No better city in which to hear it first.

A piece of music composed as an homage to Rory Gallagher will have its world premiere at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral Cork on Friday, May 3rd, at 7.30pm.

Anselm McDonnell’s composition, ‘Gallagher’ scooped him this year’s prestigious Seán Ó Riada prize. The competition invites submissions of new works annually from Irish composers and is held in collaboration with the Cork International Choral Festival and Chamber Choir Ireland.

McDonnell, from Belfast, collaborated with author Tim MacGhabhann on the composition, after they bonded over a mutual love of the famous guitarist during their time as resident artists at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.

The musician’s piece weaves several quotations from the musician’s work into a musical texture that plays off the rich imagery in Tim’s poems.

An Irish/Welsh composer, McDonnell has composed over 90 pieces for various ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, choirs, soloists, and electronics. The performance of ‘Gallagher’ will be part of the Cork International Choral Festival’s annual collaborative concert with choir-in-residence, Chamber Choir Ireland, led by their artistic director Paul Hillier.

“I’m looking forward to working with Chamber Choir Ireland again, as they bring such a rich sound and interpretive nuance to new compositions,” McDonnell said.

“I’m excited that the work’s premiere will be part of the Cork International Choral Festival, especially given the close link between Gallagher and Cork, his childhood home and burial place.”