Original letters and texts from the Headquarters Group, Weavers in the Light, Arcane School, Whitehall Court, London, England to Derek Bell. Includes ‘tenth set of papers in the Weavers in the light course’ (Sep 1995); notice of ‘World Invocation Day’ (1 June 1996); and letter from Arcane School to Derek Bell thanking him for his ‘spirited reports and papers’ (June 1996).
Original and photocopied newspaper clippings and magazines articles about Derek Bell. The majority of the articles are from the period 1973-1996. Many of the articles refer to Bell’s upcoming performances, projects or recordings and include detailed biographical information. The articles are from a variety of newspapers and serials including the Pittsburgh post-gazette [Pennsylvania, United States of America], Belfast telegraph, Melody maker [London, England], Brunswick news [Georgia, United States of America], Times-union and journal Jacksonville [Florida, United States of America], Irish times [Dublin], News letter [Belfast], Belfast review, Prince George citizen [British Columbia, Canada], Irish edition [Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, United States of America] and Harbour sound, Brunswick, Georgia, [United States of America], Radio times, Harpa, Ulster tatler, Harp column, and American harp journal.
Original and photocopied drawings and sketches. Includes copy of ‘The Chieftains ice design at the Bean Pot, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada’ (Winter 1991); copy of a sketch of Derek Bell playing the Irish harp (1993); and a pen sketch of Derek Bell playing the pedal harp (7 Dec 1994).
Original certificates for various nominations and awards received by The Chieftains. Includes Grammy certificates awarded by The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to The Chieftains for the following nominations: the ‘Best ethnic or traditional folk recording, The grey fox album (1983); ‘Best traditional folk recording, Celtic wedding album (1987); ‘Best country instrumental performance ‘Cotton-eyed Joe’ (track from Another country ) (1992); ‘Best pop instrumental performance, ‘Tahitian skies’ (track from Another country )’ (1992); ‘Best country vocal collaboration ‘Killybegs’ (track from Another country )’ (1992); ‘Best traditional folk album, An Irish evening live at the Grand Opera House, Belfast ’ (1992); ‘Best contemporary folk album, Another country ’ (1992); ‘Best contemporary folk album, The long black veil (1995); ‘Best pop collaboration with vocals ‘Have I told you lately that I love you?’ (1995); ‘Best pop instrumental performance ‘An gaoth aneas’ (1997); ‘Best pop collaboration with vocals ‘Shenandoah’ (with Van Morrison) (1998); ‘Best traditional folk album Long journey home ’ (1998); ‘Best country instrumental performance ‘Sally Goodin’ (with Earl Scruggs)’ (2002); ‘Best contemporary folk album Down the old plank road ’ (2002).
Letters from Alan Bell, Norway to Derek Bell relating to the history of the Bell Family. Includes copies of articles, biographies and family trees which Alan Bell has acquired during his research into the family; copy of a marriage certificate for Henry O’Neill and Elizabeth Black; copy of a photograph of Elizabeth (nee Black) O’Neill; and four photographs of [Sydney Bell], Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot, uncle of Derek Bell. Sydney Bell died in a plane crash at the age of 27 on 16 June 1927.
Original typed and photocopied letters, faxes and contracts from various solicitors and copyright agencies to Derek Bell. All material relates to The Chieftains. Includes two letters which relate to the registering of musical works with the Performing Right Society (PRS), London, England and the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), Dublin. Includes letter from Greg Meagher, PRS, London, England to Derek Bell about registering Derek Bell and Paddy Moloney’s arrangement of ‘The Coolin and Sean Coolin’ with PRS (25 July 1988); also includes letter from Andy Godfrey, Chrysalis Music, Bramley Road, London, England writing on behalf of IMRO to Derek Bell, Bangor and Seán Potts, Dublin ‘regarding some confusion over the song ‘Lonesome’. Two entries exist in the IMRO database for the song ‘one shows Seán Potts as sole arranger and the other shows Seán Potts and Derek Bell as joint arrangers’. Godfrey wants to know ‘which of the two is correct’. (15 July ?)
Original letters, fax and draft programme. Includes letters from Margaret McKee, Producer, World Service, BBC, London, England to Derek Bell. Bell has been asked to ‘compose the harp accompaniment’ to a series of stories and legends which she has sent to him on cassettes. The series is called ‘ The Celts ’, one of the stories is that of ‘Donn Bo - the head that even when it is severed from the body continues to live, to smile and even to make music!’ (1 Nov 1984); a faxed commissioning contract from Anne Dhu Shapiro, Boston College Music Department (the commissioner) to Derek Bell (the composer). The contract outlines the financial arrangements, the deadline for completion of commission and the ownership of the composition. ‘Apart from the commissioner’s right to give the first performance of the commissioned work, all other rights in the composition remain the property of the composer’ (22 Nov 1991); also includes a draft programme for the performance by Derek Bell and the Boston College Chamber Orchestra of the commissioned work Three pictures from Ancient Ireland in druid times (1991).
Commercial and non-commercial CDs. Includes recordings of The Chieftains albums and concerts; solo recordings of Derek Bell; recordings of his compositions including The violet flame symphony and ‘Come on, Northern Ireland’; recordings of radio interviews with Derek Bell; recordings of radio programmes about Derek Bell; and a small number of other musicians’ CDs including Raga Omar Khannam, Secret Garden and Béla Fleck.
Includes concert programmes, ephemera and posters relating to performances by Derek Bell on various instruments including the classical and Irish harp, piano, oboe, cor anglais and cimbalom in a number of countries including Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States of America and Canada. Programmes and posters include ‘Gramophone record recitals, Belfast Public Libraries Music Library, An East-West miscellany, presented by Mr Derek F. Bell’ (12 Jan 1965); ‘Recital of music from many periods and countries by Derek Bell accompanied at the piano by Peggy Johnston and Yvonne Ruttle’ (2 Dec 1972); ‘The Mozart Society Presents Derek Fleetwood Bell’ Musgrove Plantation, Saint Simons Island, Georgia, United States of America (6 Apr 1975); ‘Brunswick Junior College presents Derek Fleetwood Bell, harp and oboe [with] Alice Applegate Smith, piano’ (13 Jan 1978); ‘60 years, BBC Northern Ireland anniversary concert, The Ulster Orchestra’ (17 Oct 1984); ‘Derek Bell in concert, Harbour Festival [Belfast] 1991’ (23 Sep 1991); ‘Music from Bulgaria: a concert of music & songs from the School of Beinsa Douno (1864-1944), St James’ Church, Piccadilly, London [England]’ (15 Nov 1994); ‘University College Dublin International Summer School, July 1998, 50th anniversary celebration concert, harp and piano recital by Derek Bell’ (13 July 1998).
