n ill . 1 - Comhaltas Archive

TREOIR
SEAN RYAN'S DREAM
The Second Collection of Irish Traditional compositions of Sean Ryan
Compiled by Brian Ryan
Sean was born in
Nenagh. Co. Tipperary.
It was his good
fortune to grow up in
the Newtown area, an
area that produced in
the same generation,
such fine musicians as
Paddy O'Brien and
P.J. Moloney. His father,
Thomas was an
outstanding fiddler.
Sean's first instrument
was the flute from
which he quickly
graduated to the
fiddle. He was a noted
step dancer and a
very fine singer.
He brought a different approach to
fiddle playing with his own unique
personal style, sweet and rich, which
instantly distinguishes his music from
that of any other fiddler. He had a
style noted for sweetness of tone, a
steady, gentle legato style in which
there were many lonesome notes and
many subtle ones. His playing was as
smooth as silk with gently rippling
ornaments and no hint of sharp attack
or brusque articulation. He could
dress up and refurbish an old tune so
that it sparkled like a jewel. His
outstanding accomplishments stand as
testimony to the quality of his fiddling.
He was living in the Portarlington
area when he won the Gold Medal at
the Feis Ceoil in Dublin in 1949 and
the Oireachtas Gold in 1954. He was
one of the few to win the All Ireland
Senior Traditional Fiddle title twice in
a row at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.
Loughrea in 1955 and Ennis in 1956
were the scenes of his victories. In
1958 he joined the Ballyoran Ceili
Band with Danny Coughian before
forming his own band in 1962. He
was a frequent performer on radio
broadcasts. He recorded with both
bands as well as with P.J. Moloney,
Peter Carberry and Pat Lyons.
I met Sean in 1961 . I had fallen in
love with his music previous to that.
He had already many compositions to
his credit at that time. We got married
in 1966 and from then on I heard his
compositions at first hand. His flair for
composition was remarkable. He
composed scores of tunes that have
the sound and feeling of the old music.
Over 200 tunes have flowed from the
warmth of his heart, the depth of his
soul and the gende stroke of his bow.
The first volume of 82 compositions
was first published in 1988 under the
tide of ' The Hidden Ireland'. Sean
bestowed honour on many of his
friends, admirers and fellow musicians
by naming tunes after them. Many
tunes got their tides from place-names
associated with the composing or
playing of them. Aptly enough Rev. John
Quinn and Rev. PJ. Kelly also
'christened' many of his tunes.
Sean was very close to nature and his
music reflects this. Often he got
inspiration or 'a run of notes' while
listening to the birds or a flowing
stream. Later in the peace and solitude
of his own home he would get his
fiddle and work on these notes.
Sometimes after a session with great
musicians he would be inspired to
compose new tunes. His whole heart
and spirit went into that music. Each
tune reflects the personality of the man
himself, kind, gende. genial and witty.
The late Pat Lyons hoped the
publication of Sean's compositions
would give some idea of his greatness
as a composer:
";r would he impOSSible to put down on
paper with a pen what Sean could do with
his nngers, especially his excellent technique
of treble and grace note, rolls and so on"
He was a frequent performer on Irish
traditional music pro~rammes on radio
and television. On two occasions he
toured the U.S.A. The audiences were so
thrilled by his performances in 1968 that
plans were made for his return in 1969.
Ireland's First 'Concert of Champions'
under the direction of Sean Ryan
performed in all the major cities of the
U.S.A. that year. As Labhras 6 Murchu
said at Sean's Memorial Concert in 1986:
'1 had the honour in 1969 to tour North
America with Sean and a number of other
musicians. I remember tralJellin~
throu~hout the United States, and each
hall, one after the other packed to
capacity. It was quite oblJious that each
time Sean Ryan came out on sta~e that the
audience was fully aware that they were
in the presence of a ~reat artist and he
was held in hi~h admiration. It is a ~reat
thin~ that someone is thou~ht 50 hi~hly of
50 far away from home. But it does
underline in no uncertain manner that
Sean Ryan was a ~iant amon~ ~iants" .
Sean was called to eternity on 15
November 1985.
That he did not live to see his works
published is to be re~retted but I'm sure
it will brin~ happiness to him now as it
does to us to see his lon~ cherished
ambition fulfilled. I treasure all the happy
memories I have of Sean. I really miss his
~entle lovin~ disposition, his calmin~
peaceful influence, and his unique sense
of humour, wit and charm. I am very
happy to be instrumental in making 'Sean
Ryan 's Dream' come true.
Taimid faoi chomaoin an mh6r a~ gach
duine a chabhraigh linn an leabhar seo a
fhoilsiu: Pat Lyons (R.I.P.), Frank McCollam
(R.I.P.), Rev. John Quinn, Rev. PJ. Kelly,
Paddy O'Brien, Eddie Kelly, Caitriona
Ryan agus gach duine a chabhraigh linn.
Without the expertise, interest and
dedication of Brian, Sean's son, this book
would not have materialised.
I ~comluadar na Aln~eal sna f/aithis ~o
raibh Sean.
Go gcuire an leabhar seo aoibhneas
agus son as ar ghach leitheoir.
Kathleen Ryan