Abstract:
Paddy Fahey comes from Kilconnell in East Galway. He was
born in this West of Ireland parish in 1926 and has lived
there ever since. He is a farmer, a traditional fiddleplayer
and a composer of tunes in traditional style. While
this thesis asks and explores questions that are relevant to
the Irish tradition as a whole, its main subject is the
music and music-making of Paddy Fahey, and more
specifically, his original tune compositions.
Paddy Fahey is essentially a performer of traditional music
and his compositional abilities are but part of his musical
expression. His situation, in common with other traditional
musician-composers " is that of the performer as creator, a
concept which is central to this thesis.
The first chapter is devoted to the presentation of some
concepts and principles relating to creativity in music.
While the processes and products of composition in Irish
traditional music are of primary concern, reference is made
also to other traditions which reflect the Irish experience
in some way. This broad discussion provides a background
for the ensuing chapters which explore the manner in which
the principles behind these concepts are applied by one
traditional fiddler from East Galway.
The world of music experienced by the artist is the subject
of the second chapter. An attempt is made to dig up some of
Fahey's rich musical soil to gain an insight into the world
he experienced both in his local community and within the
social and cultural context of East Galway. The third
chapter is concerned with the ways in which this man's music
is perceived by the composer himself and also by
representatives from his native musical community and the
traditional music community at large. The final chapter
explores the manner in which Fahey arranges musical sound in
time by highlighting the elements which satisfy his musical
aesthetic and instinct.
The appendix of music transcriptions brings together for the
very first time the complete collection of Paddy Fahey's
original tune compositions.
