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Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 2, Issue 10, Page 9

Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 2, Issue 10, Page 9
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periodical Publisher
Irish Folk Song Society
periodical Editor
[Periodical]
periodical Title
Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society
volume Number
2
issue Content
1617ntbusiasm and Irish o1kB CAPTAIN FRANCIS ONEILL, (CHICAGo, U.S.A).ENTHUSIASTS have mapped the milestones in the path of progress in every stage ofthe worlds history. To them the world owes a debt not always repaid in this life.They are, as it were, the motive power in every advance or undertaking, whetherprompted by ambition, profit, or patriotism. Even when not the originators of move-ments themselves, the real of the enthusiasts seldom fails to be contagious andstimulating.Enthusiasm feeds and thrives on nervous force, and wherever such endowmentis found, there may we also expect to find energy and persistence in the pursuit of apurpose, or the attainment of an aim.This leads naturally to the assumption that none but enthusiasts would found andmaintain an Irish Folk Song Society in Londonthe worlds metropolis for thepurpose of rescuing from oblivion forgotten and unconsidered trifles of music andsong, which the people of Ireland, who should be the most vitally interested, seem toregard with indifference and unconcern.To become, a musical Schliemann, delving among Irelands melodic ruins, entailsso much sacrifice that none but those gifted with high ideals and rare unselfishnesswould be led to engage in the exploration.It may also be assumed that all collectors and publishers of Irish music, regard-less of race or nativity, from the pioneers, J. and \V. Neale, of Dublin, in 1726, downto the present, were enthusiastsBurke Thumoth, Piper Jackson, Walker, S. A.and P. Thompson, Bunting, OFarrell, Holelen, Petrie, Joycewhat a galaxy ofenthusiasts, anti all collectors, not mere copyists! -What was their reward ? To several, disappointment was no stranger. Otherswere ignored by the biographers. Even the most renowned receive but scant con-sideratidn in Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians, and it is doubtful if anyenjoyed the recognition to which they weie justly entitled.With their cherished hopes unfulfilled, and their unselfish labours inappreciatedby an apathetic public, they passed away. Venerated in death a few of them are, tietrue; hut what use is the Irish lace making of time vast accumulation of incompar-able national music, in all its beauty, simplicity, and variety, garnered and preservedto us by their efforts?A few songs, seldom more than half a dozen, constitute the repertoire of ourvocalists. Probably twice the number would include all the dance tunes the majorityof instrumentalists would care to attempt in public.When one hears no reel hut Miss McLeod played for dancers at Feisearina inIreland (and, Im sorry to admit, too often in America), are we not justified in ourpessimism, and crying aloud, Whats the use?The Irish may have lost their interest in traditional music, but their traditionalpropensity for disputation and contention has suffered no perceptible decline in theflight of years, judging by the interminable sparring between specialists on the subjectof musical modes and scales in the columns of the Dublin Loader.If not too presumptuous, may we inquire what clubs or schools have they estab-lished for the teaching and dissemination of traditional Irish music; and what tra-ditional Irish musicians have been rescued from itineracy, and provided with perma-nent positions, such as would enable them to instruct others in their precious art?Is it not the fact that the Kennys, the Thompsons, and other reputed best tra-ditional violinists in Ireland still parade the streets and highways, picking up aprecarious livelihood, while the learned musical 1octors are discussing modes andscales, instead of agreeing on some practical method of arresting the musical decay?Why not join the ranks of the enthusiasts, and do something for a change?As a means for the encouragement of Irish music, nothing has been found moreeffective in America than promoting the musicians welfare by placing them in desir-able situations. This adds to their self-respect, and renders them independent of amore or less bibulous patronage, which leads to evils familiar to us all.Kindly helpfulness of this character is also the work of enthusiasts who, althoughmaking some pretensions to an acquaintance with traditional Irish music, may cut buta sorry figure as wranglers in the columns of the Dublin Loader.Irish musicianspipers, fiddlers, etc.whose living is happily independent ofpublic patronage, and free from the humiliation of the outstretched handfind nohardship in giving their talents gratis at entertainments inevitable in a new andrapidly growing country, where the interests of religion and charity frequently appealto public generosity.Strangely enough, such talents which met with but scant, if any, encouragementIr
issue Number
10
page Number
9
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
1967-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Volume 2, Issue 10

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