Great Women

Great Women – programme Note

This piece titled Great Women,  is a celebration of the strong, remarkable Irish women who have helped shape the social and political landscape by their striving for equality and liberation. Among those whose words are set are pioneering patriots such as Countess Markievicz and Rosie Hackett, alongside such equally inspiring contemporary figures as our former women Presidents; Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese, whose extracts from the inaugural speeches are imbedded in the textures of the electronics parts and echoed in the live vocal part.

The fixed tape part is a synthesis of some readings from Markievicz’ letters from the book Markievicz – Prison Letters & Rebel Writings, edited by LindieNaughton and the passages from the accounts of activities before the 1916 Rising by Rosie Hackett. 

The renowned Soprano, Elizabeth Hilliard’s voice, for whom this work was especially written is interpolated in the textures and forms various layers of material to create the backdrop which supports all the live vocal material.

My grateful thanks to Elizabeth to whom I dedicate this work.

Gráinne Mulvey 2021.