Eoghan Desmond’s <i>Amra Choluim Chille</i> : a contemporary choral setting of a sixth-century poem

Irish composer Eoghan Desmond’s cantata Amra Choluim Chille (2019) sets the blind poet Dallán Forgaill’s eulogy in praise of St Columba, which is thought to have been written after the death of the saint in ce 597. Premiered by Chamber Choir Ireland in March 2023, the work for choir, strings, harp and percussion makes a significant contribution to Irish-language choral repertoire and represents the only complete choral-orchestral setting of this text. Although the piece is solely in the Irish language and contains elements of traditional musical idioms, the music is not bound to the traditional style, instead drawing on historical and contemporary musical influences to bring Columba’s story to a modern audience. Desmond’s melodic motifs, textural and modal structures, and symbolic devices suggest a deep understanding of Dallán’s text, and the purposeful synthesis of ancient and contemporary musical styles. This article explores the key compositional techniques that bring the ancient poem to life, focusing on Desmond’s significant use of the St Columba hymn tune, traditional musical features and symbolism, as well as his combination of historical and contemporary musical processes, to convey the sacred narrative in a compelling musical manner.