THE PILGRIM is a musical journey through the Celtic countries of Western Europe, bound together by a narrator who reveals the journey through the eyes of the 6th century Irish saint, Colm Cille. In stunning progression, players and instruments representative of the seven Celtic regions are highlighted against the backdrop of a symphony orchestra.

VISUALLY and culturally spectacular, THE PILGRIM centres round the special compositional skills of Irishman Shaun Davey who combines translations of medival Gaelic poetry with bravura performances by a range of Celtic traditional instrumental soloists and singers, epic choral songs and blockbusting pipe band and orchestra duels. THE PILGRIM, as with Shaun Davey's other concert-works, is thrilling, moving and innovative.

WITH over 300 performers on stage, THE PILGRIM is conceived equally as a community work, with potential for a large choir, orchestra and pipe band to be sourced locally. At a recent Dublin performance THE PILGRIM was chosen by the community of Blanchardstown as their millennium project and was staged in the large newly-built shopping centre.

HISTORICALLY, THE PILGRIM's journey, starting in Ireland and ending in Galicia, follows the routes of the Celtic saints, who braved the hardship and unknown perils of travel by sea and land, in the spreading of Christianity in early medieval times. Spiritually however, THE PILGRIM, focuses on individual faith and daring, and at its conclusion in Galicia mirrors the traditional pilgrimage route to Santiago da Compostella.

the Pilgrim at Lorient interceltique festival 2000

 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PILGRIM'S JOURNEY

A pilgrim prepares to embark in a frail currach; Colm Cille confronts the Druids of Scotland; the mortally wounded King Arthur is carried off the battlefield of Camlan; St. Samson rides in his chariot across Cornwall towards far-off Dol; a storm off the rock-strewn coast of Brittany; St. Manchan's monastery; Breton Dances; a solo gaitia salutes the sunrise in Galicia; conclusion with the travellers prayer for protection (St. Patrick's Breastplate) and a pilgrim's thanks as the sun sets at journey's end.

PREVIOUS PERFORMANCES

 

Rita Connolly

THE PILGRIM was originally commissioned by the Lorient Interceltic Festival in 1983 to celebrate the kinship of the Celtic people. To Date it has been performed at the festival five times with a special millennium performance in 2000. Irish performances began at the national Concert Hall, Dublin in 1984 and, at the end of 1990, THE PILGRIM was specially performed at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall to mark the passing of European City of Culture from Glasgow to Dublin. THE PILGRIM had its U.S. debut at Old St. Patrick's Cathedral, Chicago in 1999 with Frank McCourt as Narrator. At the millennium performance of the newly-revised PILGRIM at Blanchardstown, Dublin, the narrator's role was performed by oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley.

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