Vincent O'Brien (composer) facts for kids
Vincent O'Brien (born May 9, 1871, died June 21, 1948) was an important Irish musician. He was an organ player, a music teacher, and a composer. Many people remember him because he taught famous singers like John McCormack and Margaret Burke-Sheridan, and even the famous writer James Joyce, how to sing. He played a big part in Irish music in the early 1900s.
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A Life in Music
Vincent O'Brien was born in Dublin, Ireland. He was the oldest child of Richard Vincent O'Brien, who was also a church musician. Vincent first played the piano in public when he was 14 years old. Soon after, he became an organist at a church in Rathmines.
He later became the main organist and choir director at Dublin's biggest Roman Catholic Church, St Mary's Pro-Cathedral. He worked there from 1903 to 1946. In 1898, he started the Palestrina Choir, which was originally only for male singers. This choir is still active today!
Vincent studied music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. He was very good and often performed as a singer, piano player, and organist. As a church musician, he followed the ideas of the Cecilian Movement. This movement wanted church music to be simple and beautiful. He also wrote his own church songs.
He was a founding conductor for several groups, including the Dublin Oratorio Society and the Brisan Opera Company. In 1925, he became the first music director for Radio Éireann, which was Ireland's first radio station. He held this job until 1941. Vincent said that his proudest achievement was being the music director for the 31st Eucharistic Congress in Dublin in 1932. In 1945, he started Our Lady's Choral Society, a large choir that is still performing today.
Vincent O'Brien taught music at several colleges. He was a very popular vocal coach and taught many students at his home. His most famous students included the singers John McCormack and Margaret Burke Sheridan, and the writer James Joyce. Vincent even played the piano for John McCormack's first recordings. He also went on a big tour with McCormack in Australia and New Zealand in 1913–1914, playing for 60 concerts!
In 1932, the National University of Ireland gave Vincent O'Brien an honorary doctorate degree. This is a special award for his achievements.
Two of his sons also became musicians. Oliver O'Brien followed in his father's footsteps. He became an organist and director of the Palestrina Choir and Our Lady's Choral Society. Vincent's other son, Colum O'Brien, was an organist at the Pro-Cathedral.
His Music
Before he focused on the Palestrina Choir, Vincent O'Brien had many different musical interests. In 1893, he even wrote a full opera called Hester.
As a composer of church music, he wrote many hymns and other songs for choirs. He also wrote songs for a singer with piano. One of his most popular songs was The Fairy Tree (1930), which was a favorite of John McCormack.
Selected Compositions
Here are some of the types of music Vincent O'Brien composed:
Opera
- Hester (first performed in Dublin, May 1893)
Choral Music
- Oft in the Stilly Night (1904) for male choir
- An Easter Hymn (1910) for tenor, chorus, and organ or orchestra
- Hymn to Christ the King (around 1932) for tenor, mixed chorus, and organ
- The Crib (1943) for voice, chorus, and piano
Orchestral Music
- Gaelic Phantasy (around 1927)
- Ceol sreath (1940) for piano and string orchestra
- Miniature Overture (no date given)
Songs
- The Fairy Fiddler (1929)
- The Fairy Tree (1930)
- Baby Aroon (1935)
- Green Isle of Glory (1938)
Recordings
Some of Vincent O'Brien's songs were recorded by famous singers.
Older Recordings
- The Fairy Tree was recorded by John McCormack (tenor) in 1930. You can find it on the CD John McCormack: The Minstrel Boy.
- Baby Aroon was recorded by John McCormack (tenor) in 1935. It is on the CD John McCormack: I Hear You Calling Me.
Modern Recordings
- The Fairy Tree was recorded by Robert White (tenor) in 1995. It is on the CD Bird Songs at Eventide.
- The Fairy Tree was also recorded by Bernadette Greevy (mezzo) in 1998. It is on the CD A Sheaf of Songs from Ireland.
