BELLA BAILLIE (Soprano)
THE MANX FESTIVAL CHOIR
THE WIRELESS MILITARY BAND
Conducted by B. WALTON O'DONNELL
THE Manx Choir, of some sixty voices, may fairly claim to be the representative Choral
Society of the Isle of Man. It has won distinction wherever it has appeared, and holds one of the most important Shields competed for at Music Festivals. It naturally makes a speciality of the music of the Island, music which our larger island knows as yet but little. Within recent times some attention has been given to collecting traditional Manx melodies, and many tunes have been taken down from peasant singers. They have a good deal in common with what we know of Gaelic, music, and though some of the tunes inevitably recall English and Irish airs; there is no doubt a wealth of beautiful melody which is the islanders' undisputed property.
The national tune, included in the Choir's programme, is a strikingly original one, with a plaintive strain ; it has been published in various versions with different words. And in it, as in the other Manx airs in the programme, listeners will hear that the Island music has a charm of its own.