From: IN%" IRTRAD-L@irlearn. ucd. ie" 11 List" 2-MAR-1993 12: 21: 00. 71 To: IN%" IRTRAD-L@irlearn. ucd. ie" 11 Mul tiple Recipients of" CC: SUbj: Issue No. 3 of IRTRAD

Irish Traditional Music Newsletter 2 March 1993 Issue No. 3

IRTRAD Topics for March:

1. Editorial: Call for More Contributions [1-25] 2. Tionol Ceoil na Rinne 5-7 March 1993 [1-42] 3. Seminar at QUB on Traditional Fiddling in County Antrim 11 March 1993 [1-20] 4. Diary of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann events for 1993 [1-61] 5. Reviews of Four Recently Released Recordings [1-110] Sources for Recordings and Publications Reviewed in IRTRAD [1-41] 6. A Series of Information Leaflets on Irish Traditional Music [1-130] 7. Request for Program Guide [1-27] 8. Preserving Old Recordings [1-17] 9. Seeking info. on Breton harpist [1-27] 10. Hornpipes played as Reels [1-24]

Send contributions to IRTRAD-L@IRLEARN or [email protected] Back issues, editors, names of subscribers, subscribing etc.: see End

CALL FOR MORE CONTRIBUTIONS

It was always our intention that IRTRAD would have an international dimension to it rather than focus solely on Irish traditional music in . So please exercise those fingers and get those contributions coming in.

* Tell us about Irish traditional music in your area - upcoming events e.g. lectures, workshops, recitals, concerts, traditional music weekends, summer schools, eigses, tionols, fleadhs etc. [well in advance please] - clubs, societies, organisations - session venues

* Let us know about new recordings/publications, or indeed anything which you feel would be of interest to subscribers, which we mightn't be aware of

* Suggest discussion topics

* Calling all researchers/fieldworkers out there. We would particularly like to hear from you about your work and areas of interest.

* Articles on any aspect of Irish traditional music would also be very welcome

Keep US informed so that we can keep YOU informed.

Page: 21 Tionol Ceoil na Rinne 5-7 Marta 1993

This is the 4th annual music festival in the Waterford gaeltacht of Ring. The event is based usually around piping, but this year there is a strong sean-nos presence as well. Programme for the weekend is as follows:

D hAoine 5 Marta Friday 5th March 8.30 Oscailt Oifigiul Official Opening 9.00 Leacht- "Amhrain na Dise" Lecture "Songs of the Dise" le hEibhlin U Dhonnhadha le hAmhrnaithe Aitiula i laithair with local singers in the i Halla De Hindeberg, Rinn 0 gCuanach Hindeberg Hall, Ring.

De Sathairn 6 Marta Saturday 6th March 10.00-12.30 Ranganna Piobaireachta Piping classes with..... le Jimmy 0' Brien-Moran, Robbie Hannon, In the National School. Michel 0 Briain agus Alain Froment. i Scoil Naisiunta na Rinne. 12.00-2.00 Ceardlann Sean-Nos le Sean-Nos workshop in Aine Ui Cheallaigh i Scoil Naisiunta. National School. 7. 30 Coirm Cheoil an Tionoil i Halla Concert in the Hindeberg Hall De Hi ndeberg. with...... Amhranaithe: Aine Ui Cheallaigh, Entry 3. 00 or 1. 00 Se an Mac Craith, Lillis 0 Laoire, Brian 0 Domhnaill, Padraig 0 Cearbhaill, Mairead Ni Oistin, Eibhlis N Shuilleabhain, Eibhlin Ni Cheatharnaigh, Paid Mac Gearailt, Maire Bn. Ui Dhroighnein, Meat Joe Shmais o Fatharta, Sean 'ac Dhonnacha. Piobair: Jimmy 0' Brien-Moran, Robbie Hannon, Micheal 0 Briain, agus scoth na gceoltoir Ai tiula. Cead isteach 3. 00 agus 1. 00

De Domnhaigh 7 Marta Sunday 7th March 12.00 Teacht le Cheile i Halla "coming together" in Hindeberg Hall Hindeberg Hall with music and songs.

Information from (058) 46407, 46201, 46235.

Date: Mon, 15 Feb 93 15:09 GMT From: GERRY MULVENNA To: IRTRAD-L@IRLEARN Subject: Belfast Seminar: Traditional fiddling in County Antrim

I thought I would pass on details about one of the seminars in the Institute of Irish Studies' Spring Semester Programme at the Queen's University of Belfast.

