R.A.O.D.S.

THEATRE APPEAL

MARY O'HARA

In Concertwith full supporting programme

ROMSEY ABBEY27th FEBRUARY 1982

produced byJOHN PADDY BROWNE

Mary O'Hara 1956

JOHN PADDY BROWNEwritesIf Mary O'Hara enjoys a world-wide popularity today, it isbecause the world is readyfor, and badly in need of, apanacea for its many ills. ForMary O'Hara is both ananachronism and a perfectantidote in the world ofpopular entertainment, a fieldso cluttered with one-daywonders, instant successesand failures that one can onlyregard a figure of enduringappeal as a phenomenon.There is a handful of suchphenomenona in this worldof popular song, but evenamong these Mary O'Hara isunique, for her gifts areacclaimed on a number of

levels and in a number of circles.When she first appeared, as a young recording artist in the

1950s, she was hailed as the saviour of classic folksong. Thecelebrated American Joan Baez has told us that Mary O'Harawas her earliest model and inspiration. Miss O'Hara's firstrecords, still sought after and highly prized by collectors,remain unchallenged masterpieces of their kind. They reveala voice of unrivalled beauty, a skill and discretion far inadvance of the young singer's years, and a harp ac-companiment of flawless dexterity. It appeared that, from herfirst sung note, she was already in a state of musicalperfection.

What the passage of time has done to Mary O'Hara issimply to consolidate that sense of perfection she so amplyimparted to her audience, and added to that is a maturity ofvoice and interpretation which are qualities that cannot beforced, but which come to rest in an artist who has used hergifts with intelligence and wisdom.

Today Mary O'Hara sings a much wider repertoire, but toeach song she performs, however humble a piece of music itmay be, she brings all her skills, so that often the song actuallysounds betterthan it really is. The audience for popular musichas,through Mary O'Hara s enormous world-wide popularity,vindicated the theory that good songs well sung are stillsought after, and it is to the lasting credit of the media -radio and television and records that they have recognisedin Mary O'Hara a unique artist who embodies qualities webarely expected ever to see or hear again on the popularstage.

RECORDS BY MARY O'HARA

Songs of Erin (1957) Decca/Beltona LBE13Love Songs of Ireland (1958) Decca/Beltona LBE20Songs of Ireland (1958) Tradition, USA, TLP1024Reissued, minus two tracks, by Decca/Emerald, UK MLD22

Mary O'Hara's Ireland (1973) Decca/Emerald GES1095Mary O'Hara's Scotland (1974) Decca/Emerald GES1116Monday, Tuesday, and other children's

songs (1977) Decca/Emerald GES1167At the Royal Festival Hall (1977) Chrysalis CHR1159Music Speaks Louder than Words (1978) Chrysalis CHR1194FOCUS on Mary O'Hara (double album)

(1978) Decca FOS49-50In Harmony (1979) Chrysalis CHR1217The Scent of the Roses (1980) Chrysalis CHR1308Colours (1981) Images IMG0001

There are a number of 'anthologies' which feature one ormore tracks by Miss O'Hara, and several 45rpm discs, as wellas several reissues under different covers of the albums listedabove, but all of these are too numerous to be able tocatalogue here.

Mary O'Hara's autobiography The Scent of the Roses(Michael Joseph, 1980; Fontana paperback, 1981) was theNational Book League's No. 1 Best Seller two weeks after itspublication.

PRODUCTION

Stage Ken StottRAOpS liaison John McllwainLighting Mike BrooksPublicity Design Alan WhittakerFront of House Diane Hargreaves

Special thanks to Francis Powis of John CoastManagement for his co-operation in the production ofthis concert.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Box Office Roger Shaw, Market Place, RomseyCarpet loaned by Gordon Saunders

Special acknowledgements to Canon David Shearlockand the P.C.C. of Romsey Abbey, and to the Editor ofthe Romsey Advertiser tor continued support.

The Mary O'Hara Clubexists to circulate infor-mation on forthcomingconcert tours, publicappearances, recordreleases, etc. by MissO'Hara. For further detailsof the Club, please writeto Sarah Hook, WestMoors, Wimborne, Dorset,BH22 OJD. Records byMiss O'Hara and copies ofher autobiography TheScent of the Roses (hard-back and paperback) areavailable from Miss Hook.

RAQD.S Jhe RA0.D.S. Theatre Appeal waslaunched to raise funds with which topurchase and equip a purpose-builttheatre and arts centre for the town. Inlaunching the Appeal the Society was,in the words of its President, Lord

Romsey, 'facing the greatest challenge in its existence.'The people of Romsey, and further afield, too, have

already given generously to this Appeal, and whenartists of the international stature of Mary O'Hara canlend their time and reputations to such an appeal, thenwe can get some measure of the worth of the cause.

If you feel that you want to help in some tangibleway, please contact Mike Nelson, Clarence House,Winchester Hill, Romsey, or Ken Stott, 58 St BlaizeRoad, Romsey.

THE OTHER ARTISTSLALLAN The name of the group gives a clue to the music theyperform: 'Lallan" - or Lowland dialect - is one of the traditionalScottish song-forms which encompasses both the lyric folk-songs and the epic ballads, some of which can take a wholeday to sing. We're not promised too many of these tonight!Dave and Jean Mallen and Alex Watt between them playconcertina, Northumbrian pipes, flute, guitars and smallorgan.

LALLAN was recently voted 'Best group in the South' by aBBC poll taken among their peers in the folk clubs of the area.

SYLVIA and BILL ROGERS Before his recent ordination toCurate ( incumbent at Chandlers Ford ) Bill Rogers was oneof the most popular and accomplished classical guitarists inthe south. Not that his increasing reverence has dimmed hismusical dexterity, but clerical pressures have severelycurtailed his secular activities of late! Sylvia's clear voice isideally suited to the type of song they choose to sing - adelightful evocation of a bygone age.

WOODFIDLEY is a dance display team who specialise indances from England, Wales and the Isle of Man. They havean enviable reputation in Europe, and among their notableappearances have been those at The International FolkloreFestival held annually at Sidmouth, the Manx Yn Chruinnaght,the Royal Albert Hall Annual Folk Festival, and the Parade ofNations in the Netherlands. Their dances are meticulouslyresearched and performed in authentic forms and movements.

GRAHAM PENNY Every once in a while a local songwriterwins a national reputation, and Graham Penny is the latest insuch a line. His song about long-voyage ships returning toport at Southampton is currently being sung by professionalsingers up and down the country, and his list of self-pennedballads is impressive for its volume and quality. Most of hissongs have a local flavour, but they concern themselves withwider emotions than purely parochial ones.