Patrick Cassidy (composer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cavaliere Patrick Cassidy
Born	Claremorris, County Mayo, Ireland
Alma mater	University of Limerick
Occupation	Composer
Notable work	Vide Cor Meum
Honours	Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d’Italia (knight of the Order of the Star of Italy)

Patrick Cassidy is a well-known Irish composer. He writes music for orchestras, choirs, and film scores. He is famous for creating powerful and moving pieces, often inspired by Irish stories and history.

Early Life and Learning Music

Patrick Cassidy was born in Claremorris, a town in County Mayo, Ireland. He went to the University of Limerick and earned a degree in applied mathematics in 1985. Before becoming a full-time composer, he worked as a statistician and technology analyst to support his music writing.

His Amazing Music

Patrick Cassidy is especially known for his narrative cantatas. These are like musical stories performed by an orchestra and choir, often based on old Irish myths. One of his most famous pieces is the song ‘Vide Cor Meum’. He wrote it for the movie Hannibal, which was directed by Ridley Scott and starred Anthony Hopkins. The words for this song came from a very old poem by Dante.

His work The Children of Lir was released in September 1993. It was a huge hit, staying at number one on the Irish classical music charts for a whole year! This was also the first cantata ever written in the Irish language. The BBC even made a special hour-long TV show about it.

Another important piece is Famine Remembrance. Patrick wrote this music to remember the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine. It was first performed in New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1996. In 2007, it was played again at the opening of Ireland Park in Toronto, with the President of Ireland attending as a special guest.

Patrick has also released other albums. Cruit features his own arrangements of Irish harp music from the 1600s and 1700s, with him playing the harp. Deirdre of the Sorrows is another cantata in the Irish language. He recorded it with the famous London Symphony Orchestra and the Tallis Choir. In 2004, he worked with singer Lisa Gerrard to release the album Immortal Memory.

Today, Patrick Cassidy spends his time between Los Angeles and Ireland. Besides his concert music, he also writes music for movies and documentaries. He is related to the singer Sibéal Ní Chasaide, who sang his song Mise Eire at the official event remembering the 1916 Rising.

In 2021, Patrick Cassidy's song Proclamation was played at the inauguration of Joe Biden in Washington D.C. This was a very special moment for his music.

Awards and Recognitions

Patrick Cassidy has received several important honours:

• He is a knight of the Order of the Star of Italy. This special award was given to him by the President of Italy, and he received the title of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia.
• In 2007, the University of Limerick gave him the Outstanding Contribution to Culture/Arts Alumni Award.
• In 2022, a road in his hometown of Claremorris, County Mayo, was renamed Patrick Cassidy Road to honour his achievements. This decision was made after people sent in their suggestions.

Music for Movies and TV

Patrick Cassidy has composed music for many films and TV shows. Here are some of them:

• Hannibal (2001)
• Veronica Guerin (2003)
• Confessions of a Burning Man (2003)
• Salem's Lot (2004)
• King Arthur (2004)
• Layer Cake (2004)
• Che Guevara (2005)
• Ashes and Snow (2005)
• Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
• The Front Line (2006)
• Breaking the Ice (2007)
• Edgar Allen Poe's Ligeia (2008)
• Kill the Irishman (2011)
• In 2010, his piece Funeral March was used in the trailer for the movie The Tree of Life.
• In 2011, he recorded a new version of the Latin mass with the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices.

His Albums

Here is a list of albums released by Patrick Cassidy:

• 1998: Cruit
• 1993: The Children of Lir (with the London Symphony Orchestra and Tallis Chamber Choir)
• 1997: Famine Remembrance
• 1998: Deirdre of the Sorrows
• 2004: Immortal Memory – with Lisa Gerrard
• 2006: Ashes and Snow – with Lisa Gerrard
• 2014: Calvary
• 2016: 1916: The Irish Rebellion
• 2019: The Mass
• 2021: The Mass - Organ and Choir