Leo Rowsome
Encyclopedia
Leo Rowsome was the third generation of an unbroken line of uilleann pipers
. He was performer, manufacturer and teacher
of the uilleann pipes - the complete master of his instrument. He devoted his entire life to the uilleann pipes.
Samuel Rowsome, Leo’s grandfather sent his sons, John, Thomas and William to a German teacher of music
who resided in Ferns
, near their home in Co. Wexford
to learn the theory of music and how to play various instruments
. This knowledge was passed on through William to his son, Leo who made good use of it in his teaching, writing music for his many pupils.
Leo was born in Harold's Cross, Dublin in 1903. His father, William realised that his son had the ability to become a talented musician
and craftsman
. Constantly watching his father making and repairing instruments, Leo learned the art of pipe making and instrument repair. So rapid was his progress at piping that in 1919 at the age of sixteen he was appointed teacher of the uilleann pipes at Dublin’s Municipal School of Music (now D.I.T. Conservatory of Music & Drama) for 50 years. He also taught at Dublin’s Pipers Club of which he was President.
In 1925, Leo’s father died at the age of fifty-five. Leo successfully carried on the family business
, after completing his own set of pipes in 1926. The instrument remained an object of fascination
and veneration
for countless audiences at home and abroad.
Leo was the first uilleann piper to perform on Irish National Radio in the early 1920s when he played solo and later in duets with Frank O’Higgins (fiddle
), Micheal O Duinn (fiddle) and Leo’s brother John (fiddle). Leo’s "All Ireland Trio" comprised Neilus Cronin, flute
, Seamus O‘Mahony, fiddle and Leo pipes. He formed his Pipes Quartet in the mid 1930s and broadcast regularly throughout the 1940s/50s. Leo was the first Irish artist to perform on BBC
T.V. (1933). He made many recordings for Decca
, Columbia
and HMV
. His last commercial recording, CC1 “Ri na bPiobairi” (King of the Pipers) was made for Claddagh Records
in 1966.
Leo Rowsome died suddenly whilst adjudicating ‘The Fiddler of Dooney Competition’ in Riverstown
, Co. Sligo on 20 September 1970.
To commemorate the Centenary of Leo’s birth, his daughter, Helena had some of Leo’s original manuscript
s published by Waltons in 2003. "The Leo Rowsome Collection of Irish Music" consists of 428 reels
and jig
s. Leo’s Tutor for the Uilleann Pipes (published by Waltons 1936) is included in that publication.
Leo’s grandson, Kevin (5th generation) is an accomplished uilleann piper.
Uilleann pipes
The uilleann pipes or //; ) are the characteristic national bagpipe of Ireland, their current name, earlier known in English as "union pipes", is a part translation of the Irish-language term píobaí uilleann , from their method of inflation.The bag of the uilleann pipes is inflated by means of a...
. He was performer, manufacturer and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
of the uilleann pipes - the complete master of his instrument. He devoted his entire life to the uilleann pipes.
Samuel Rowsome, Leo’s grandfather sent his sons, John, Thomas and William to a German teacher of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
who resided in Ferns
Ferns, County Wexford
Ferns is a small historic town in north County Wexford, Ireland with a population of about 900. It is 16 km from Enniscorthy, where the Gorey to Enniscorthy N11 road joins the R745 regional road...
, near their home in Co. Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
to learn the theory of music and how to play various instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
. This knowledge was passed on through William to his son, Leo who made good use of it in his teaching, writing music for his many pupils.
Leo was born in Harold's Cross, Dublin in 1903. His father, William realised that his son had the ability to become a talented musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and craftsman
Master craftsman
A master craftsman or master tradesman was a member of a guild. In the European guild system, only masters were allowed to be members of the guild....
. Constantly watching his father making and repairing instruments, Leo learned the art of pipe making and instrument repair. So rapid was his progress at piping that in 1919 at the age of sixteen he was appointed teacher of the uilleann pipes at Dublin’s Municipal School of Music (now D.I.T. Conservatory of Music & Drama) for 50 years. He also taught at Dublin’s Pipers Club of which he was President.
In 1925, Leo’s father died at the age of fifty-five. Leo successfully carried on the family business
Family business
A family business is a business in which one or more members of one or more families have a significant ownership interest and significant commitments toward the business’ overall well-being....
, after completing his own set of pipes in 1926. The instrument remained an object of fascination
Fascination
Fascination may refer to:In music:*Fascination!, 1983 synth pop album by The Human League**" Fascination", a song in The Human League album Fascination!...
and veneration
Veneration
Veneration , or veneration of saints, is a special act of honoring a saint: an angel, or a dead person who has been identified by a church committee as singular in the traditions of the religion. It is practiced by the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic, and Eastern Catholic Churches...
for countless audiences at home and abroad.
Leo was the first uilleann piper to perform on Irish National Radio in the early 1920s when he played solo and later in duets with Frank O’Higgins (fiddle
Fiddle
The term fiddle may refer to any bowed string musical instrument, most often the violin. It is also a colloquial term for the instrument used by players in all genres, including classical music...
), Micheal O Duinn (fiddle) and Leo’s brother John (fiddle). Leo’s "All Ireland Trio" comprised Neilus Cronin, flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, Seamus O‘Mahony, fiddle and Leo pipes. He formed his Pipes Quartet in the mid 1930s and broadcast regularly throughout the 1940s/50s. Leo was the first Irish artist to perform on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
T.V. (1933). He made many recordings for Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and HMV
HMV Group
HMV is a British global entertainment retail chain and is the largest of its kind in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The company also operates in Hong Kong and Singapore. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE Fledgling Index...
. His last commercial recording, CC1 “Ri na bPiobairi” (King of the Pipers) was made for Claddagh Records
Claddagh Records
Claddagh Records is a record label which was founded in 1959 by Garech Browne and Ivor Browne. It specialises in Irish traditional music and spoken word. Gareth had been taking lessons at the time from the master piper Leo Rowsome whose artistry was very well known. Leo, who had made many...
in 1966.
Leo Rowsome died suddenly whilst adjudicating ‘The Fiddler of Dooney Competition’ in Riverstown
Riverstown
Riverstown, historically called Ballyederdaowen , is a village in County Sligo, Ireland. It is located at a bridging point of the River Unshin , about 19 km south of Sligo town and 4 km east of the N4....
, Co. Sligo on 20 September 1970.
To commemorate the Centenary of Leo’s birth, his daughter, Helena had some of Leo’s original manuscript
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
s published by Waltons in 2003. "The Leo Rowsome Collection of Irish Music" consists of 428 reels
Reel (dance)
The reel is a folk dance type as well as the accompanying dance tune type. In Scottish country dancing, the reel is one of the four traditional dances, the others being the jig, the strathspey and the waltz, and is also the name of a dance figure ....
and jig
Jig
The Jig is a form of lively folk dance, as well as the accompanying dance tune, originating in England in the 16th century and today most associated with Irish dance music and Scottish country dance music...
s. Leo’s Tutor for the Uilleann Pipes (published by Waltons 1936) is included in that publication.
Leo’s grandson, Kevin (5th generation) is an accomplished uilleann piper.
Discography
- Rí na bPíobairí (King of the Pipers) (1969)
- The Drones and the Chanters (1971)
- Classics of Irish Piping (1975)