.

Fintan Patrick O'Carroll: A Life in Music

His Early Life and Home

Fintan Patrick O'Carroll was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1922. His full name in Irish was Fiontán Padraig Ó Cearbhaill. His family later moved to Waterford. This city became his home for the rest of his life. He died in 1981.

Composing for the Church

Fintan Patrick O'Carroll mostly wrote church music. This is music created for religious services. He composed for the Roman Catholic Church. He is most famous for a piece called "Celtic Alleluia." An "Alleluia" is a joyful song of praise. Another composer, Christopher Walker, later changed and arranged this piece. It was also published with words in other languages, like Swedish and French.

One of his other important works was the Gloria from his "Mass of the Annunciation." A "Mass" is a special musical setting for a church service. This Gloria was included in a book called A historical anthology of Irish church music in 2001. It also came with a recording. His collections of masses were updated and published again in 2012. These new versions were made to fit the updated Roman Missal. The Roman Missal is a book of prayers and instructions for Catholic Mass.

Famous Musical Works

Fintan Patrick O'Carroll wrote many pieces. Here are some of his major works:

• Mass of the Immaculate Conception: This was a musical setting for a Catholic Mass.
• Responsorial psalms: He wrote music for psalms, which are religious songs or poems. These were for Sundays and important feast days throughout the church year.
• Aifreann in onóir Muire, Máthair Dé: This means "Mass in honor of Mary, Mother of God" in Irish. It was published for both the church congregation and choirs.
• Celtic alleluia: This famous piece was written for different groups. It included a choir with four parts (SATB), a high singing part called a descant, the people attending church (assembly), and instruments like the organ, guitar, and trumpet or clarinet.