Write a comment
The Oriel Traditional Music Archive is hosting an event in memory of of Willie McSherry, this Thursday 12 September 2024 from 7-9 PM, in Gaeláras Mhic Ardghail.
Willie McSherry, well-known Newry accordion player, was one of the founders of the Newry Comhaltas Ceolteóirí Éireann. His style and legacy will be the focus of the event which lines up a presentation and live music.
The tribute night is important on a number of fronts;
Cultural continuity: elder musicians like Willie serve as repositories of Irish traditional musical heritage. They embody a deep well of knowledge and empathy for traditional tunes, regional and personal stylistic interpretations, and the cultural context in which they inherited, and passed on the music. Young musicians can develop a deeper appreciation of the roots and evolution of their local repertoires, enabling them to become more fulfilled, sensitive and more representative ambassadors of their local region, by studying the music of the Elders, like Willie.
Technical and stylistic insights: musicians like Willie Mc Sherry, Josephine Keegan and other local ambassadors in this part of Oriel can empower a new generation, in their performances, techniques, ornamentations and regions traits not available on the multivarious social media and Internet sources which provide shortcuts to the tunes that lack depth in colour and context.
Historical perspective: Willie was a much-venerated musician and custodian of the tradition. He understood the fast-changing context of traditional music in the middle of the last century. Those of us who are fortunate enough to have engaged with him at sessions or at his home were afforded unique opportunities to the background of music making at that time.
OTMA, together with Willie’s family and friends have organised an evening which will be informative, engaging and motivating. A rare occasion to hear at first-hand how Willie and his contemporaries worked hard by day and played furiously by night to strike the balance of maintaining a warm and caring home, and cultivating an accommodating and inclusive context for one of the critical identifiers of our community… our Irish traditional music.
Charlie McSherry, Willie’s son, invites musicians to join him playing some of the tunes that Willie played and shared so widely.
