Patrick Cassidy (composer)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Cassidy is an Irish
classical composer
.
Largely self taught, with no formal music education, he has worked in many various formats, including TV and films. In 2004, he cowrote the album Immortal Memory
with Lisa Gerrard
from Dead Can Dance
. His aria "Vide Cor Meum
" was used in the films Hannibal
(2001) and Kingdom of Heaven
(2005).
He is best known for his Narrative Cantatas—works he has written for Orchestra and Choir based on Irish Mythology.
The Children of Lir released in September 1993 remained at number one in the Irish Classical Charts for a full year. It was the first Cantata ever written in the Irish language. The BBC later produced an hour long documentary on the piece.
Famine Remembrance, a commissioned piece to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine was premiered in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York in 1996. A recording of the piece was released the following year.
Other albums include Cruit, arrangements of 17th and 18th century Irish harp music with Cassidy as the soloist and Deirdre of the Sorrows, another Cantata in the Irish language recorded with The London Symphony Orchestra and The Tallis Choir.
In 2004, Immortal Memory was released; a collaboration between Cassidy and Lisa Gerrard who won a Golden Globe for Gladiator.
Cassidy now lives in Los Angeles where in addition to his concert work he has scored and collaborated on films and documentaries. Notable credits include Hannibal, Veronica Guerin, Confessions of a Burning Man, Salem's Lot, King Arthur, Layer Cake
, Che Guevara, Ashes and Snow, Kingdom of Heaven
, The Front Line.
The aria Cassidy wrote for Hannibal, Vide Cor Meum
, is the only piece by a living composer on Warner Classics 2006 compilation 40 Most Beautiful Arias.
In June 2007, Famine Remembrance was performed at the opening of Toronto's Ireland Park with the President of Ireland as special guest.
In 2010, "Funeral March" was used in the trailer for the Terrence Malick
film, The Tree of Life.
In 2011 Patrick recorded a new setting of the Latin Mass with The London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices.
In March, 2011 the movie 'Kill the Irishman' starring Christopher Walken
, Val Kilmer
and Ray Stevenson
was released. Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh
the score was composed by Patrick.
He now lives in LA with his family.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
classical composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
.
Largely self taught, with no formal music education, he has worked in many various formats, including TV and films. In 2004, he cowrote the album Immortal Memory
Immortal Memory (album)
Immortal Memory is an album by ex-Dead Can Dance member Lisa Gerrard and Irish classical composer Patrick Cassidy, released in 2004. It was Gerrard's first studio release since 1998's Duality with Pieter Bourke.-Overview:...
with Lisa Gerrard
Lisa Gerrard
Lisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry....
from Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance are an ethereal neoclassical duo formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1981, by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. The band relocated to London in May 1982 and disbanded in 1998. Their 1996 album Spiritchaser reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top World Music Albums Chart...
. His aria "Vide Cor Meum
Vide cor meum
"Vide Cor Meum" is a song composed by Patrick Cassidy based on Dante's "La Vita Nuova", specifically on the sonnet "A ciascun'alma presa", in chapter 3 of the "Vita Nuova".-Composition:...
" was used in the films Hannibal
Hannibal (film)
Hannibal is a 2001 psychological thriller film directed by Ridley Scott, adapted from the Thomas Harris novel of the same name. It is a sequel to the 1991 Academy Award-winning film The Silence of the Lambs that returns Anthony Hopkins to his iconic role as serial killer Hannibal Lecter...
(2001) and Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven (film)
Kingdom of Heaven is a 2005 epic action film directed by Ridley Scott and written by William Monahan. It stars Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Jeremy Irons, David Thewlis, Marton Csokas, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin McKidd, Alexander Siddig, Ghassan Massoud, Edward Norton, Jon Finch, Michael Sheen and Liam...
(2005).
Biography
Cassidy was born in Claremorris, Co. Mayo, Republic of Ireland. He received a Master's Degree in Applied Mathematics from Limerick University, and supported his early compositional activities with a day job as a statistician.He is best known for his Narrative Cantatas—works he has written for Orchestra and Choir based on Irish Mythology.