On Thursday 11 March 1993 at 4pm Ms Maebh McKeon will be giving a seminar on Traditional Fiddling in Country Antrim. This will take place in the Institute at 8 Fitzwilliam Street, Belfast. Further details may be obtained from the Secretary by phoning

Page: 22 Belfast 245133 extension 3386. Members of the public are cordially invited to attend these seminars and admission is free.

All the best

Gerry Mulvenna ([email protected]) Belfast, Ireland

COMHALTAS CEOLTOIRI EIREANN DIALANN Diary of Events 1993

March 19/21 Fleadh na nGael Castlerea 20 Ceol an Gheimhridh Castlerea 11 Tionol Cheoil na Breataine Princethorpe College 11/12 Roscommon Fleadh Ballinlough 18 Northern Region Fleadh Liverpool 24/25 Leitrim Fleadh Drumsna 25 London Regional Fleadh East London May 7/9 Cork Fleadh Blarney 7/9 Dublin Fleadh 7/9 Mayo Fleadh Claremorris 8/9 Donegal Fleadh 9 Midland Regional Fleadh Nottingham 9 Offaly Fleadh 14/16 Kilkenny Fleadh Kells 14/16 Tipperary Fleadh Cahir Armagh Fleadh Keady 21/22 Antrim Fleadh Cushendall 21/23 Galway Fleadh Kilimor 22/23 Armagh Fleadh Meath Fleadh Enfield 23 Scottish Region Fleadh Glasgow Longford Fleadh Edgeworthstown 28/31 Fleadh Nua Ennis June 4/6 Sligo Fleadh Riverstown Derry Fleadh Bellaghy Limerick Fleadh Abbeyfeale Waterford Fleadh An Rinn 6 Cavan Fleadh Kilnaleck Wexford Fleadh Bannow Laois Fleadh Clonaslee Westmeath Fleadh Moate 12/13 Kildare Fleadh Allenwood Louth Fleadh 13 Fermanagh Fleadh Roslea 18/20 Clare Fleadh Corrafinne Fleadh Amhran agus Rince Ballycastle 25/27 Kerry Fleadh Miltown 26/27 Connacht Fleadh Westport 26/27 Tyrone Fleadh 26/27 Down Fleadh 27 All-Britain Fleadh St. Albans July 8/11 Munster Fleadh Ennistymon 16/18 Leinster Fleadh Kilkenny 23/25 Ulster Fleadh

Page: 23 August 22/27 Scoil Eigse Clonmel 27/29 Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann Clonmel October 29/31 Tionol Cheoil Culturlann na hEireann

More information available from: Culturlann na hEireann, Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co. Dublin Tel. 01-2800295 Fax: 01-2803759

Reviews of Four Recently Released Recordings.

TITLE: The Better Match. MAIN PERFORMER/S: Parson's Hat. PUBLISHER Clo/ Iar-Connachta. NO. : CICD062 PRICE: N/A Parson's Hat consist of: Bri/d Ni/ Catha/in; Harp and Vocals. Janet Sutton; whistles Fred Johnston; Guitar, Vocals, Mandolin. Paul Wilkins; Accordion, whistles, keyboards, piano.

This CD has 20 tracks comprising 71 mins, 11 secs. There are seven songs in Irish, six songs in English, and seven instrumentals. This recording, although using very traditional material falls very much in the "folk" category. The arrangments which are well carried out, remind me of the type of thing that was being done in the late sixties/early seventies. The instrumental line-up lacks any of the " mainstream " instruments of present-day traditional music. The musicianship is competent, and this recording might well serve as an introduction to those unfamiliar with Irish traditional music. To the seasoned enthusiast, almost all the tracks, and the way in which they are arranged are very familiar from many previous recordings. The English language songs are mostly Scots in origin, and there are three original compositions on the album.

TITLE: Feado/ga Stalin 2 MAIN PERFORMER/S: . PUBLISHER: Gael-linn. 26 Merrion Sq. Dublin 2 Ph. 01-767283 fax 01-767030 NO: CEFCD149 PRICE: N/A

This CD has 15 tracks for 46 mins. 22 secs. Seven sets of reels, two sets of jigs, two slow airs, two sets of hornpipes, a set of polkas, and one short baroque piece combined with a reel. This is basically a solo album, with backing in the form of Bouzouki, guitar, and bass guitar. On the baroque piece ( Rigadoun, J.P. Rameau) Mary Bergin is joined by the other two members of the group Dorda/n ( Kathleen Loughnane on Harp, and Deirdre Standu/n on fiddle ) with whom she recently released an album.

