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O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 71

O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians, Volume 1, Issue 1, Page 71
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periodical Publisher
Regan Printing House, Chicago, 1913
periodical Editor
[none]
periodical Title
O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians
volume Number
1
issue Content
140Irish Minstrels and .Musicjanshave Irish songs set to the 77 airs in the work, but as Patrick Lynch, a capableIrish scholar whom he had engaged to assist him in this feature of the projectbecame involved in tile political complications of the times, the plan was abandonedand English verses by Thomas Campbell, Miss Balfour and others were utilizedinstead.This splendid work placed Bunting in the foremost rank of British musiciansand at the head of those of his own country. Yet fame and worry was all hegot out of it. Had it not been for the liberality of his Belfast subscribers its saleat one pound six shillings a volume would not have defrayed the expenses ofpublication. Failing to dispose of his elaborate work otherwise lIe ceded hisinterests to the publishers for a trifling sum.A musical prodigy in childliooci, though an orphan in early youth, his talentsprocured him adulation and an easy living. . As his years advanced, Ilis fameincreased, his company was sougilt in tile best society, and he fornled tile acquaint-ance of distinguished men of letters, as well as the most eminent in his ownprofession.A confirmed diner-out, and enjoying life thus pleasantly and even luxuriously,Bunting remained unmarried until his forty-sixth year.Many of his collected airs were as yet unpublished and it was hardly probablethat he would venture to repeat his bitter experience, with a family now dependenton him for support had not tile persuasion of friends and the goading of Dr. Petriestirred llis indolent spirit into renewed activity.Although Moore, eager for additional airs suitable for his lyrics, pronouncedthe great collectors third volume, The Ancient Music of Ireland, published in1840 a mere mess of trash, tile genial Tom made amends soon after by ackno vl-edging his indebtedness to Bunting for his acquaintance with the beauties of nativeIrish music, graciously adnlitting that it was from his early collections his humblelabors as a poet have since then derived their sole lustre and value.This last and in many respects Ilis greatest work contained in addition to itshundred and a half airs and mtisical examples, much valuable information relatingto the characteristics of Irish melody, ancient musical ternls, notices of renlarkableairs and sketches of fanlous harpers. It also included An Essay on the Harpand Bagpipe in Ireland, by Samuel Ferguson, Esq., M. R. I. A., and otherinteresting articles.Highly appreciative notices of the work were printed in Tue Atheneum andother influential periodicals. We close with regret Mr. Buntings volume becausewe believe that with it we take leave of the genuine Music of Ireland, wroteRobert Chambers in Chcwzbers Edinburgh Journal. It must not be regarded asa nlusical publication alone, but as a National Work of tile (ieepest antiquarianand historical interests. Dr. Petrie proclaimed it, A great and truly nationalwork of which Ireland may feel truly proud. To its venerable editor Irelandowes a deep feeling of gratitude, as the zealous and enthusiastic collector andpreserver of her music in all its characteristic beauty, for though our national poetMoore, has contributed by the peculiar charm of his verses, to extend the fameof our music over the civilized world, it should never he forgotten that it is toBunting the merit is due of having originally rescued our national music fromobscurity.Bu iting did not long survive his final triumph, but his last years were soothedby tile consolation that his life-work was duly appreciated. He died suddenlywhile preparing to retire on tile evening of Decenlher 21, 1843, at the scripturalage of three score and ten.IFamous Collectors of Irish iJusic4Farqullar Graham states in the Introduction to Surennes Songs of Irelandthat Bunting died at Belfast and was interred in tile cenieterv of Mount Jerome.Hence our error in Irish Folk .]Jusic: A Fascinating Hobby.The great collector died in Dublin, to which he removed in 1819 at the timeof his marriage. Our esteemed friend, Prof. P. J. Griffith of the Leirister Schoolof Music who reminded us of our error, obligingly sent us a drawing of the granitemonunlent in the Dublin General Cemetery, Mount Jerome, on vhicli tile followingis inscribed:Sacredto the memory ofEdward Bunting,who died 2 1st December, 1843,aged 7o;Mary Anne Bunting,his wife,who died 27th May, 1863,and their only son,Anthony Bunting,who died ioth July, 1849,aged 29.R. M. LEVEYOf tile host of Irish musicians whose talents llave immortalized their namesduring the last century, tile subject of this brief biography is one of the few \\-llopaid more than casual attention to the native chance music.R. M. Levey, whose true name was Richard Michael OShaughnessv. washorn at Dublin in i8i I and died there in 1899. Displaying a decided predilectionfor music in boyhood days, lIe served an apprenticeship to James Barton from1821 to 1826, after which he entered the Theater Royal Orchestra, being thenbut fifteen years old. A few years later he became musical director.As a violinist of unusual gifts he was well known at tile Crystal Palace HandelFestivals, and other musical events in London, and the incident which led to hischange of name occurred on tile occasion of his first visit to tile metropolis. Whenasked, his name by the official in charge of enrollment, he promptly repliedlRichard \Iichael OShaughnessy. Owhatne sy? ecIloed tue astonished offi-cial. OShaugllnessy. repeated the bewildered violinist. My friend, volun-teered his questioner, von can never hope to make a success in professional lifewith an unpronouncable naflle like that. By the way what was your mothersmaiden name ? When told it was Leavy, the official wrote down Levev, andannounced to the abashed musician, Hereafter you will be known as R. M. Leveyill this estabhishnlent. And true enough it is by tilat Hebraic cognomen lie isknown in musical history.Wallace alldi Balfe w-ere among his most illtifllate friends and he toured Irelandin 1839 with the latters opera conlpanv. In all. Levev composed fifty overturesand arranged the music for fortyfour pantoniillies, andi lie often alluded withpardonable pride to Sir Robert Stewart, and Sir Charles Villiers Stanford, as hispupils. He was also professor of tile violin at the Royal rrish Academy of Music,of which he was one of tile founders.His oldest son and namesake, horn in 1833. became a violinist of renownand won distinction at concerts ill Paris and later in London where lie was known
issue Number
1
page Number
71
periodical Author
O'Neill, Capt. Francis
issue Publication Date
1913-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

O'Neill - Irish Minstrels and Musicians

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