Seóirse Bodley
Encyclopedia
Seóirse Bodley is an Irish
composer
and former associate professor of music at University College Dublin
(UCD). He has been Saoi
of Aosdána
since 2008.
. In 1955, he obtained a Bachelor of Music
degree from UCD. From 1957 to 1959, he studied composition and conducting at the Musikhochschule
, Stuttgart
, and a year later obtained a Doctorate
in Music from UCD. From 1959 until his retirement in 1998, Bodley lectured at the university's music department. During the 1960s
, Bodley was conductor of the Culwick Choral Society. In 1982, he became a founder-member of Aosdána
and was conferred with the distinction of Saoi
by President Mary McAleese
in November 2008.
. Among his subsequent works are seven symphonies, five for full orchestra and two for chamber ensemble. He has also composed a wide range of instrumental and vocal music, including an orchestral piece A Small White Cloud Drifts over Ireland (1975), A Girl, a setting for mezzo soprano and piano
of poems by Brendan Kennelly
(1978), and four string quartets, the most recent composed in 2007.
Bodley's early compositional style was influenced by Irish traditional music. In the 1960s, following several years at the Darmstadt New Music Summer School
, Bodley's music became more avant-garde
. For the remainder of the decade, he was, according to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
"the principal Irish exponent of post-serial compositional procedures". In more recent years, Bodley's compositions have reflected both Gaelic
and European influences. Examples of his mature style can be found in Phantasms (1989), a 20-minute chamber piece for flute
, clarinet
, harp
, and cello
, and his String Quartet No. 2 (1992).
Probably Bodley's most widely heard work is his orchestral arrangement of the traditional Irish tune, "The Palatine's Daughter", which was used as the theme music for RTE
's rural drama series, The Riordans
. He also wrote the music for the RTÉ television series Caught in a Free State
.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and former associate professor of music at University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
(UCD). He has been Saoi
Saoi
Saoi , is the highest honour that members of Aosdána, an association of people in Ireland who have achieved distinction in the arts, can bestow upon a fellow member...
of Aosdána
Aosdána
Aosdána is an Irish association of Artists. It was created in 1981 on the initiative of a group of writers and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Membership, which is by invitation from current members, is limited to 250 individuals; before 2005 it was limited to 200...
since 2008.
Biography
Bodley was born in Dublin and studied at the Royal Irish Academy of MusicRoyal Irish Academy of Music
The Royal Irish Academy of Music is a linked college of Dublin City University located in Dublin, Ireland.It was founded in 1848 by a group of music enthusiasts and moved to its present address in Westland Row in 1871. The following year it was granted the right to use the title "Royal"...
. In 1955, he obtained a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
degree from UCD. From 1957 to 1959, he studied composition and conducting at the Musikhochschule
State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart
The State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart is a professional school for musicians and performing artists in Stuttgart, Germany...
, Stuttgart
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
, and a year later obtained a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Music from UCD. From 1959 until his retirement in 1998, Bodley lectured at the university's music department. During the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
, Bodley was conductor of the Culwick Choral Society. In 1982, he became a founder-member of Aosdána
Aosdána
Aosdána is an Irish association of Artists. It was created in 1981 on the initiative of a group of writers and with support from the Arts Council of Ireland. Membership, which is by invitation from current members, is limited to 250 individuals; before 2005 it was limited to 200...
and was conferred with the distinction of Saoi
Saoi
Saoi , is the highest honour that members of Aosdána, an association of people in Ireland who have achieved distinction in the arts, can bestow upon a fellow member...
by President Mary McAleese
Mary McAleese
Mary Patricia McAleese served as the eighth President of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was the second female president and was first elected in 1997 succeeding Mary Robinson, making McAleese the world's first woman to succeed another as president. She was re-elected unopposed for a second term in...
in November 2008.
Music
Bodley's first significant composition was his Music for Strings, given its première on December 10 1952 by the Dublin Orchestral Players under the baton of Brian BoydellBrian Boydell
Brian Boydell was an Irish composer whose works include orchestral pieces, chamber music, and songs. He was professor of music at Trinity College, Dublin for 20 years, founder of the Dowland Consort, conductor of the Dublin Orchestral Players, and a prolific broadcaster and writer on musical...
. Among his subsequent works are seven symphonies, five for full orchestra and two for chamber ensemble. He has also composed a wide range of instrumental and vocal music, including an orchestral piece A Small White Cloud Drifts over Ireland (1975), A Girl, a setting for mezzo soprano and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
of poems by Brendan Kennelly
Brendan Kennelly
Brendan Kennelly is a popular Irish poet and novelist. He was Professor of Modern Literature at Trinity College Dublin until 2005. He is now retired and occasionally tours the USA as university lecturer.-Early life:...
(1978), and four string quartets, the most recent composed in 2007.
Bodley's early compositional style was influenced by Irish traditional music. In the 1960s, following several years at the Darmstadt New Music Summer School
Darmstadt New Music Summer School
Initiated in 1946 by Wolfgang Steinecke, the Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik, Darmstadt , held annually until 1970 and subsequently every two years, encompass both the teaching of composition and interpretation and include premières of new works...
, Bodley's music became more avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
. For the remainder of the decade, he was, according to the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
"the principal Irish exponent of post-serial compositional procedures". In more recent years, Bodley's compositions have reflected both Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
and European influences. Examples of his mature style can be found in Phantasms (1989), a 20-minute chamber piece for flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
, harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
, and cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, and his String Quartet No. 2 (1992).
Probably Bodley's most widely heard work is his orchestral arrangement of the traditional Irish tune, "The Palatine's Daughter", which was used as the theme music for RTE
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
's rural drama series, The Riordans
The Riordans
The Riordans was the second Irish soap opera made by Raidio Telefís Éireann . It ran from 1965 to 1979 and was set in the fictional townland of Leestown in County Kilkenny...
. He also wrote the music for the RTÉ television series Caught in a Free State
Caught in a Free State
Caught in a Free State was a dramatised television series made by RTÉ in 1983. This four-part series was about German spies in neutral Ireland during World War II, known in Ireland as "The Emergency".-Production:...
.