Page: 24 This is a fine collection of dance tunes and slow airs, some of which are not at all well known, and which sound all the fresher for that. The playing is impeccable, and the backing sympathetic and in no way overbearing. There are whistles in different pitches used, 10 tracks are in E flat, two in D, two in B flat, and one in F.

OTHER DETAI LS: Mary Bergin is joined on some tracks by: Joe McKennai Uillean pipes. Antoinette McKennai Harp AI~c Finni Bouzouki, guitar. Johnny MacDonaghi Bodhra/n. Tom Stephensi Guitar. Produced by Mary Bergin. Notes in Irish and English by Jackie Small.

TITLE: Michael Coleman 1891-1945. Ireland's Most Influential Traditional Musicians of the 20th Century. MAIN PERFORMER/S: Michael Coleman. PUBLISHER: Gael-linn Vive Voce CEFCD 161. PRICE: N/A

This is a double CD totalling 48 tracks and 2 hrs. 28 mins . 47 secs. Each of the 48 tracks represents a 78 rpm recording which has been remastered for this issue. The recordings span the years 1921-1936 and this recording is a must for all those seriously interested in traditional music. This set of recordings was originally issued as cassettes by Viva Voce, and the accompanying 100 page book about Coleman, was packaged with it. In the case of the present CD, the book is provided free with the recording, but is not packaged with it. The book, put together by Harry Brads haw, is a detailed and moving account of Coleman's life and times, and contains some interesting photos. A pity that for practical reasons it cannot be packaged with the CD. Harry Bradshaw, the man behind Viva Voce recordings, and a broadcaster with RTE, who has in the past has been responsible for the re-release of a host of important archive recordings was very justifiably awarded the 1992 award for "best research in the field of Recorded Folk or Ethnic Music" by the American Association for Recorded Sound Collections for this collection of Coleman's recordings. This is of interest not only to fiddle players. It is amazing to note just how many of Coleman's sets of tunes are still being played in that order today, and how many of the sets are still favourites in many sessions and recordings today.

TITLE: Nomads - Fnaithe MAIN PERFORMERS: John Faulkner PUBLISHER: Cl Iar-Chonnachta NO:CICD 071

There are 53 mins and 14 secs of music and songs on this album. The emphasis is mainly Scottish with a little touch of Irish and Cajun. There are twelve tracks, songs, and songs followed by an instrumental piece, and the first seven tracks, collectively entitled "Into the Mist" trace "some of the musical links from the Isle of Skye to the Louisanna bayous", and include Scottish and Cape Breton Songs, and some Cajun tunes. All of the songs are accompanied by various musicians. Most of the songs are traditional, but the . eponymous track is a composition by Faulkner, as is one of the instrumental

Page: 25 tracks, a waltz followed by two reels. The general feeling of this recording is one of contemporary rather than traditional, and the arrangements back this up. There is an impressive array of accompanying musicians on the record including: Dolores Keane, Martin O'Connor, Maire Bhreathnach, Brendan O'Reagan, Dermot Byrne, Jimmy Higgins, Tommy Keane, Eddie Lee, Gerry O'Connor, Ronan McGuire, Gavin Povey, Padraig Stephens, Nial Farrel, Sean Nation, Paul Gunning, and Gerard Coffey, many of whom are very well known musicians on the Irish scene. In some ways this is not a recording with an immediate appeal, and not many of the tracks are particularly striking on first acquaintance, however there is a strong element of " It'll grow on you" here and I think the album warrants careful listening in order to appreciate it fully.

In view of the reviews that we are including in the newsletter we have decided to provide some information for those, especially those living outside Ireland, who might want to get hold of the recordings and publications that are reviewed. There are two main sources, listed below that are prepared to send recordings and books by mail order, and who have a wide selection of material. They also have comprehensive catalogues detailing what's available.

Ceirnini Claddagh. Claddagh records were one of the earliest companies to record traditional music in Ireland, and have released many fine and important recordings over the years. They have developed a retail side in recent years which is operated from: 2 Cecilia St. Dublin 2. Tel.: 01-770262 As well as traditional recordings from their own company, Claddagh carry a wide range of other Irish traditional recordings and also other ethnic/world music recordings, as well as a selection of books. Claddagh Records, Dame House, Dame Street, Dublin 2, Ireland. Telephone and FAX: 01-6793664

The other major source of material available on mail order are the Cork city music publishers Ossian Publications. Originally publishing sheet music, they have in recent years begun to release recordings as well. These are for the most part re-issues at the moment mostly of old Topic releases. These re-releases will be reviewed in the next few issues of IRTRAD. Ossian Publications Ltd., Publishers and Distributors of Irish and General Music in Print and Sound, 12 Pope's Quay, PO Box 84, Cork, Ireland Tel.: 021-300350 Fax: 300352

