J - Comhaltas Archive

was to rehearse all the items first , then
to have a dress rehearsal and only then
to record the entire concert from start
to finish in one go. Brian decided on
the latter course for two reasons.
Firstly, recording the entire concert in
one go would allow it to flow naturally
and , secondly , doing all the rehearsals
first would allow us to record as late as
8.00 p.m. This meant that we could
have a studio audience which is a very
desirable feature in any music
programme.
I made out a draft for audience
tickets and brought it over to the RTE
printing unit and then made the
necessary arrangements for the distribution
of the tickets. Once that was done,
RTE Reception, Security and the House
Superintendant were informed that an
audien ce of 120 persons would be arriving
at 7.45 p.m. approx. on the 3rd CLlODHNA DEMPSEY
of September to attend the recording of
a concert in Studio I . A number of
other details had to be looked after too.
Dressingrooms were booked for the artistes,
programme graphics were ordered
and work began on the script and running
order. Once Brian had written
these, they were typed up and brought
over to the printing unit for copying.
Production details were ironed out at
a production planning meeting
convened by RTE's Production, Planning
and Control Department. This was
attended by representatives from
Cameras, Sound, Lighting, Floor Management,
Design and others, and the
purpose of the meeting was to decide on
the kind of facilities we would need on
the day and how we planned to use
them. One thing we wanted , for
in stance, was a fourth camera which
co uld give us an overhead shot of the
performers taken from the studio
gantry. This was information essential
not only to Studio Cameras but to
Lighting as well because it meant that
the enormous lamps which light the
Studio would have to be re-arranged so
as no t to get in the way of the overhead
shot. Meetings like this are extremely
valuable simply be cause they diminish
the possibility o f the kind of fo ul-up
which wo uld cost us valuable studio
time on the day.
Eventually , preparations for the reco
rding o f the programme were brought
to as near a state of completio n as is
possible and it was time to meet the
artistes during rehearsals in Monkstown.
These were attended by Brian, Peter
Fletcher (our Soundman) and myself.
Peter needed to hear the instruments
and the overall sound produced by the
artistes for it was his job to make sure
the programme sounded good. Brian
needed to see the line-up of the
musicians and dancers from a Director's EOIN 0 CIONNAITH
point of view, and I needed to time the
various items to make sure the
programme didn't overrun on the day.
Next morning, we arrived in Studio I
in Donnybrook to begin camera rehearsal
for " With A Song And A Tune" , as
we had decided to call the programme.
Scripts were distributed to Cameras,
Sound, Lighting, Floor Manager, Vision
Mixer, Master Control and the Central
Apparatus Room. Each item was rehearsed
at least twice , sometimes three
times, as various camera shots and
angles were tried out. This carried on
until four o'clock at which point we
went through a dress rehearsal. Eventually
it was teatime and we all took a
well-deserved break. After tea, we
would begin to record the programme.
When we arrived back, the reception
area was beginning to fill up. The
aud ience had arrived. As soon as they
were in their seats they were welcomed
in turn by Floor Manager, Tadhg De
Brim, and Producer/ Director, Brian
Eustace. A few minutes later recording
commenced.
The programme opened with the ensemble
performing " Sweet Biddy Daly"
which was followed by an introduction
from Presenter, Cliodhna Dempsey, who
hosted the show. The musicians and
dancers of Comhaltas Ceolt6iri Eireann
gave an excellent performance throughout
the entire show to the obvious
delight of the studio audience. Anne
Mulqueen's singing was beautiful, the
dancing of Maria Wogan, Frieda Gray,
Michael Ryan and Michael Cooney was
at times astounding and all the
musicians were wonderful. Perhaps I
will be forgiven if [ mentionjust one of
the many musicians who made it such a
splendid concert, that is Eoin b
Cionnaith. Eoin's " Fiach An Mhadra
Rua" , so beautifu lIy performed on the
uilleann pipes, made a deep and lasting
impression on me. The uilleann pipes
are a difficult enough instrument to
play at the best of times and a piece as
complex as " Fiach An Mhadra Rua"
doesn' t make it any easier. But such
was Eoin's sheer mastery of the pipes
that he conveyed the music, sound and
atmosphere of the " Fox Hunt". It was
musical wizardry at its best.
Once the programme was finished we
could all breathe a sigh of relief. But
there was still work to be done. The
programme had to be checked and
details had to be sent to the Presentation
Department who are responsible
for the actual transmission of all programmes.
Then we worked on publicity
and Brian wrote an article about the
programme for the " RTE Guide". Finally,
the programme was transmitted,
the tape was stored and I closed another
file .
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