Original and photocopied typescripts, programmes and newspaper clippings, and two original letters. Includes various drafts of the programme notes for ‘Symphony No. 2 in D ( The violet flame-Comte de St. Germain ) for harp obligato and large orchestra, with piano, organ and wordless choir, Derek F. Bell’. Bell concludes the discussion about the symphony in his notes as follows ‘I hope it can be easily and quickly understood by the average concert goer for it is a reactionary work and it is not an esoteric piece for the avant-garde music-specialist, but for everyone.’ [1990]; copy of programme for the première of the symphony, performed by ‘The Colchester Chamber Orchestra, (in association with Eastern Arts), Promenade concert, sponsored by Colchester and East Essex Co-operative Society at St Botolph’s Church, Colchester [Essex, England]. Leader: Beth Spendlove, Soloist: Derek Bell, Conductor: Christopher Phelps’ (7 May 1990); programmes of other performances of The violet flame by the Northern Ireland Symphony (10 Aug 1991) and (10 Nov 1991); reviews of the composition and its performance in various newspapers including the Glasgow herald (15 Aug 1991), the Sunday press (10 Nov 1991), the Gaelic daily , Los Angeles, [California, United States of America] (27 Nov 1991).
Commercial and non-commercial tape cassette. Includes recordings of Derek Bell and The Chieftains; a 3 tape cassette publication of The Chieftains: the authorized biography by John Glatt, narrated by Nanci Griffith (1999); various recordings relating to music and mysticism; recordings sent to Derek Bell of other artists including a recording of Irish fiddle player Sean Maguire in the Clare Folk Club (11 Jul 1978) and a recording of Sean Maguire and Josephine Keegan in the Shetlands (n.d.); radio interviews with Derek Bell and The Chieftains; demo tapes; recordings of lectures; recordings of various artists which have recorded with The Chieftains including Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison, Midge Ure; recordings of Derek Bell’s compositions; and recordings of folk music from around the world including Folksongs from Rumania (n.d.)
This series documents the activities of The Chieftains between the years 1974 and 2002 when Derek Bell was a member of the group. The subseries contains promotional material produced by the group’s record companies, tour schedules and itineraries, performance set-lists, programmes, ephemera, newspaper clippings, reviews, articles, photographs and memorabilia. Also included are a number of awards including a Grammy Award nominee medal (DBE-239678/4/2/9) and platinum, gold and silver discs awarded to the group for achieving exceptional album sales in a number of different jurisdictions.
Framed gold disc, presented to The Chieftains by The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), engraved as follows: ‘to commemorate the sales of more than 500,000 copies of the RCA Victor Records The long black veil ’.
Original, photocopied and faxed Chieftains’ tour schedules mostly dating from 1995-1998. The schedules have information about travel, accommodation, rooming lists, rehearsals, sound checks, recording sessions and dates and venues of shows. Produced by The Chieftains’ public relations and management representatives including Sinead Murphy, Dalkey, Co Dublin, Yvonne Mc Mahon, MCMA, Dublin and SL Feldman & Associates, Vancouver, British Columbia, [Canada]. Includes schedules for Australian tour (11 Nov 1995); Brunswick, [Georgia, United States of America] tour (17 Sep 1996); Nashville/Toronto tour (29 Sep 1997); Seville and Barcelona tour/recording session with Montserrat Caballe (1 Jun 1998); Killarney concert (26 May 1998); recording session for Christmas in Rome CD (25 May 1998); ‘The Chieftains’ U.S. tour ‘98’ (16 Jun 1998); The Chieftains’ tour dates 2000/2001 for Argentina & United States of America (20 Nov 2000); The Chieftains’ United States of America tour Jan-Mar 2001 (6 Jan 2001); The Chieftains’ ‘Millennium Cruise 2000 to Antarctica’ (26 Dec 1999); and The Chieftains’ rooming list for United States of America tour Jan-Mar 2002 (7 Dec 2001).
