Music Association of Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Music Association of Ireland (MAI) was set up in 1948 to improve the position of classical music
within the cultural life of Ireland
. It was instrumental in setting up the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and played a leading role in the long-running campaign to establish Ireland's National Concert Hall
. In 2007, the association changed its name to Friends of Classical Music.
in Ireland. The new association had six objectives:
A governing council of thirteen individuals was set up to oversee the running of the association. Among its members were composers, Brian Boydell
, Aloys Fleischman, and Frederick May
. A small management committee was also appointed comprising Olive Smith
, honorary treasurer, and Michael McMullin, honorary secretary.
Six months after its formation the MAI had gained only eighty three members. Nevertheless, it immediately began to lobby government for greater financial support for live performances, particularly those given by the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra
In 1950 the MAI undertook its greatest challenge to date when it organised a festival of concerts and lectures to commemorate the bicentenary
of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach
. For several months, members raised funds and tried to source Baroque
instruments, such as a harpsichord
, not readily available in Ireland. The festival took place between September and November 1950 in various Dublin venues and featured local and international performers. For instance, English bass
, Owen Brannigan
, sang in the B Minor Mass, and the principal and second trumpeters of the London Symphony Orchestra
were engaged to play the D trumpet
s in the same work. While individual aspects of performance were criticised, the intiative was generally welcomed.
, who chaired the association's management committee until 1978, the MAI undertook a variety of initiatives to promote classical music in Ireland.
. The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, as it is now known, continues to perform regularly in Ireland and abroad.
put the weight of his prominent position at The Irish Times
behind the effort. At that point, a brand new building was being mooted, to be located opposite Christ Church Cathedral
in Dublin. In 1964, the government announced that a new national concert hall would be built in Dublin as a memorial to the late American president, John F. Kennedy
. When, by 1973, no progess had been made, the association collected 10,000 signatures in support of a new concert hall and submitted a petition to the Department of Finance
. Finally, in September 1981, the association's efforts were crowned with success when the country's new National Concert Hall
opened in Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin.
In addition to one-off concerts, the association also organised a number of annual music festivals, including the Dublin Festival of 20th Century Music, the Festival in Great Irish Houses, and the Dublin Organ Festival. However, by the late 1980s, the association was no longer able to support these events when funding from the Arts Council
ceased.
and jazz
. In 1985, the MAI ceased publication of Soundpost due to lack of funds.
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
within the cultural life of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It was instrumental in setting up the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and played a leading role in the long-running campaign to establish Ireland's National Concert Hall
National Concert Hall
The National Concert Hall is a concert hall located on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin, Ireland, close to St. Stephen's Green, and is the principal national venue for classical music concerts in Ireland....
. In 2007, the association changed its name to Friends of Classical Music.
Early years
In May 1948 it was announced that a new body, to be known as the Music Association of Ireland, was being set up to promote classical musicClassical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
in Ireland. The new association had six objectives:
- to further musical education
- to improve conditions for composers and musicians
- to help establish a national concert hall
- to lobby on matters of music policy
- to encourage musical groups throughout the country
- to organise concerts and lectures.
A governing council of thirteen individuals was set up to oversee the running of the association. Among its members were composers, Brian Boydell
Brian Boydell
Brian Boydell was an Irish composer whose works include orchestral pieces, chamber music, and songs. He was professor of music at Trinity College, Dublin for 20 years, founder of the Dowland Consort, conductor of the Dublin Orchestral Players, and a prolific broadcaster and writer on musical...
, Aloys Fleischman, and Frederick May
Frederick May (composer)
Frederick May was an Irish composer and arranger. His musical career was seriously hindered by a lifelong hearing problem and, despite displaying early promise, he produced relatively few compositions.-Early years:...
. A small management committee was also appointed comprising Olive Smith
Olive Smith
Olive Smith was a lifelong campaigner on behalf of classical music in Ireland. She co-founded the Music Association of Ireland, was the first director of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, and was a conductor of the Olivian Singers and the Culwick Choral Society.-Early life:Born Mabel Olive...
, honorary treasurer, and Michael McMullin, honorary secretary.
Six months after its formation the MAI had gained only eighty three members. Nevertheless, it immediately began to lobby government for greater financial support for live performances, particularly those given by the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra
The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra is the concert music orchestra of Raidió Teilifís Éireann...
