The Washington D.C.-based Solas Nua is presenting “Imbolc,” a new work written and performed by County Galway singer Maija Sofia, on Feb. 1, at 8 p.m.
It was commissioned by Solas Nua especially for St. Brigid’s Day (or Imbolc) and it will be performed live for the first time in the intimate, modernist setting of St. Thomas’ Parish, an Episcopal church in Washington, D.C.
“While working on this commission, Maija Sofia considered St. Brigid as a mystic, pagan feminist icon; a figure through which old Irish traditions, wisdoms and practices persisted in spite of the patriarchy of the Catholic Church in Ireland,” Solas Nua said. “Taking the ‘Cailleach’ (divine hag or witch) as a starting point, Maija looks at how St Brigid symbolizes a kind of secret resistant undercurrent of feminine, mystic and ecological forms of knowledge. The new piece will be performed alongside Maija’s other songs that explore themes of feminist historical narrative.”
For more about Solas Nua and this event (tickets $25), go to www.solasnua.org. St. Thomas’ Parish is located at 1517 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036.
