Galway Early Music Festival
22-24 May 2026
Festival Programme
A Measure of Time:
Celebrating 30 years of Galway Early Music Festival
Friday 22 May, 6:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
featuring Resurgam, English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE), Claire Duff (violin), Bogdan Sofei (violin) and Malcolm Proud (organ).
This programme traces musical developments in central Europe over another 30-year period - the Thirty Years' War 1618-1648. Particular reference points are provided by composers including Heinrich Schütz, Johann Schein, Tobias Michael and Andreas Hammerschmidt, who wrote specific works engaging with the notable events of these three decades, from the Bohemian Revolt through to the Peace of Prague.
Festival Launch and 30th Anniversary Celebration
Friday 22 May, 7:30pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Join us to celebrate this exciting milestone in Galway's music scene.
Vox Orbis coffee concert
Saturday 23 May, 11:00am
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
In collaboration with St. Nicholas’ Schola Cantorum, GEMF presents local artists Vox Orbis, an all-female voice choral ensemble based in Galway city, directed by Mark Keane.
Street music by Galeon Ensemble
Saturday 23 May
Throughout the festivities on Saturday, Galeon Ensemble will bring the music of the festival to the teeming streets of medieval Galway.
Medieval and renaissance dance workshop
Saturday 23 May, 1:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
All are welcome to participate in this medieval and renaissance dance workshop, in collaboration with Galway's branch of the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA), Cluain Oir. Hosted by Jacopo Bisagni and Lise Carrel-Bisagni.
Medieval crafts and skills showcase
Saturday 23 May, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
All are welcome to participate in this workshop, in collaboration with Galway's branch of the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA), Cluain Oir.
Brass band meets the Baroque:
Open workshop by English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE) with St Patrick's Brass Band
Saturday 23 May, 2:15pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
All welcome to attend this educational open workshop.
Echoes and Evolutions:
Showcase by English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE) and
St Patrick's Brass Band
Saturday 23 May, 6:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Following the education workshop that afternoon, ECSE and St Patrick's Brass Band will share the stage to present the fruits of their collaboration in concert.
Tenebrae I in Candlelight
Saturday 23 May, 9:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
Resurgam tenors Christopher Bowen and Edward Woodhouse, together with Malcolm Proud, organ, Norah O'Leary, cello, and Kristiina Watt, theorbo, present Couperin's Leçons de ténèbres.
Reverie and Revelry
Sunday 24 May, 6:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
The festival offers a platform to Galway’s new baroque instrumental ensemble Vespera under the direction of baroque violinist Claire Duff and including all four ConTempo members. To celebrate GEMF’s 30th anniversary, Vespera presents a programme of eighteenth-century music for string ensemble, with harpsichordist James Taylor, featuring:
Telemann's Ouverture, Burlesque de Quixotte, TWV 55:G10
Purcell's Sonata in 4 parts, no. 6 in G minor, Z.807
Vivaldi's Violin Concerto for two violins in A minor, op. 3/8
Corelli's Concerto Grosso no.4 in D major, op. 6
Tenebrae II in Candlelight
Sunday 24 May, 9:00pm
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church
In collaboration with Now and Then Media/H.I.P.S.T.E.R., harpsichordists Yonit Kosovske and Rachel Factor present Bach’s masterpiece The Art of Fugue in candlelight.
