It was only after the interview with Frankie Gavin that I once again thought about the need for an Aosdána-type body for Irish traditional musicians. Meeting a musician such as Frankie Gavin, and discussing a life dedicated to traditional music, one can’t help but think of such things. As I’ve written on the subject before in this magazine (see Vol. 2 No. 5 on our website, www.thejmi.com) I don’t wish to rehearse the entire argument here, but it strikes me as the kind of initiative that could come out of the period of consultation undertaken by the new traditional music committee.

We cover a particularly large amount of ground in this issue, from Frankie Gavin to Arnold Bax to the Lambeg drum to Pierre Boulez. Barra Ó Séaghdha reports on the second RTÉ Living Music Festival on page 18, an international festival which in its vision and imagination should be a real source of pride for Irish people. It is the kind of achievement that is vital for our society, both musically and culturally.

On page 22, Dermot McLaughlin writes with insight about Kitty Lie Over by Mick O’Brien and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, a traditional music album which has attracted a lot of attention in traditional music circles in recent months.

Readers can also win tickets to a concert of their choice from the upcoming Composers’ Choice series at the National Concert Hall on page 11.

Finally, as always, you are invited to comment on the contents of any article in JMI in our letters page. I look forward to reading your views.

Toner Quinn
Editor