Ritual Chant and Song - MA

Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of chant repertoires through UL’s Master of Arts (MA) in Ritual Chant and Song.  

This one-year, full-time programme offers specialist training in Western plainchant and Irish traditional religious song (sean-nós), which are contextualised by a programme of study in ritual theory, manuscript studies, and historical context. Alongside these core repertoires, students have opportunities to engage with other global ritual vocal traditions. 

Vocal development is supported through weekly one-to-one lessons and masterclasses with internationally renowned performers, fostering technical excellence and artistic depth. 

A unique feature of this programme is its close association with the Benedictine community at Glenstal Abbey. Their centuries-old liturgical practice and contemplative ethos provide living insight into the ritual and historical contexts that shape these vocal traditions. 

The final project equips students to either perform specialist repertoire to the standard of a public recital, conduct a research project to the level of a master’s dissertation, or combine both approaches. 

During this programme, you will 

• Explore a range of vocal ritual repertoires, focusing in particular on Gregorian plainchant and Irish traditional song (sean-nós).
• Acquire specialist vocal training in Gregorian plainchant and Irish sean-nós.
• Engage with ritual theory, manuscript studies, and historical context as frameworks for understanding ritual vocal repertoires.
• Develop a research foundation for the interdisciplinary study of music, performance, theology and anthropology of ritual.
• Examine theories of ritual practice with an emphasis on the nascent, emergent and creative dimensions of ritual.