Robert O'Dwyer facts for kids

Robert O'Dwyer (in Irish: Riobárd Ó Duibhir) was an Irish composer. He lived from 1862 to 1949. He is famous for writing one of the very first operas in the Irish language.

Robert O'Dwyer's Life Story

Robert O'Dwyer was born in Bristol, England. His parents were Irish. He learned music privately from a young age. From 1872 to 1891, he sang in a choir. He also helped play the organ in a church.

Robert loved opera. In 1889, he became the leader (conductor) of a local opera group. This group was made of people who loved music but were not professionals. Later, he conducted bigger opera companies. These included the Carl Rosa Opera Society (1891–1897) and the Arthur Rousby Opera Company (1892–1896). He traveled all over Britain and Ireland with these groups.

In 1897, he moved to Dublin, Ireland. He worked as an organist in churches there. From 1899, he taught music at the Royal University of Ireland. In 1901, he started leading the choir for the Gaelic League. The Gaelic League worked to keep Irish culture and language alive. For them, he arranged many Irish traditional music songs. He also wrote articles for The Leader newspaper. These articles showed his strong Irish nationalist feelings.

In 1909, O'Dwyer finished his most important work. It was a three-act opera called Eithne. Because of this opera, he became a Professor of Irish Music. He taught at University College Dublin from 1914 to 1939. He wrote other musical pieces later, including a second opera. But none of them became as famous as Eithne. Robert O'Dwyer passed away in Dublin.

Robert O'Dwyer's Music

O'Dwyer is best known for his opera Eithne (1909). This was one of the first full operas written completely in the Irish language. Another opera, Muirgheis (1903) by Thomas O'Brien Butler, came earlier. However, Muirgheis was first performed in English. Eithne was performed in Irish from the start.

A small part of Eithne was performed in 1909. The first full performance happened in Dublin. It was at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin on May 16, 1910. In 2017, a concert version of Eithne was performed. This was at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra played, and famous singers performed.

At that time, many Irish artists used "Celticism" in their work. This meant using old Irish stories and traditions. It helped people feel proud of their Irish identity. This was important during the fight for Irish independence. Eithne is considered a very good example of this kind of work. Many people think it should be performed again today.

Because O'Dwyer also worked in church music, he wrote religious pieces. These include Benediction Music (around 1924). He also helped edit Dánta Dé (1928). This was a collection of religious songs in Irish. His second opera was a one-act play called Cleopatra (1929). It was not very successful. He also wrote many choral works. These were mostly arrangements of folk songs.

Selected Works by Robert O'Dwyer

Operas

• Eithne (1909): A romantic Irish opera with 3 acts. It was first performed in Dublin in 1910.
• Cleopatra (1929): A 1-act opera.

Instrumental Music

• Overture in D major (1900): For orchestra.
• Three Old Irish Melodies (1917): For violin and piano.
• Rêverie à l'orgue (no date): For organ.

Choral Music

• Duan na Saoirse (1902): For mixed choir (SATB).
• Péarla an Bhrollaigh Bháin (1902): For mixed choir (SATB).
• Seaghán Ó Duibhir an Ghleanna (1902): For mixed choir (SATB).
• Siubhail a Gradh (1904): For 3 equal female voices.
• Slán le Máigh (1904): For mixed choir (SATB).
• Irish Lullaby (1913): For female voices (SSA) and piano.
• Benediction Music in A flat (around 1924): For mixed choir (SATB) and organ.
• Three religious pieces (around 1924): For mixed choir (SATB), found in Dánta Dé (1928).

Songs

• An Arab Love Song (1905)
• Thoughts (1912)
• Sé ubhla as Ubhla de'n chraoibh (1926)