At Cruinnú na bhFliúit we have always had a strong element of seminars, discussions and lectures besides the classes. Previous years have seen wonderful presentations from such renowned authorities as Harry Bradshaw, Gary Hastings, Mick O’Connor, and some fella called Hamilton.
This year it’s the turn of Fintan Vallely a musician and writer on traditional music, the title of whose lecture, “The Gibbet, the Gentleman, and the Jig: Flute phases of Irish History” should be enough to stimulate interest in just about every flute player.
Assuming you’re still not sure what it’s all about, Fintan has helpfully provided the subtitle; An historical exploration of the introduction and development of flutes and flute cultures in Ireland”.
More about Fintan can be found on his website… http://homepage.eircom.net/~imusic/FVbiog.html
From which we garnered the following:
From Co. Armagh, Dr. Fintan Vallely has taught flute at the Willie Clancy Summer School in Co. Clare since 1986, and was the author of the first tutor for Irish flute - Timber, the Flute Tutor - in 1986. This book is being reissued during 2008 in a new, expanded form as The Irish Flute Tutor, published by Walton’s, the leaders in teaching manuals for Irish music. His other books include The Blooming Meadows (a collaboration with Charlie Piggott and photographer Nutan), Together in Time (a biography of Antrim flute player John Kennedy), and a major reference work, the edited, A-Z Companion to Irish Traditional Music (1999). This book is currently being revised for a new edition in 2009. Also coming out in addition to The Irish Flute Tutor in 2008 is his Tuned Out - Traditional Music and Identity in Northern Ireland, and a satirical song collection titled Sing Up! Irish Comic Songs and Satires for Every Occasion .
He features on several albums, with a solo recording in 1979 with Shanachie, USA (re-issued in 2008) Irish Traditional Music on Concert Flute, and another in 1992, The Starry Lane to Monaghan. I in 2000 an album of satirical song with singer Tim Lyons was produced, and an album of his own music compositions - Dark Loanen - is due in 2009.
He is currently lecturer in Traditional music at Dundalk Institute of Technology.
More updates about Cruinniú events forthcoming.
All the Best
Hammy Hamilton