First Miscellany of 2013

James Joyce (Feb 2 1882- January 13th 1941) and John McCormack (June 14th 1884-September 16th 1945) were two iconic Irishmen, born within two years of one another and destined for fame in literature and music respectively.  Strangely, their worlds intertwined and were linked to the building in which the Teachers Club is now situated.  This talk will look at how they met and how the music of McCormack influenced the writings of Joyce.

The Palestrina choir, St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Dublin, came into existence on January 1st 1903 with Vincent O’ Brien of 37, Parnell Square (now one of the buildings which houses the Teacher’s Club) as its first musical director. John McCormack, having finished his secondary schooling in Summerhill College Sligo, came from his home in Athlone to successfully  audition for the choir. Vincent O’Brien became McCormack’s music teacher and prepared John for the Feis Ceoil of 1903. McCormack won the gold medal as a tenor. James Joyce, an accomplished singer himself, was in the audience. It’s not known if they met on that occasion but by the following year they had made each other’s acquaintance and McCormack’s success helped persuade Joyce to enter the Feis Ceoil of 1904.

Joyce took singing lessons from Vincent O’Brien in the spring of 1904 but he didn’t win gold in the Feis in May. McCormack and Joyce shared a concert platform on 27th August 1904 in the Antient Concert Rooms and both received complimentary reviews in the press. Thus began their relationship.  At this talk you will hear some of the songs sung by McCormack and see how the same songs are woven into the works of Joyce. You will also hear how their lives, though very different, had quite a few similarities and how they maintained their relationship over time.

This talk will be presented by Mick and Eithne Shanley in the Teachers Club on Tues Jan 29^th at 11.30.  You are cordially invited to come along and to be entertained.  We hope to see many of you there.  There will be a hot meal served after the presentation.