Thomas Moore’s “Irish Melodies”: an afternoon of poetry & song

Thomas Moore, poet, songwriter, and close friend and biographer of Lord Byron, rose to international fame in his lifetime as the celebrated “Bard of Erin”.

As Ireland’s foremost lyricist and performer of national song in the early nineteenth century, Moore’s reputation extended from his native country to Britain and across Europe, with many of his lyrics translated into German, Polish, and French for performance.

This afternoon explores the relationship between Ireland, song, and nationalism, combining an account of Moore’s life and work with performances of selected pieces from his phenomenally successful series Irish Melodies (1808–1834), including: Oft in the Stilly Night, The Minstrel Boy, ‘Tis the Last Rose of Summer, She Is Far from the Land, and The Harp that Once.

The afternoon’s speaker will be Jane Moore, and the songs will be performed by Charles Wiffen (piano) and Catherine Chapman (mezzo-soprano).

Dr Jane Moore is Reader Emeritus in English Literature at Cardiff University.  She edited the first modern edition of Thomas Moore’s verse satires and has recently completed a book on Moore’s reputation in early nineteenth-century Irish and British culture. 

Dr Charles Wiffin (Bath Spa University) is a pianist who has performed extensively throughout the UK and internationally. He has given recitals in London’s Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room, and in Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, and his festival appearances have included the Arundel, Brighton, Bath, BBC Proms, Buckingham, Chelsea and Warwick Festivals. Charles has broadcast for BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM and has recorded several CDs for labels including Toccata Classics. He is also Head of Academic Portfolio at Bath Spa University.

Catherine Chapman is an Oxford-based mezzo-soprano. She holds a Master of Music in Performance from Bath Spa University and has performed with the BBC National Chorus of Wales, the BBC Symphony Chorus, and as part of the Cardiff Singer of the World city celebrations. She is also a regular soloist with the early music ensembles Sirinu and Galliarda. Her operatic roles include Carmen (Carmen), Third Witch (Dido and Aeneas), Cherubino (The Marriage of Figaro), Calliope (Orpheus in the Underworld), and Third Lady (The Magic Flute).

This is the third of three specially commissioned talks that explore in various ways the impact and legacy of Thomas Moore (1779-1852), Irish-born poet, songwriter, and close friend and biographer of Lord Byron. For many years, he maintained a close association with the library of Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne at Bowood House, engaging with and making use of its collections; he was also among the three poets who spoke at the inaugural banquet of the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution in January 1825. This series has been organised by Professor Jane Moore and is supported by Bath Spa University.

Please Note: Online Viewers may Experience Reduced Audio Quality for this Performance

Dr Jane Moore

Dr Charles Wiffen

Catherine Chapman