Letters addressed to John Reid (Reid, Seán, 1907-1978) from various correspondents including musicians John Potts, who taught Reid the uilleann pipes, Tommie Potts (Potts, Tommie, 1912-1988) and Brother Gildas (Ó Sé, Pádraig, ? 1881-1960).
This subseries contains correspondence, accounts book, membership lists, receipts, meeting minutes, rules and objective documents, insurance policies, rent notices, bills and equipment manuals relating to the early years of Na Píobairí Uilleann, particularly to the period when their premises was located at 32 East Essex Street, Dublin 2.
This subseries relates to the various activities carried out by Na Píobairí Uilleann to promote their organisation, as well as, the art of uilleann piping and pipe making. These activities include the publication of it newsletter An Píobaire, exhibitions on uilleann piping, the promotion of the uilleann pipes through participation in music competitions like Feis Ceoil and the establishment of pipe making companies throughout Ireland.
General correspondence from uilleann pipers, other musicians, academic researchers and Irish music enthusiasts from Ireland, United Kingdom, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Australia and the United States of America. Many of the correspondents request information on membership to Na Píobairí Uilleann, they look for information about piping classes, about where they can buy uilleann pipes and about pipe and reed making classes. Letter writers also requests to buy the society’s publications including tutor books, the journals Ceol & An Píobaire and request to purchase cane, hemp and reeds. They also look for information on contemporary and historical uilleann pipers, sound recordings and sheet music and seek answers to technical questions about chanter and reed making. Many letters contain information about uilleann pipes, pipers, reed making and pipe manufacturing. Some letters compliment Breandán Breathnach on his publications. Regular correspondents include Tom Busby, Martin Cooney, Wilbert Garvin, Robbie Hannan, Robert McMahon, Pat McNulty, Bill Ochs, Theodor Podnos, Ronnie Wathen. There are also some letters relating to the early years of the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare. Undated letters are filed at the end of the series.
This subseries contains exam papers, lecture notes, articles, newspaper clippings, concert programmes, music catalogues, photographs, drawings, serials, musical instrument catalogues and letters relating to music education, teaching, music research and musical instruments, most notably the piano, harp, oboe, cimbalom and heckelphone. Bell’s study of musical composition as well as his lifelong interest in ethnic music and musical instruments of other countries including Romania, Bulgaria and Peru is reflected in this subseries. His research into the hammered dulcimer which led to the recreation of the ancient Irish instrument known as the tiompán can also be seen in his papers in this subseries (DBE-239678/2/1/4).
This subseries contains seminar notes, letters, articles and religious texts relating to Bell’s interest in Buddhism, Eastern mysticism, Kriya Yoga and the power of music and meditation to counteract evil. Seminar notes and articles are from the teaching of guru, Gideon Fontalba. The second file in this subseries relates to letters and articles which refer to a legal case involving a minister of the Self Realization Fellowship, Swami Kriyanan (born James Donald Walters). Kriyanan was a friend of Derek Bell for many years and collaborated with him on two CDs - Mystical harp and Mystical harp II . Other religious texts are from a distance learning course provided by the Arcane School, London, England. The school provides students with training in meditation and offers a service to develop their spiritual potential.
