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about
The Phoenix (Corcoran/McGann)....originally composed in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, yours truly, barely two years back in Ireland after 20 years of life in NY, my 'home from home' where I mingled, associated and befriended many of the members of New York's Police and Fire Dept. I knew several Firemen and Police Officers who perished.
Art McGann and I have collaborated many times - initially in the Jamie Stone-age, and continued that collaboration throughout my US sojourn (one of our collaborations The Rose of Saigon, recorded by Danny Doyle (RIP) - a tribute to the Irish connection to the Vietnam War and was embraced by many Veterans of the conflict). We wrote The Phoenix as we do all our collaborations in tandem with shared emotions of the event/subject matter. Art, a master of words, has constructed a work of beauty in response to my emotive melody. The song saw several iterations over its 20 years in existence...and last November, in anticipation of the 20th Anniversary this year, I revisited the song and felt it had Choral
potential....
Ciaran Kelly (Ardu Artistic Director) and I established a working relationship, he dressed the song in these beautiful choral clothes and the rest is.......
The World Premiere recently, performed as part of MusicTown 2021 Festival featuring Ardú and members of The Palestrina Choir, is the first step in the journey for The Phoenix, with obvious connections to Commemorations in September. The song encapsulates the images of a tragic day, September 11 2001 including ‘images’ of Fr. Mychal Judge ofm, Chaplin to FDNY and son of immigrants from Leitrim, while celebrating the resilient nature of mankind, and in particular America at this time.
The lyric echoes the words of Emma Lazarus on the plaque of the Statue of Liberty...”Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses’. The
music reflects the spirit of strength and defiance of the aftermath rather than the shock of the day – hence the title 'The Phoenix' . Ciarán Kelly's beautiful arrangement captures the essence of our endeavours.
lyrics
The Phoenix
(Corcoran/McGann)
Can you hear a heart stop?
Listen to the tear drop
Echoing in each and every land
Pictures in the water
Images of slaughter
Issued by a petrifying death-defying hand
Hearts are stirred and shaken
Friendships will awaken
Fellow feeling teeming to the shore
Raise the lantern in the harbour
Light the Golden Door
Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
Meeting eagles soaring in the sky
We will resurrect with honour
Put our faith upon her
She will raise the lantern high
First one from the pyre
Elevated friar
Priest to every colour every creed
May this moments sorrow
Strengthen us tomorrow
Help us find the inspiration every nation needs
Melting pot emotion
Deeper than the ocean
Fortitude and valour to the fore
Raise the lantern in the harbour
Light the Golden Door
Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
Meeting eagles soaring in the sky
We will resurrect with honour
Put our faith upon her
She will raise the lantern high
credits
released August 13, 2021
The Phoenix
by Carl Corcoran/Art McGann. Arrangement by Ciarán Kelly
Performed by Ardú
Ciarán Kelly, Leanne Fitzgerald, Victoria Warwick, Filip Klubička, Adam Hannon, Laura Shields
Produced by Ciarán Kelly/Carl Corcoran
Mixed by Dave McCune
Ardú is an award-winning ensemble and a pioneer of contemporary vocal music in Ireland. Ardú regularly performs at high
profile festivals in Ireland such as the City of Derry International Choir Festival (2020), MusicTown Festival (2020), K Fest (2019) and the Cork International Choral Festival (2018). Ardú have also toured in London, Edinburgh, Finland, Croatia, Austria and Italy....more
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