Galway Music Residency’s Lunchtimes with ConTempo series continues in November with music from Johannes Brahms and Arvo Pärt.

There will be a performance in Galway City next Tuesday, November 7, at 1.10pm at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church and it will also take place in Oughterard Courthouse on Sunday, November 19, at 12pm as part of Galway Music Residency’s ConTempo Countywide series.

The ConTempo Quartet will perform the second of only two published string quartets by Brahms for these concerts. The composer took the string quartet genre seriously and is reputed to have destroyed more than 20 previous attempts before he allowed his Op. 51, containing string quartets no. 1 and no. 2, to be released.

He had great respect for the work that Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven had done to create and develop the genre and felt the weight of responsibility in adding his own contribution.

These works were received with respect but not with great enthusiasm. However, they  reenergised the genre and partly inspired the great string quartets of Schoenberg and Bartók.

The programme will also feature Da Pace Domine, a universal prayer for peace by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. He originally composed for choir but later adapted for string quartet among other arrangements.

Entry to the concerts is free and all are welcome, but while walk-ups are welcome, booking is recommended, especially in Oughterard due to limited seating. It can be done at www.eventbrite.ie.

Pictured: The ConTempo Quartet, from left; Bogdan Sofei, Ingrid Nicola, Adrian Mantu and Andreea Banciu. PHOTO: JULIA DUNIN.