Suantraidhe (Old Irish Lullaby)

The composer Trevor Hold (1939-2004) was born at Northampton, and read music at Nottingham University and afterwards was Head of Music at Market Harborough Grammar School, before becoming assistant lecturer in music at Aberystwyth (1963-5). Lecturer in Music at Liverpool University from 1965 to 1970, he returned to the East Midlands in 1970 as Lecturer and Staff Tutor in Music in the Department of Adult Education at the University of Leicester, later becoming Senior Lecturer. With his family he lived at Wadenhoe for more than 30 years. He became widely-known in the world of East Midlands’ music, composing for local schools and choirs, conducting, accompanying and running adult education classes. Like Britten, one of Hold’s beliefs was that the composer should be writing for the community in which he lived, and he received many local commissions. This is music that was widely enjoyed in his lifetime and is relished by both performers and audiences alike.

In 1977, Trevor Hold composed an arrangement for organ of "Suantraidhe, an old Irish lullaby, which was published by Basil Ramsey in 1977. The music, in sad and sweet key of C minor, is magical and atmospheric.

In 1980, there followed a cradle-carol for a cappella choir entitled "Hoshoro, shoro, my baby" The text was by Hold, but was inspired by the ancient Irish lullaby.

I believe that I first heard this as the vocal version, sung by the choir of Norwich Cathedral. I've never heard anyone else play the organ arrangement.

Most of this is performed on the Swell, using 3 "combinations" - the 8' Viola da Gamba alone, with added Vox Angelica 8', and with added Lieblich Gedackt 8'. The stops are added or subtracted to match and enhance the subtle dynamic changes.

The middle section has the melody pass to the tenor, and here again, the "color" of the "solo part" is subtle, keeping with the goal of maintaining the uniform texture, as if in a vocal performance.

The text of the carol as in the First Comment.