Sir, - Kevin Myer's (February 6th) is to be thanked for resurrecting that old chestnut: to what extent was Thomas Moore indebted to traditional Irish songs and airs? I would love to know. Perhaps some musicologist will finally crack this conundrum. Is Moore Bunting dressed up?
Moore would have known many of the collectors, antiquarians and Hibernophiles of his time. Did he disguise native tunes - varying the key, rhythm, colour and inflections - or was he an original creative genius? One of the reasons we seem to be unsure about all this is the fact that Irish music, until very recently, was not deemed to be of sufficient interest to merit serious study in the groves of academe. Maire Aine Ni Dhonnchadha singing Una Bhan was not considered in the same league as Fischer Dieskau singing Am Brunnen vor dem Tore! (The songs and singers are equally incomparable!).
The groves of academe have always stood for territoriality. The idea of, say, a Music Department consulting with an Irish Department - putting heads together - was anathema. O Riada and O Suilleabhain helped to break this mould. As for Moore? Back to Bunting! Is me agat, go buioch beannachtach,
Glen na gCaorach,
Co Atha Cliath.