IrishMusicInfo
The Sunday Tribune Weekly Traditional Music Column by Fintan Vallely
990711
Song featured for the first time in the reception to launch the 27th Scoil Samhradh Willie Clancy at Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare on Sunday last. Local Mike Flynn sang his superb 'Dear Little Isle' to celebrate the launch of his 'A Singer's Dozen' album, Kerry woman Finola î Siochrœ gave 'An Cl‡r Bog DŽil' from her 'Searc mo ChlŽibh' Irish language collection - both released on the day. The presence annually of crying babies and romping youngsters at this function emphasises the health of the music scene (as does the age-level of the pub session players elsewhere), and over the years it has come to be the podium for the formal birth of the major recordings and writings in Traditional music. And so Dave Hegarty's 'Reedmaker's Guidance Manual', Jackie Small's production of the fifth Volume of Breand‡n Breathnach's 'Ceol Rince na hƒireann' tunes collection, and Na P’obair’ Uilleann's second 'Piper's Rock' album celebration of young pipers took their first air here too. Doing the honours for î Siochrœ, Ian Lee of RTƒ noted the exceptional quality of her voice, suggesting that we have come to expect that while having a good voice isn't all that is necessary to sing sean-n—s song, somehow if the performer has just that, then they should "be singing arty songs". That lack of confidence about Traditional song is indeed emphasised by 'the Willie week' itself - while it offers instrumental instruction, singing is not taught. Whether there is a demand for such or not is not clear, but the comparative dearth of visible professional-level Traditional singers in Ireland presently contrasts with a high standard in that field in Scotland where efforts are made to teach singing. Yet this is changing, for the South Sligo Summer School this week covers it, as has the Davitt school in Ballaghaderreen, and indeed An Gaelacadamh and teachers in Conamara have been covering it for several years. Belfast music teacher Francie McPeake formally opened the Miltown school week, and the annual Breathnach memorial lecture was delivered by Ian Lee - on the common Scottish/Irish heritage of Gaelic song. The late Junior Crehan - involved in the school since its inception - was not paid tribute to in any formal proceedings, but this year's event had an exceptionally packed programme - set and traditional dance tuition, classes in the major instruments, lectures by leading authorities and recitals by the country's top players, all confirming the school as a unique event of its kind, and one of ever-growing international stature. It has in fact been inspirational to the setting up of the 'Recontre Musicale Tocane', at Tocane St. AprŽ in the Dordogne region of France, (the French Willie Clancy as it has become known) which begins next weekend. With instrumental and song teachers from Ireland that is now a growing focal point in the Irish music calendar abroad (contact 05 53 90 74 69, or bib.tocane@perigord.tm.fr).
©Fintan Vallely, IrishMusicInfo.com
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