Siobhán Cleary facts for kids
Siobhán Cleary was born on May 10, 1970. She is an Irish composer. Some of her most famous pieces are her orchestral works Alchemy and Cokaygne. Her choral piece Theophilus Thistle and the Myth of Miss Muffett is also very well-known. Her opera Vampirella was first performed in Dublin in March 2017. Siobhán Cleary is a member of Aosdána, which is a group of Irish artists.
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Early Life and Learning
Siobhán Cleary was born in Dublin. She started writing music when she was very young. She would often compose pieces even when she was supposed to be practicing the piano.
When she began studying music at Maynooth University, she was inspired by a piece called Sinfonia by Luciano Berio. Soon after, she found inspiration in the works of other composers. These included the Irish composer Gerald Barry, the French Olivier Messiaen, and the Hungarian György Ligeti.
She continued her studies at Queen's University Belfast and Trinity College, Dublin. She also took special courses in composing with Italian composer Franco Donatoni and Dutch composer Louis Andriessen. She even had private lessons from American composer Tom Johnson and South African composer Kevin Volans. Siobhán Cleary also learned how to write music for films. She studied this with the famous Italian composer Ennio Morricone and American composer Don Brandon Ray.
Her Compositions
Siobhán Cleary has written many different types of music. Her works often tell a story or explore an interesting idea.
Alchemy
Her orchestral work Alchemy (2001) was inspired by the old idea of alchemy. Alchemists tried to turn cheaper metals into gold. This process was described in four main stages. Cleary's music also has four parts, just like these stages.
- The first part is nigrendo, which is slow.
- Then comes albedo, which is a moderate speed.
- Next is citronatus, a strong section.
- Finally, there is rubedo, which sounds burning and intense.
The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra performed Alchemy in January 2002.
Cokaygne
Cokaygne (2009) is another orchestral piece. It was also asked for by RTÉ for the National Symphony Orchestra. This music is based on old poems and stories. These tales describe a magical land of extreme luxury and happiness.
This piece uses many different instruments in a detailed way. The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra performed it in November 2009. Vladimir Altschuler was the conductor. They performed it again in June 2016, this time with Alan Buribayev leading the orchestra.
Theophilus Thistle and the Myth of Miss Muffett
Cleary's choral work Theophilus Thistle and the Myth of Miss Muffett (2010) was written for the Cork Choral Festival. It was first performed in April 2011 by Chamber Choir Ireland. Paul Hillier directed the choir.
This piece uses many tongue twisters and unusual word combinations. These words come from different languages and places in Europe. The music travels from Italy, through Germany and Spain, and ends in Ireland. In 2013, Chamber Choir Ireland performed it twice in Dublin and Cork. This was part of Ireland's time as president of the European Union.
A music critic named Terry Blain praised the choir's "dazzlingly virtuosic performance." He called the piece "a clever and richly entertaining composition." Theophilus Thistle was also performed in the United States in the same year.
Vampirella
The chamber opera Vampirella has a story written by Katy Hayes. Students from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and the Lir National Academy of Dramatic Art first performed it. This happened at Dublin's Smock Alley Theatre in March 2017.
Michael Dervan, a writer for The Irish Times, thought the electronic sounds in the music were very effective. He wrote that it might be "a genuinely electronic opera trying to break out of a more conventional mold."
Awards and Recognition
Siobhán Cleary has received several awards for her music.
- In 1996, she won a young artists award from Pépinières européennes pour jeunes artistes.
- In 1997, she won first prize in the Arklow Music Festival Composers' Competition.
- In 2008, she was invited to join Aosdána. This is an important Irish group for creative artists.