In 1950 the MAI undertook its greatest challenge to date when it organised a festival of concerts and lectures to commemorate the bicentenary
Anniversary
An anniversary is a day that commemorates or celebrates a past event that occurred on the same day of the year as the initial event. For example, the first event is the initial occurrence or, if planned, the inaugural of the event. One year later would be the first anniversary of that event...
of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
. For several months, members raised funds and tried to source Baroque
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
instruments, such as a harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, not readily available in Ireland. The festival took place between September and November 1950 in various Dublin venues and featured local and international performers. For instance, English bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
, Owen Brannigan
Owen Brannigan
Owen Brannigan OBE was an English bass, known in opera for buffo roles and in concert for a wide range of solo parts in music ranging from Henry Purcell to Michael Tippett...
, sang in the B Minor Mass, and the principal and second trumpeters of the London Symphony Orchestra
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
were engaged to play the D trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
s in the same work. While individual aspects of performance were criticised, the intiative was generally welcomed.
Activities
When the MAI celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 1968, membership had risen to 600 and founder-member Brian Boydell expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the association in the fulfilment of its objectives. Under the enthusiastic leadership of Olive SmithOlive Smith
Olive Smith was a lifelong campaigner on behalf of classical music in Ireland. She co-founded the Music Association of Ireland, was the first director of the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, and was a conductor of the Olivian Singers and the Culwick Choral Society.-Early life:Born Mabel Olive...
, who chaired the association's management committee until 1978, the MAI undertook a variety of initiatives to promote classical music in Ireland.
Ógra Ceoil
In October 1967, the MAI set up a body named Ógra Ceoil ("Musical Youth") to encourage participation in music by young people. Members could avail of reduced rates for tickets to concerts and recitals and within a few months 800 young people aged between fourteen and twenty five had joined the new body. In January 1972, Ógra Ceoil launched the Irish Youth Orchestra at its inaugural concert in Trinity College, DublinTrinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
. The National Youth Orchestra of Ireland, as it is now known, continues to perform regularly in Ireland and abroad.
National Concert Hall
The MAI began its campaign for a national concert hall in 1951. In 1960, music critic Charles ActonCharles Acton (critic)
Charles Acton was the music critic at The Irish Times for thirty one years until his retirement in 1987. He was one of only two critics based outside Great Britain to be a member of The Critics' Circle.-Early life:...
put the weight of his prominent position at The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
behind the effort. At that point, a brand new building was being mooted, to be located opposite Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
Christ Church Cathedral is the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the Ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the Church of Ireland...
in Dublin. In 1964, the government announced that a new national concert hall would be built in Dublin as a memorial to the late American president, John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
. When, by 1973, no progess had been made, the association collected 10,000 signatures in support of a new concert hall and submitted a petition to the Department of Finance
Department of Finance (Ireland)
The Department of Finance is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Finance and is assisted by one Minister of State....
. Finally, in September 1981, the association's efforts were crowned with success when the country's new National Concert Hall
National Concert Hall
The National Concert Hall is a concert hall located on Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin, Ireland, close to St. Stephen's Green, and is the principal national venue for classical music concerts in Ireland....
opened in Earlsfort Terrace in Dublin.
Concerts
Among the notable artists who performed in Ireland under the auspices of the MAI were:- Benjamin BrittenBenjamin BrittenEdward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
and Peter PearsPeter PearsSir Peter Neville Luard Pears CBE was an English tenor who was knighted in 1978. His career was closely associated with the composer Edward Benjamin Britten....
(1960) - Victoria de los ÁngelesVictoria de los ÁngelesVictoria de los Ángeles was a Spanish Catalan operatic soprano and recitalist whose career began in the early 1940s and reached its height in the years from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s. Her obituary in The Times noted that she must be counted “among the finest singers of the second half...
(1969) - Yvonne LoriodYvonne LoriodYvonne Loriod was a French pianist, teacher, and composer, and the second wife of composer Olivier Messiaen. Her sister was the Ondes Martenot player Jeanne Loriod.-Life:...
(1976)
In addition to one-off concerts, the association also organised a number of annual music festivals, including the Dublin Festival of 20th Century Music, the Festival in Great Irish Houses, and the Dublin Organ Festival. However, by the late 1980s, the association was no longer able to support these events when funding from the Arts Council
Arts Council of Ireland
The Arts Council of Ireland was founded in 1951 by the Government of Ireland to encourage interest in Irish art and channel to funding from the state to Irish artists and arts organisations...
ceased.
Counterpoint and Soundpost
Starting in the late-1960s, the MAI issued a periodical for members entitled Counterpoint. It covered topics relevant to the Irish classical music scene and included a comprehensive diary of forthcoming concerts and other musical events throughout the country. In April 1981, the association replaced Counterpoint with a new bi-monthly magazine named Soundpost. Unlike its predecessor, Soundpost was available to the general public via an annual subscription. In addition to its coverage of classical music, the magazine also included features on folk musicFolk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. In 1985, the MAI ceased publication of Soundpost due to lack of funds.