Traditional music archive goes online

CLARE County Library, in association with the Clare Arts Office, has announced the launch of its online Music of Clare project on the library’s website at www.clarelibrary.ie.

 

The first stage of the project concentrates on the traditional music of the county and features the biographies and music of some of Clare’s best-known traditional music artists, including Martin Hayes, Micho Russell, Willie Clancy, Sharon Shannon, Chris Droney, Dennis Cahill, the Kilfenora Céilí Band, Junior Crehan, Elizabeth Crotty, Kevin Crawford, Kieran Hanrahan, the Tulla Céilí Band and Kitty Hayes.

“The library service in Clare offers a wide range of music for lending throughout the county and we have had a very strong traditional music collection in Miltown Malbay for many years.

“This new online project will allow immediate access to all those interested in the music of County Clare and will greatly enhance the existing historical and cultural resources on the library website itself,” Helen Walsh, Clare county librarian said.

Anthony Edwards, senior executive librarian and the initiator and manager of the project, said the idea behind it was for members of the public to be able to listen to traditional tunes associated with the county, played by musicians who are from the county or who have lived in it for many years. Mr Edwards added that although it is not intended to be definitive or comprehensive, the project does hope to represent the best of a rich tradition.

“We have also included transcriptions of the featured tunes, to help anyone who wishes to learn the basic notes of a tune to be able to play it. Links to alternative transcriptions are also provided,” he continued.

The project also includes a music video feature, a collection of embedded online videos of Clare musicians from YouTube. Meanwhile, historical and biographical articles place the music of Clare in context and provide background and further resources for study and enjoyment.

The Traditional Music of Clare Jukebox gathers together all of the tracks featured in the Music of Clare project so they can be listened to easily and in sequence. The Music of Clare project is based on the same software system that the library has used to publish Foto, its online collection of photographs.

The project received financial support from the Clare County Arts Office which, with Arts Council funding, sponsored an initial researcher, Paddi O’Connell and funded the transcription of some of the tunes by Geraldine Cotter.

“The County Arts Office is committed to promoting the wealth of traditional music in Clare and we were delighted to work with Clare Library Service on such an exciting and important project,” Siobhán Mulcahy, county arts officer said.

The Music of Clare Project team consists of Maureen Comber, executive librarian; Jackie Dermody, library staff officer and Anthony Edwards, project manager.

“We have been astounded at the generosity and support we have received from musicians, record companies and authors featured in the project. All those we have been able to contact have responded with enthusiasm and goodwill. To those few we have not been able to contact, despite our best efforts, we give our assurance that we do not take their participation for granted and welcome any response to mailbox@clarelibrary.ie,” Ms Comber said.

The Music of Clare project is available online now at www.clarelibrary.ie.