Seán Doherty [b. 1987]
Varsouviana: Variations on ‘Shoe the Donkey’ [2024]

Commissioned by Lidia Jewłoszewicz-Clarke
Performed by the Banbha Quartet
Lidia Jewłoszewicz-Clarke, violin
Maria Ryan, violin
Séamus Hickey, viola
Aoife Burke, cello
Triskel Christchurch, Cork, 23rd November 2024

Inspired by the mix of Irish and Polish musicians in the Banbha Quartet, Seán’s latest string quartet celebrates the Mazurka, originally a Polish folk dance, made famous by Chopin’s piano works and also incorporated into the Donegal fiddle tradition

The Mazurka is a dance shared by the folk-music traditions of Poland and Ireland. ‘Shoe the Donkey’ is a popular mazurka in the Irish tradition, and is also known as the varsouviana, meaning ‘from Warsaw’, a testament to its Polish origins. This tune plays an important role in Tennessee Williams’s play A Streetcar Named Desire (1947). Blanche DuBois is haunted by a tragic memory from when she was young and newly married. She catches her husband in flagrante delicto with another man. She confronts him about his lover while dancing the varsouviana. He runs outside, puts a revolver in his mouth, and fires. The varsouviana is Blanche’s mind music in the play, heard by her alone. She is tormented by the tune until the sound of a gunshot silences her thoughts. This piece is a set of variations on this simple and innocent tune that maps Blanche’s descent into madness. Seán Doherty

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Seán Doherty is an award-winning composer from Ireland whose captivating compositions are fast becoming a favourite of choirs worldwide. His music has a deep connection to the text, often with strong moral and social themes. Seán’s work has been described as ‘unfailingly gripping’ (Irish Times) and music of ‘power, subtlety and richness’ (Josep Vila i Casañas: World Youth Choir).

When young he was first introduced to music through the Irish fiddle tradition of his hometown of Derry. As a teenager, singing in a performance of Duruflé’s Requiem inspired him to begin composing. He went on to read music at St John’s College, Cambridge, after which he completed a PhD in musicology at Trinity College, Dublin. Seán compositions draw inspiration from a wide variety of musical influences, from arcane medieval techniques to electronic dance music.

Seán’s choral works have been performed by choirs including the Stellenbosch University Choir, the National Youth Choir of Scotland, Ex Cathedra, the Choir of Clare College, Cambridge; New Dublin Voices and the World Youth Choir. His music has also garnered numerous awards including the Choir and Organ Magazine composition competition and Béla Bartok Competition, Hungary.

Seán’s chamber and orchestral works have been performed by the Vanbrugh String Quartet, Barry Douglas and Camerata Ireland, the Kensington Symphony Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra, Ireland.

Seán is an assistant professor of music in Dublin City University, where he leads a Masters in Choral Studies with his colleague Dr Róisín Blunnie. He is active as a choral singer, singing with the internationally acclaimed chamber choir New Dublin Voices, conducted by Dr Bernie Sherlock, who have premiered many of his works. His choral works are published by Cailíno Music Publishers.