Page: 26 A Series of Information Leaflets on Irish Traditional Music

A very useful and informative series of leaflets on Irish Traditional Music is available (at 50 pence each + 50 pence postage) from the

Irish Traditional Music Archive, 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 Tel. 01 - 6 1 9699 Fax: 01-686260

There are presently five leaflets in the series, covering:

1. What is Irish Traditional Music? 2. Getting to Hear Irish Traditional Music 3. Learning Irish Traditional Music 4. Studying Irish Traditional Music 5. The Uilleann Pipes in Irish Traditional Music

The following are some selected extracts, taken - by kind permission of Nicholas Carolan (Administrator, Irish Traditional Music Archive) - from the first two leaflets:

1. What is Irish Traditional Music?

'Irish traditional music' is best understood as a very broad term that includes many different types of singing and instrumental music, music of many periods, as performed by Irish people in Ireland or outside it, and occasionally nowadays by people of other nationalities.

The different types however do have in common an essentially 'oral' character, that is, they belong to a tradition of popular music in which song and instrumental music is created and transmitted in performance and carried and preserved in the memory, a tradition which is essentially independent of writing and print.

* Irish traditional music is music of a living popular tradition.

* It is nevertheless music which is conservative in tendency.

* Being oral music, it is in a greater state of fluidity than notation-based music.

* It is European music. * The bulk of it comes from the past, and is of some antiquity.

* It is handed down from one generation to the next, or passed from one performer to another, more by example than by formal teaching. * Although items of the repertory are initially produced by individual singers and musicians, they are changed as they pass from performer to performer, and they eventually become the production of many hands, music 'of the peopl e' .

Page: 27 * Repertories and styles have originally evolved in given regions, but natural processes of diffusion and especially the modern communications media have spread them more widely.

* It is music or rural more than urban origins. * It is performed almost entirely for recreation, by people who are normally unpaid.

* Solo performance, in which subtleties of style can best be heard, is at the heart of the tradition, but group performance is common.

* Written words or music are only used as an aid to memory, if at all, and never in performance. * Songs are performed in Irish and English, but those in English, the more recent, are the more widespread.

* The bulk of the instrumental music played is fast isometric dance music - jigs, reels and hornpipes for the most part; slower listening pieces composed for an instrument or adapted from song airs form only a small proporti on.

* String, wind, and free-reed melody instruments predominate - especially fiddle, whistle, flute, uilleann pipes, concertina and accordion - and percussion instruments are of minor importance.

The term 'traditional music', which lays emphasis on transmission, is nowadays preferred to the term ' folk music', which emphasises origin and circulation.

2. Getting to hear Live Irish Traditional Music

In many parts of Ireland informal 'sessions', or mixed gatherings of musicians performing for their own enjoyment, take place on a weekly or more frequent basis in particular venues open to the public, such as public houses, hotels, or clubs. Occasionally these are advertised in the local press, but word-of-mouth enquiries in the locality will probably yield more information.

Concerts of traditional music are commonly held throughout the country. These are advertised widely and will have an admission charge. Occasionally public recitals by one or two performers are held by non-commercial sponsors such as the Department of Music, University College, Cork (every Wednesday at 1 0' clock, tel. 021-276871) and Na Piobairi Uilleann (the society of uilleann pipers, 15 Henrietta Street, Dublin 2, tel. 01-613942) and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland (181a Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5DU, tel. 0232-381591) organise periodic tours by small groups of performers. Coirm (a music agency, 32 Albany Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, tel. 01-972353) promotes concerts and recitals of traditional music.

Live music can also be heard at annual festivals held at various locations throughout the country: - the Forkhill Traditional Singing Weekend, Forkhill, Co. Armagh (held in October, tel. 0693-888565)

Page: 28 - the week-long Summer School in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare (held in July, tel. 065-84148). - An tOireachtas, an Irish-language festival held at different venues about October is especially noted for its public competions of traditional singing in Irish. Details, including those of instrumental competions, are available from the festival office at 6 Harcourt Street, Dublin 2 (tel. 01-753857)

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann (the association of Irish musicians) has branches throughout Ireland, and abroad, at which music can be heard regularly. It also organises a large number of competitive regional music festivals, or fleadhanna ceoil, throughout the country, culminating in the annual all-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hEireannj and also concerts, seisiuin or cabarets, tours by music groups, and other activitied. Details can be had from CCE's headquarters at 32 Belgrave Square, Monks town, Co. Dublin (tel. 01-2800295). [see elsewhere in this newsletter for full diary of Comhaltas events for 1993]

Live and recorded traditional music can also be heard outside Ireland, particularly in centres of Irish settlement in Britain, Australis and the United States, but occasionally too in Germany, France and other countries. Enthusiasts will have to depend for information on word-of-mouth, record shops and libraries, specialist radio programmes, and the Irish emigrant press and social centres.

