Father Farren in Toronto_1999

Father Farren in Los Angeles_2000

Father Farren at Cherryfield Lodge: with Fr Hurley; 2014; 2013; WYK Choir; After the Fall in 2013


Father Farren - In loving memory

 [There are two pieces of music accompanying the slideshow:

1. An extract, “Kyrie”, lasting about 3 minutes, from Mozart’s Requiem Mass K 626

The full text (in Latin) is as follows:
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
The English translation is:
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
(Note: A Requiem Mass, or Mass for the Dead, is a Mass in the Catholic Church, offered for
the repose of the soul.)

2. “Nearer My God to Thee”, also about 3 minutes
The lyrics are as follows:
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E'en though it be a cross that raiseth me;
Still all my song shall be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky,
Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upwards I fly,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
(Note: The verse of this Christian hymn was written by Sarah Flower Adams in the 19th
century. The hymn is usually sung in funeral services.)

We had quite a few pieces to start choosing from:
When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
The Kerry Dance
Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms
Kyrie
Nearer My God to Thee
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
The Lord’s Prayer

Because of the time duration, our choices were limited to only two pieces. Factors involved in the final decision were: (1) the pieces have to be religious; (2) they have to be for the dead or the past; (3) they are to be more “classical” than “pop”; (4) at least one of them has to be sung by an Irish; (5) the mood has to be appropriate.

We finally selected “Kyrie” and “Near My God to Thee”. The reason for the latter is that it is sung by John McCormack (1884-1945), an Irish tenor and a Catholic himself.

January 3, 2016]