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The Music Association of Ireland (MAI) was set up in 1948 to improve the position of classical music within the cultural life of Ireland. It was instrumental in setting up the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland and played a leading role in the long-running campaign to establish Ireland's National Concert Hall. In 2007, the association changed its name to Friends of Classical Music. ==Early years== In May 1948 it was announced that a new body, to be known as the Music Association of Ireland, was being set up to promote classical music in Ireland.〔''The Irish Times'', "New Group To Promote Music", 21 May 1948〕〔''Irish Independent'', "New music association", 25 May 1948〕 The new association had six objectives: #to further musical education #to improve conditions for composers and musicians #to help establish a national concert hall #to lobby on matters of music policy #to encourage musical groups throughout the country #to organise concerts and lectures.〔 A governing council of thirteen individuals was set up to oversee the running of the association. Among its members were composers, Brian Boydell, Aloys Fleischman, and Frederick May. A small management committee was also appointed comprising Olive Smith, honorary treasurer, and Michael McMullin, honorary secretary.〔 Six months after its formation the MAI had gained only eighty three members. Nevertheless, it immediately began to lobby government for greater financial support for live performances, particularly those given by the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra〔''Sunday Independent'', "Those symphony concerts", 7 November 1948〕 In 1950 the MAI undertook its greatest challenge to date when it organised a festival of concerts and lectures to commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach. For several months, members raised funds〔''The Irish Times'', "Backers for Bach wanted", 27 May 1950〕 and tried to source Baroque instruments, such as a harpsichord, not readily available in Ireland.〔''The Irish Times'', "An Irishman's Diary", 29 June 1950〕 The festival took place between September and November 1950 in various Dublin venues and featured local and international performers. For instance, English bass, Owen Brannigan, sang in the B Minor Mass, and the principal and second trumpeters of the London Symphony Orchestra were engaged to play the D trumpets in the same work.〔''The Irish Times'', "Bach bi-centenary commemoration", 27 September 1950〕 While individual aspects of performance were criticised, the initiative was generally welcomed.〔''Irish Press'', "Concert in memory of J. S. Bach", 23 October 1950〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Music Association of Ireland」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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