Date: 22 Feb 1993 15: 32: 48 -0500 (EST) From: [email protected] Subject: Thistle & Shamrock To: IRTRAD-L@IRLEARN. BITNET

I was wondering if anyone could send me a program guide for last week's T&S broadcast. In NE Pennsylvania we got the Valentines broadcast on the 21st. There was some interesting vocal work done *1 think* by Manus Lunny or Andy Stewart, and I was wondering if I could get my hand on the playlist. Could someone lay their hands on it? If you could, I could give you my USPS address, or you could just send me the relevant entries by E-Mail.

Thanks *********************************************************************** [email protected] -- E M Snyder -- University of Scranton ***********************************************************************

Date: Wed, 24 Feb 93 12: 49: 25 EST From: mcgraw@ppd. Kodak.COM (Edward McGraw (64025» Subject: IRTRAD To: [email protected] Reply-to: [email protected]

Congratulations on your excellent newsletter! I've been hoping for some time that such an endeavor would show up on the net. One of my particular interests is preserving old recordings, which I've been collecting for 40 years. Would it be possible to make a statement in your newsletter soliciting names and addresses (e-mail and snail mail) of people who have this interest, with a view to forming a list of public and private

Page: 29 collections. Hopefully, this would provide an extended database for researchers to tap, as well as an opportunity for collectors to trade, or otherwise share, these scarce resources.

Ted McGraw [email protected] 31 Abby Lane, Rochester, N. Y. 14606, 716-247-0068

From:IN%"[email protected]" 3-FEB-1993 08: 55: 58.12 To:IN%"[email protected]" cc: Subj: Hi dere!

I was listening to 'Tuesday Folk' on RTE radio 1 last night. They had a very interesting programme on the Breton Harpist Jean Paul Rellou ( Wellou?). This was the first time I had heard him and I was very impressed.

One particular piece reminded me of Brendan Dalton's method of dealing with bodhran players.

> Do what I do: change from reel to jig and back again. Fair > makes them realise how bad they are.

Well this piece changed from reel to jig and back again about 20 times in three minutes!

Anyone know any more about this harpist?

A/dh m/or, Gerry

Gerry Callaghan Email:[email protected] Ericsson System ExpertisePhone: +353 902 74601 ( work ) Cornamaddy, Athlone 85054 ( home ) Co. Westmeath, Irish Republic

Date: Thu, 4 Feb 93 13: 31: 35 -0800 From: darsie%[email protected] (Richard Darsie) Message-Id: <[email protected]> To: IRTRAD-L@irlearn. BITNET Subject: Greetings

Hello, I am new to this mailing list. I'm glad to see there is one for Irish music.

Here's a question for all of you historically inclined folks. I just checked out a book of Irish Tunes & Songs. Looking through some of the tunes I noticed a lot of tunes in the hornpipe section which I've heard recorded at reel tempo rather than hornpipe tempo. Does anyone know how prevalent a practice it is to change hornpipes to reels? For example, in Q'Neill' s, "The Flowers of Edinburgh" is given as a hornpipe, but of course everyone plays it as a reel. This makes me wonder if the hornpipe is the older rhythm and the reel is the newer one which has become more popular and is thus "usurping" hornpipe melodies.

Page: 30 Any comments?

Richard Darsie [email protected]

IRTRAD (the electronic Irish Traditional Music Newsletter) is prepared and edited in the Music Department of University College, Cork, Ireland by Hammy Hamilton ARMU6001@IRUCCVAX and Paul McGettrick ARAR6013@IRUCCVAX.

To contribute something to IRTRAD send your message to IRTRAD-L@IRLEARN. UCD. IE or IRTRAD-L@IRLEARN

The following commands should be sent to [email protected] or LISTSERV@IRLEARN (NB NOT to IRTRAD-L)

Purpose Command

To receive IRTRAD SUBSCRIBE IRTRAD-L your full name To see the names of other subscribers REVIEW IRTRAD-L To get a listing of all back issues INDEX IRTRAD-L To retrieve an issue listed by the GET IRTRAD-L filetype INDEX command [where filetype is the issue you want]

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