Monday 30 April 2018

#Archive30

In March 2018, the Archives and Records Association of Scotland challenged archives from around the world to get to know each other a bit better. They suggested taking to Twitter and posting on a different theme everyday, all ending with #Archive30. Starting on April 1, ITMA took up this challenge with a series of tweets. We were so delighted with the range of images and sounds that resulted, we decided to compile the tweets here.

Archive30
The daily themes for the #Archive30 challenge.

April 3: Weather

A feeling in the blood (recorded 1953) features Neillidh Boyle on the sources of his music and the state of Irish music. CD2 features Neillidh's own tune, 'The Moving Clouds Reel.' A must listen for fans of Irish traditional music. #Archive30

A feeling in the blood [sound recording] / Néillidh Boyle

April 5: Something small

Intended as an affordable alternative to DATs, minidiscs gained popularity at the turn of the 21st century. But like wax cylinders, reel-to-reel tape, and cassettes, they've been replaced with new technologies. Just one of the ways sound is stored at ITMA. #Archive30

Minidisc
Sony minidisc recorder.

April 6: Diary/letter

Facsimile of a thank you letter from Thomas Moore to the London Illustrated News, reproduced in that newspaper on the 6th March 1852. #Archive30

Facsimile of a letter to the ‘Illustrated London News’,1852 / [unidentified artist]
Facsimile of a letter to the ‘Illustrated London News’,1852 / [unidentified artist]
Facsimile of a letter to the ‘Illustrated London News’,1852 / [unidentified artist]

Facsimile of a letter to the ‘Illustrated London News’,1852 / [unidentified artist]

© Public domain

April 9: Animal

Coming to a céilí near you: the Bear Céilí Band. #Archive30

Five ceramic bears playing traditional instruments / ITMA photographer
Five ceramic bears playing traditional instruments / ITMA photographer
Five ceramic bears playing traditional instruments / ITMA photographer

Five ceramic bears playing traditional instruments / ITMA photographer

© ITMA

April 11: Favourite colour

Wax cylinders are extremely delicate technologies for storing sounds that were recorded more than a century ago. They also come in vivid colours. #Archive30

Red wax cylinder : de Hindeberg XIII
Red wax cylinder : de Hindeberg XIII
Red wax cylinder : de Hindeberg XIII

Red wax cylinder : de Hindeberg XIII

© Irish Traditional Music Archive

April 13: Journey to work

ITMA is centrally located in Merrion Square, Dublin. One of the best ways to get around this beautiful city is by bike: the majority of ITMA staff cycle to work every day. #Archive30

Bikes
Staff bikes at the backdoor to ITMA.

April 16: Something big

ITMA's Inishowen Song Project goes big: tall tales and big turnips in Inishowen. Jim Doherty singing in Cis Farren's bar in Inishowen in 1986. #Archive30

John Boiler, song / Jim Doherty (Smug), singing in English

April 18: Friendship

ITMA's Góilín Project features a bit of sound advice on friendship. Dominic Kelly from Dungiven singing in Tom Mayes pub in Dublin, 2005. #Archive30

Never despise an old friend / Dominic Kelly

April 22: Where you started

A young Nicholas Carolan, director emeritus, surveying the early ITMA collection in our original Quaker Library premises on Eustace Street. #Archive30

Nicolas Carolan Eustace Street
Nicolas Carolan in ITMA's original Eustace Street premises.

April 25: Happy

Listening to the music of Ed Reavy is sure to put a smile on your face. This collection of his compositions includes the well known reel 'Never was Piping so Gay.' #Archive30

The collected compositions of Ed Reavy [sound recording] / Ed Reavy

April 26: Recommended read

Interested in knowing more about how history shapes our traditions? Check out The Irish Dancing by Barbara O'Connor for an interesting take on how the invention of Irish step dancing mirrored the invention of a new Irish state. #Archive30

The Irish dancing : cultural politics and identities, 1900-2000 / Barbara O'Connor

April 28: Unusual item

ITMA's founding collection came from Breandán Breathnach. It includes a unique thematic index of dance tunes. #Archive30

Breathnach Index
Photo of Breandán Breathnach's thematic index of dance tunes.

April 30: Why Archives?

Collected from oral tradition during the 1860s and performed during the 2010s, ITMA worked with the Goodman family and TCD to bring Canon Goodman's Tunes of the Munster Pipers from page to stage. Check out the results! #Archive30

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Polka 548 from Tunes of the Munster Pipers / Aoife Ní Bhriain ; Coaimhín Ó Fearghail

WRITTEN & RESEARCHED

ITMA Staff
30 April 2018