Rutter gives a master class

THE musician dubbed “the world’s greatest living composer and conductor of choral music” travelled to Ireland over the weekend to premiere the piece he wrote specially for his 80-year-old Cork penfriend.

John Milford Rutter also came here on the invitation of the Carrigaline singers to give a masterclass to 550 singers from 53 choirs across Ireland at the North Cathedral in Cork.

Among the class was his long-term penfriend Elizabeth Goody who, along with her husband, were famous buskers in Cork city.

Mrs Goody recently celebrated her 80th birthday and, as a gift, Mr Rutter composed A Gift of Music, which was given its Irish premiere at the North Cathedral.

The singers at his masterclass were also given the honour of being the first group in Ireland to sing his composition Ave Maria.

Mary Malone, secretary of the Carrigaline Singers, said those present were given insights in how best to deliver some of the world’s most renowned choral masterpieces.

Among those present was 95-year-old Mary Shepherd. She was in the first choir that allowed women to sing in the cathedral, though, according to Ms Malone, the men then made the women leave a few weeks later.

“It is very hard to describe the atmosphere during the masterclasses, the sound as everyone was singing,” said Ms Malone. “It was fantastic, the sun was shining through the window of the back of the cathedral while we were performing. There were people in tears in the church.”

In order to give the choral master a taste of Irish tradition, the choirs performed the responses at a special Mass on Saturday night in Irish.