SIMON'S PLACE | Tributes

TRIBUTES TO SIMON

Blánaid Murphy has informed us that she has arranged two tributes to Simon at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland. Blán serves as the Director of the Palestrina Choir.

Sunday, October 17, 2004
11:00 am Mass said for Simon.

Music that day:

Missa Aeterna Christi munera - Palestrina

Ave, Maris Stella - Mawby

Sing a new Song to the Lord - McCann

Blán says: "The Mawby and McCann were commissioned by the Palestrina Choir last year to celebrate its centenary.They are both wonderful pieces. I'm also going to get the boys to sing The Lord is my Shepherd set by Colin Mawby. It is a very touching setting beautifully written for boys' voices."

Palestrina Choir Boys

Greeting from Choir Boys

Monday, December 20, 2004
Händel's Messiah

This performance is dedicated to Simon. Funds raised from it go to the Barretstown children's project (this is a place set up by Paul Newman where children with cancer go for a holiday/fun break).

Our connection with Blánaid Murphy goes back to the summer of 1987 in Bayreuth, Germany. Mary and Blán met in a three-week German Song course at the Internationales Jugend Festspieltreffen. Another person Mary met that summer in Bayreuth was a tall, handsome dark-haired 20-year-old named Markus Vodosek. Over the years, we've stayed in touch with Blán. For a while, she lived in Stuttgart when we were also there. I remember a good visit with her family in London. Eventually, Blán moved to her native Ireland and has made quite a career for herself in church music. We've seen her in Karlsruhe and Oberlin on various visits. We expect she'll show up in Salt Lake City one of these days, too. Thank you, Blán, for these musical remembrances of Simon!

TRIBUTES TO SIMON

More Tributes to Simon