A Can of Lilt: for mixed choir unaccompanied

A Can of Lilt (2026) was commissioned by Cuore Chamber Choir, conductor Amy Ryan,
with funds from the Arts Council of Ireland/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon.

It is for mixed choir without instrumental accompaniment, and with some divisi.
The text has been compiled by the composer from titles of Irish set dances, along with
lilting syllables used by singers when they are singing instrumental dance music.
The compilation of dance titles is deliberately random, with a playful sense of the absurd.

Glossary of pronunciation in order of appearance in the score:
Shuh: as in shove and glove; a homophone of the Irish word for 'this'.
suh, fuh, and nuh: as above in shove and glove
shih: as in shift and gift
'suh nuh shih nuh' sounds like the Irish phrase 'sona sinne', meaning 'we are happy'.
Ooh: as in shoe and glue
Ah: as in do re me fa
NgXah: Ng as in the end of the word ring; Xah is a tongue click
Mih, nih, did, din, yid, tih, kih: as in shift and gift
dee and ee: as in glee
die and died: as in died and dyed
da and ya: as in fan and plan
dum: as in plum and glum
yei: as in heist
day: as in play and day
da in daddle: as in fan and plan
doo: as in shoe and glue
Ng: with the tongue against the soft palette
shoom and choom: as in room and broom
shuck: as in chuck and luck

The middle of the three syllables in such groups as diddindee and yeidindee
to be pronounced with the tongue closed on the roof of the mouth.

Ossia alternatives are provided for basses where there are low Es.

4 soli are required to process from the audience area to the stage between bars 30 and 41.
These may be any two male and female singers from the choir.
They will each need a single standard sheet of A4 paper for the paper flicks.

Duration: 3'35