Papers from the conference held on the Magee campus of University of Ulster, Derry City, Northern Ireland over 25-27 April, 2003. These are a stimulating insight into the assessment and provision of traditional music education at all levels from the practical to the academic, throughout the island of Ireland and abroad. While the concern and focus is on Irish Traditional music, the ideas and methodologies presented in this landmark selection of papers take other European-style Folk / Traditional musics as well – those of Norway, Scotland, Isle of Man, Northern England, Newfoundland, Mid West USA, Norway and Brittany. The papers address group and one-to-one instrumental teaching of children in organised classes, summer schools and seasonal workshops, the specialised and well-established music schools, third level teaching, and also cover teaching via tutor books, CD ROMs, CD, videos and the internet.

The Companion will be given an Ulster launch on saturday afternoon, 18th August, the main weekend of the All-Ireland fleadh at Cavan town, at 12.30 (mid day) in the Farnham Arms Hotel Conference room. At this, Fintan Vallely will give an illustrated lecture on the compilation of the book. This will be part of a programmed formal event sponsored by the Arts Council’s Deis Traditional Music Awards body. The event opens with ‘Another World’ – a lecture by Marcas Ó Murchú at 11 am.

The Companion will be formally launched as on the opening Sunday of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy by Neil Rosenberg (author of ‘Transforming Tradition’) on Sunday afternoon at The Convent, Spanish Point.

A study in text, photographs and graphic design of the fiddler Ben Lennon of Kiltyclogher, Co. Leitrim.

Ben Lennon is known widely as a stylistic performer and teacher in the national and international world of Irish Traditional music. He began playing the fiddle at the age of ten, growing up in an atmosphere of home, céilí-house music-making and served his time with his father as a tailor. He developed his skills in post-World War 11 London among superb artisans and there immersed himself in a cosmopolitan city lifestyle. Back on Irish soil he returned to traditional music in its headiest revival years, first in Limerick and then Cork, while also engaged as an innovator and organiser in major clothing businesses. He returned north to Leitrim after twenty five years and relocated himself in local music, going on to teach his instrument, and to record and broadcast.

Ben Lennon’s life is documented here in words by Fintan Vallely. The fiddler is also presented within his music society in a hundred and more striking photographs by Nutan Jacques Piraprez. These elements are integrated by a vigorous, complementary design by Martin Gaffney as the visual story of a personal journey in music by a commentator who has a bird’s eye view that is a panorama of the technological and artistic transformation from the old Ireland to the new, from  traditional music redundancy to its artistic supremacy.

Launched at the Willie Clancy Summer School, Miltown Malbay on Sunday, 3rd July, 2011.

TO ORDER FROM A BOOKSHOP – ISBN 978-0-9511569-2-6