“In the composition I have incorporated Celtic carols into the musical fabric of the composition with a children's choir and full orchestra. The piece is one movement and nine minutes in length,” Barker said.
This year, Nollaig will be played by the St. Louis Orchestra, conducted by Scott Parkman, with two performances on Saturday, Dec. 22, and one on Sunday, Dec. 23. Barker is flying out to St. Louis for the occasion. “What I really enjoy is meeting the children--they are so excited and delighted to be taking part in the performance,” she said.
Nollaig premiered with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra at the Hampton (Va.) Coliseum with an audience of approximately 10,000. “I wrote music for a piper for that performance and an Irish dancer also took part,” Barker said. “In other performances, some members of the children's choir also have danced.”
Nollaig has been performed nine times by the Virginia Symphony, three times by the New Jersey Symphony and twice in Fort Collins, Colo. Performances have been taped and broadcast, as well.
A native of Scotland, Barker is an associate professor of music theory/composition at UD. A graduate of the University of Glasgow, she was a William Penn Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received master's and doctoral degrees in composition and also two master's degrees in piano performance and composition from Syracuse University. She has received numerous commissions and her works have been performed worldwide to critical acclaim.
Photo by Kathy Atkinson