Marja Gaynor
Paul’s Steeple [2025]
Performed by the Solas Quartet
Triskel Christchurch, Cork, 22nd November 2025
'Paul's Steeple’, or the ‘Duke of Norfolk', the English folk tune with variations, comes from a collection of ground bass tunes called 'The Division Violin', published by John Playford in 1684. This book is a fascinating snapshot of what gentleman amateur violinists liked to play in late 17th century England - a wide variety of tunes, from 'Greensleeves' to Corelli, most of them enhanced with variations and a bass line, allowing a bassist / lutenist / harpsichordist friend to join in, if one were to hand.
For this (very much) Solas Quartet version, I have pretty faithfully followed Playford's variations, while having a good bit of fun with what goes on underneath or above, and have added a few extra versions of the tune towards the end.
The well known and much recorded Irish tune 'Siúil a Rúin' dates at least to the19th century, but may be older. The female protagonist sings of her anguish as her beloved leaves her to go to war. For this arrangement I wanted to get away from the loveliness of its lilting melody, and strip it to its bare bones, arriving at something more sombre, a kind of anti-war chorale or a stern lament, though with some corners of hope and beauty remaining. The intro and outro feature a little quote from Johann Christoph Bach's (1642-1704) lament 'Ach, dass ich Wassers gnug hätte', another song irrigated by tears.
Marja Gaynor, violinist and composer
Originally from Finland, Marja Gaynor is a Cork-based violinist and viola player. She specialises in Baroque music and is a member of Irish Baroque Orchestra and Camerata Kilkenny, recording and touring with both groups regularly. She has also performed with Irish Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Marsyas, Dunedin Consort, London Handel Players and Helsinki Baroque Orchestra. Marja is known as a versatile musician at home in many different styles, a fluent improviser, as well as arranger and curator. Upcoming projects include chamber music tours with Solas Quartet and The Vanbrugh and performing and arranging as a trio with uilleann piper David Power and flamenco guitarist John Walsh. She teaches violin and chamber music in MTU Cork School of Music.