The outstanding brass band musical career of conductor Albert Chappell will form part of the newly launched Cornish National Music Archive.

The project aims to document all aspects of music making activity in Cornwall, and already has a substantial section covering the region's brass bands.

Heritage

It has been funded by the Cornwall Heritage Trust, Gorsedh Kernow and the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies, and is the work of Cornish musicians and researchers Tony Mansell, Merv Davey, Kate Neale and Garry Tregidga.

Tony told 4BR: "The Cornish National Music is an online resource featuring all kinds of Cornish music making — from brass bands to choirs, pub songs to rock bands, orchestras to pop."

Rediscovered

It stems from an archive of sheet music and old manuscripts collected by the former Cornish Music Guild, which had been housed in the Cornish Studies Library until it was rediscovered by the group and handed to Kresen Kernow.

Merv Davey, who is a director of Lowender Peran added: "Rediscovering the Guild's archive was the spark that got us thinking that there ought to be somewhere that brings all types of Cornish music — and music in Cornwall together."

That means that the archive has a broad and diverse scope — with Tony Mansell stating that they were delighted to find the recent 'Hall of Fame' article about Albert Chappell on 4BR.

To read the article about Albert Chappell by Tim Mutum on 4Barsrest was just the type of well researched item we want to includeCornish National Music Archive

Well researched

"My specialism is brass bands, so many of my articles focus on the history of these hugely important groups for communities across Cornwall. To read the article about Albert Chappell by Tim Mutum on 4Barsrest was just the type of well researched item we want to include."

Project leader Kate Neale, also stated that they hoped that people will be encouraged to contribute further information about brass bands and their personalities.

"We're hopeful that people will not only enjoy exploring what's already there, but also contribute their own entries.

You could add a biography of a composer you've a particular interest in, write up a memory about the best gigs you've seen in a particular venue in Cornwall — or give an account of a musical experience, whether as an audience member or as a performer — or something else.

Really, we're hoping that the archive will be a resource for music lovers of every type, spark ideas and discussions, and record important information for posterity."

Find out more

The website is freely available online for people to search and explore, and also has a section where visitors can create a profile and log in to write their own articles for publication.

Go to: www.cornishnationalmusicarchive.co.uk

To read the article go to:
https://www.4barsrest.com/articles/2020/1884.asp