Firstly, I don't want to claim credit for these 3 booklets which have been published in the past 3 years - but I did lend quite a bit of my time assisting and advising those who worked on the booklets.
Credit must be given to the Matthew Warwick & Ian Carlisle at Ulster Scots Community Network (USCN) who published 2 of the booklets, and Michael McCullough at the Ulster Scots Agency, who published the other booklet.
The first book, printed in 2009 - 'The Lambeg Drum' creating Ulster's Unique Traditional Instrument has been a phenomenal success story. The booklet is based around the lambeg drum making process, featuring Mr. Denis Morrow craftsman and drum maker, from Orangefield, Belfast. The booklet shows pictorially how the lambeg drum is made from its humble beginnings as a piece of oak, to one of the greatest and most powerful musical instrument in the world. Originally 5,000 were printed and such was the demand that a reprint of 5,000 was ordered, with copies being order locally, nationally and internationally.
The second book published in 2010 was - ‘The Ulster Drum’. This also was a very successful publication explaining the origins of the drum and its significance within the Ulster musical tradition. Michael with the help from Bobby Magreechan (who collected and permitted the publication of his photographs of drums) developed and published and excellent booklet. There are also a few hundred photographs of pained lambeg drums from all over Ulster again great interest has been shown, with copies being order locally, nationally and internationally.
The third booklet, just published this month February 2012 is – The Fife, An Ulster Musical Tradition. The booklet explains the musical significance of the fife in Ulster, its military origins and shows pictorially how a fife is made. The fife maker and craftsman is Mr. Wilby Wilson from Larne, Co. Antrim. I think 2,500 of these booklets have been printed and it is hoped it can be as successful as the other two booklets.
The fife and lambeg drum is a fantastic musical tradition and must be promoted in a positive light – as I work in schools throughout Ulster children are being afforded the opportunity to learn about the fife and lambeg drum tradition and associated musical traditions such as bagpipes, accordions, flutes, fiddle, etc.
As I mentioned at the start of the post I won’t take too much credit for the booklets, however I have assisted Matthew, Ian and Michael in delivering the final booklets to the public.
Copies of these booklets can be obtained fro Ulster Scots Community Network at Great Victoria Street Belfast - give Matthew or Ian a call, they will be only too happy to post you out a copy / copies.
HMA
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