It’s not only rock’n’roll bands who tour hard. Next month the National Chamber Choir (NCC) of Ireland embarks on a nationwide tour, bringing their latest collected performance piece, An Irish Colloquy, to Wicklow, Waterford, Galway, Kilkenny and Dublin, April 18th to 22nd.

Pieces in the performance are thematically connected by both Irish and non-Irish composers, including Arvo Pärt's The Deer's Cry, Nicholas Maw's Five Irish Songs and contemporary works by Frank Corcoran, Enda Bates and David Fennessy.

"We're happy to bring a variety of Irish-themed music," said Majella Hollywood, chief executive

of the NCC. "It's been a fascinating exploration in discovering the importance of Irish literature and folklore to international composers and also the music being written by Irish composers."

The performance will be reprised at the Cork International Choral Festival on May 4th.