The Children of Lir released in September 1993 remained at number one in the Irish Classical Charts for a full year. It was the first Cantata ever written in the Irish language. The BBC later produced an hour long documentary on the piece.
Famine Remembrance, a commissioned piece to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine was premiered in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York in 1996. A recording of the piece was released the following year.
Other albums include Cruit, arrangements of 17th and 18th century Irish harp music with Cassidy as the soloist and Deirdre of the Sorrows, another Cantata in the Irish language recorded with The London Symphony Orchestra and The Tallis Choir.
In 2004, Immortal Memory was released; a collaboration between Cassidy and Lisa Gerrard who won a Golden Globe for Gladiator.
Cassidy now lives in Los Angeles where in addition to his concert work he has scored and collaborated on films and documentaries. Notable credits include Hannibal, Veronica Guerin, Confessions of a Burning Man, Salem's Lot, King Arthur, Layer Cake
Layer Cake
A layer cake is a pastry.Layer Cake may also refer to:* Layer Cake * Layer Cake * Layer Cake, Soviet Sloika design for nuclear-weapon test Joe 4...
, Che Guevara, Ashes and Snow, Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven
Kingdom of Heaven may refer to:* Kingdom of God, a foundational theological concept in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam* Kingdom of Heaven , a 2005 film, directed by Ridley Scott...
, The Front Line.
The aria Cassidy wrote for Hannibal, Vide Cor Meum
Vide cor meum
"Vide Cor Meum" is a song composed by Patrick Cassidy based on Dante's "La Vita Nuova", specifically on the sonnet "A ciascun'alma presa", in chapter 3 of the "Vita Nuova".-Composition:...
, is the only piece by a living composer on Warner Classics 2006 compilation 40 Most Beautiful Arias.
In June 2007, Famine Remembrance was performed at the opening of Toronto's Ireland Park with the President of Ireland as special guest.
In 2010, "Funeral March" was used in the trailer for the Terrence Malick
Terrence Malick
Terrence Frederick Malick is a U.S. film director, screenwriter, and producer. In a career spanning almost four decades, Malick has directed five feature films....
film, The Tree of Life.
In 2011 Patrick recorded a new setting of the Latin Mass with The London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices.
In March, 2011 the movie 'Kill the Irishman' starring Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken is an American stage and screen actor. He has appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows, including Joe Dirt, Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, The Prophecy trilogy, The Dogs of War, Sleepy Hollow, Brainstorm, The Dead Zone, A View to a Kill, At Close Range, King of New...
, Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer
Val Edward Kilmer is an American actor. Originally a stage actor, Kilmer became popular in the mid-1980s after a string of appearances in comedy films, starting with Top Secret! , then the cult classic Real Genius , as well as blockbuster action films, including a supporting role in Top Gun and a...
and Ray Stevenson
Ray Stevenson
Raymond Leslie "Ray" Stevenson was a writer and political activist in Canada. He was an executive member of the International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People and Associate Editor of Northstar Compass - the organization's organ publication. Stevenson wrote articles for and...
was released. Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh
Jonathan Hensleigh
Jonathan Blair Hensleigh is an American screenwriter and film director, working primarily in the action/adventure genre of films.-Early life:...
the score was composed by Patrick.
He now lives in LA with his family.
Discography
- 2004 - Immortal MemoryImmortal Memory (album)Immortal Memory is an album by ex-Dead Can Dance member Lisa Gerrard and Irish classical composer Patrick Cassidy, released in 2004. It was Gerrard's first studio release since 1998's Duality with Pieter Bourke.-Overview:...
- with Lisa GerrardLisa GerrardLisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry.... - 2006 - Ashes and Snow - with Lisa GerrardLisa GerrardLisa Gerrard is an Australian musician, singer, and composer who rose to prominence as part of the music group Dead Can Dance with former music partner Brendan Perry....
External links
- Patrick Cassidy.com - official website