A Critical Edition of Neal's Celebrated Irish Tunes [that is: "John William Neale"].

[Neale, John William] Willis, Anne.

Published by [c.1972]., 1972

Large Quarto. 158 pages with scores and analysis of tunes. Softcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Stunning, very comprehensive and specialized publication. Extremely rare work on this seminal irish musician. From the library of Tadgh O Murchu, with his name and date (1972). Includes for example a thorough introduction into the work of John and William Neale and the Bull's Head Society. Includes also sections on Instruments / "Pleararkeh Na Rough" / Lorenzo Bocchi / Includes a biographical section on Harper - Composers Rory Dall O'Cathain, Mile O'Reilly, Thomas & William Connellan, Thady Keenan, Turlough O'Carolan etc. Includes a List of 49 Tunes which are then in the following pages critically analyzed. John Neal (Neale) - Article Contributed by Daniel Beaumont (to DIB.ie): Neal (Neale), John (fl.1701 40), publisher of music, manufacturer of musical instruments, and musician, worked in Dublin throughout his adult life and may have been born in the city. He appears, c.1701, running a recorder-making shop in Christ Church Lane, Dublin. From c.1714 he was a member of a social and musical group that met initially at the Cross Keys tavern near Christ Church cathedral, Dublin. Laurence Whyte (qv), the poet and a fellow member of the group, wrote in a poem that honest John [Neal] took up his German flute and that his son Billy play'd the fife when they gathered at the tavern. The German flute is a one-keyed conical flute, and Neal would have been one of the first musicians to play this instrument in Ireland. By June 1721 his shop was based in Christ Church Yard from where he dominated the Dublin music trade selling musical instruments and printed sheet music, much of which was imported from England. He was also perhaps the first to manufacture violins and recorders in Ireland. From 1723 the increasing interest in printed music books led him to produce his own copper plates rather than rely on English imports. In 1724 he published A collection of the most celebrated Irish tunes proper for the violin and German flute or hautboy. This collection of forty-nine compositions constitutes the earliest known printed collection of Irish music and includes the earliest recorded compositions by Turlough Carolan (qv) and other important Irish harpers. Most of the music probably dates from the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century, although a few popular melodies may have been preserved in the folk memory for much longer. Neal probably collected these pieces at his own weekly musical meetings, which met at Mr Neal's musick room in Christ Church Yard. In about 1723 he became president of the social and musical club which then met at the Bull's Head tavern in Fishamble Street, and later became the Charitable and Musical Society. Between 1723 and 1733 Neal published at least twenty-one volumes of printed music including four quarto books of the Best English airs and minuets, Irish tunes and Scotch tunes for the violin (1724), music after the Italian manner by Lorenzo Bocchi , music from the Beggar's opera , curious musical cards for the German flute, and five collections of country dances, scored for violin, flute, recorder and keyboard. One item was dedicated to the duke of Hamilton and Brandon, and in 1724 Neal wrote that he had secured subscriptions from most of the Scotch nobility . All his printed music was published jointly with his son William Neal (d. 1769), music shopkeeper, music-hall proprietor, publisher and musician. William was the sole publisher of a further eight volumes of music between 1734 and c.1744. John Neal was still alive in 1739 and may have died c.1740. After this date William seems to have been able to divert considerable resources into managing concerts and property speculation rather than as a musical-instrument maker. William was elected treasurer and managing director of the Charitable Musical Society c.1741, and in September 1741 a new music room was built on Fishamble Street. Seller Inventory # 31681AB

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Critical Edition of Neal's Celebrated ...
Publisher: [c.1972].
Publication Date: 1972
Binding: Soft cover