The Diversus Guitar Ensemble started life in 2003, and has grown into an ensemble of top musicians hailing from all over the world. Since its inception as the Maynooth Guitar Orchestra, Diversus has had the aims of exploring the possibilities of the classical guitar in a large ensemble; giving guitarists an opportunity to play on an orchestral scale; and allowing the personalities of the musicians shine through in every aspect of the ensemble, from what music is played, to where it is played, to how it is played. With this ethos the ensemble has never been afraid to sing, improvise and experiment. It has seen the group make convincing arrangements of music from popular artists such as Björk, Radiohead, Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix to the symphonies and concerti of Mozart, Haydn and Vivaldi.
The ensemble firmly believes the performance of new music is crucial to the guitar ensemble’s future, and as such, Diversus has consistently included new music in its concert programmes. Works by composers Victor Lazzarini, David Stalling, Martin O’Leary, John Wolf Brennan and Raymond Deane have been performed in recent years and the group has premiered many compositions by younger composers. The ensemble has always performed its own arrangements, and it continues to search for new and untried pieces.
The ensemble’s colourful and arresting sound is perhaps its most surprising charm. In addition to the standard classical guitar, Diversus uses soprano guitars, classical bass guitars and steel-string guitars extensively. Additionally, it has employed the electric nylon guitar, and has performed concerti for flute (with Zoe Shannon) and for violin (with Deborah Landolt), and has also performed classical and pop/rock songs with vocalists Georgia Cusack and Christina Sutter. The involvement of these musicians has been an integral part of Diversus’ programming.
Additionally, the close friendship built up by the ensemble’s many years together, and the gregariousness the ensemble has by virtue of including musicians of all musical attitudes and traditions, means that it can convincingly employ a vast range of extended techniques that would be impossible to so employ in a normal classical ensemble. The ensemble utilises all of its members’ voices and imaginations in recreating unusual sounds found in the music it performs, and thus creates a truly unique experience.
Education has always been a central priority of the ensemble. As the MGO, it was a student ensemble in which the training of its members was one of its central aims. As a body commissioning new music, it has also encouraged young composers and arrangers to hone their craft through working with the ensemble. In all of its extended tours it has visited local schools in order to showcase the joy of music and of the guitar, and concocted engaging and original means of doing so. Many of its members are committed pedagogues, and have higher degrees in pedagogy.
Diversus’ players hail from all parts of the globe, bringing with them many different influences. Alongside the many classically trained players are rock, pop, jazz and folk musicians, and this brings a variety and colour that is a crucial part of Diversus’ constitution. Most of the guitarists hold Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in Music or Performance, while several players have won international and national guitar competitions.
In 2009, the ensemble recorded its first CD, which features music by the Beatles, Björk, Brendan Walsh, Abigail Smith, David Stalling and John Greaney.
