Media

Píobaire, An, Volume 1, Issue 19, Page 2

Píobaire, An, Volume 1, Issue 19, Page 2
0 views

Properties

periodical Publisher
Na Píobairí Uilleann
periodical Editor
Chairman, NPU
periodical Title
Píobaire, An
volume Number
1
issue Content
(122)AN TIONOL 1974Once more the pipers of Ireland have convened in the mostunique and least publici 3ed music festival in the country.Once more they have preferred to meet in seclusion amid thedecorous greenery of Termonfechin not for them thoseheartier outbursts we are more familiar with, no millingcrowds, no carnival bunting, no ceili muzak. For their con-vention is less a celebration then, omething much more vital,an act of kinship, a gathering which a sparse and farfiungfraternity must hold to renew its contact and reaffirm itsidentity.Celebration wa impossible in any event, with carbomb victimslying on the streets of Dublin Once more death was a crueland immediate reality at the convention reminding us that ithas been at work in the ranks of musicians since we last met.What a grim prophecy it was and how soon fulfilled in a Ceoleditorial of a bare few years ago that the collector of Irishmusic is in co ipetitiOfl with the undertaker.But thankfully there was a large proportion of young ,people inattendance. More and more people it seems are trying to cul-tivate those divergent proficiencies which come together tomake a piper. And a gathering like Termonfechin provolces thequestion why this should be, why this motley crew of a hundredor so diverse and illassorted individuals should seem toenshrine among them the best hope for a high purpose in nativeinstrumental music in times to come. To us at TermonfeChiflthis purpose seemed most clearly evident in the person of agaunt and frail man with a red carnation in his buttonhole.For it is the presence of Seamus Ennis among them which makesof the pipers the bearers of the clearest and strongest linkswith a great and selfconfident musical language which hasbeen unheard for the greater part of this century, a languagewhich makes them collaborators and almost contemporaries ofSearnus and the great pipemaker who fashioned his unique setof pipes a hundred and sixty years ago.His recital at the convention was an unpredecerited one for anestablished musician of his stature. All attempt at a con-ventional performance was thrown to the winds. Instead heplaced himself at the service of his audience, of enthusiastsin a mutual effort to identify and record areas and facets ofhis piping which have been inaccessible to, them till now onexisting records or tapes. What significance this has for usstudents of the pipes is far beyond, though it includes, whathomework we could bring to bear on the music so freely andso plentifully given us. It makes of us literally partakersin the process of inheritance which has given such an incom-parable body of music to Seamus Ennis. It is this testimony ofhis passion to impart his music to us which makes of him thekey figure in the current revival of the pipes. He has placedus all at the convention, young and old alike, boundlessly inhis debt.Jackie SmallooOooPATTERNS DAY AT ATHLONE 1 l4At these places (holy wells) are always erected booths or tents,as in fairs, for selling whiskey, beer or ale, at which pipersand fiddlers do not fail to attend.Masons Parochial Survey (l l4), 111(73).
issue Number
19
page Number
2
periodical Author
[Periodical]
issue Publication Date
1974-07-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

Píobaire, An, Volume 1, Issue 19

Related Keywords