Leo Rowsome facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Leo Rowsome
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Martin Leo Rowsome
5 April 1903 Harold's Cross, County Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | 20 September 1970 (aged 67) Riverstown, County Sligo, Republic of Ireland
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| Occupation | Musician |
Martin Leo Rowsome (born April 5, 1903 – died September 20, 1970) was a very important Irish musician. He was a master of the Uilleann pipes, a special type of Irish bagpipes. Leo was the third person in his family to play these pipes, continuing a long family tradition. He didn't just play them; he also made them and taught others how to play.
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The Rowsome Family's Musical Roots
Leo's family had a strong connection to music. His grandfather, Samuel Rowsome, made sure his sons learned music theory and how to play different instruments. This knowledge was passed down through Leo's father, William. Leo used this family knowledge to teach his many students and even write music for them.
Learning the Pipes and Craft
Leo was born in Harold's Cross, Dublin, in 1903. His father, William, was a carpenter who saw Leo's amazing talent for music and crafting. Leo spent a lot of time watching his father make and fix musical instruments. This is how he learned the special skill of making and repairing uilleann pipes himself.
Leo learned to play the pipes very quickly. By the time he was just 16 years old in 1919, he became a teacher of the uilleann pipes! He taught at Dublin's Municipal School of Music (now part of Dublin Institute of Technology) for 50 years.
When his father passed away in 1925, Leo took over the family business. He even finished making his own set of pipes in 1926. Leo also taught at Dublin's Pipers Club. He helped bring the club back to life in 1936 after it had been closed for 11 years, and he became its president.
Leo Rowsome: A Broadcasting Pioneer
Leo Rowsome was a true pioneer in Irish music. He was the very first uilleann piper to play on Irish National Radio in the early 1920s. He performed by himself and also played duets with other musicians like Frank O'Higgins and Micheal O Duinn, who played the fiddle. His brother John also played the fiddle with him.
Leo formed a group called the "All Ireland Trio." It included Neilus Cronin on flute, Seamus O'Mahony on fiddle, and Leo on his pipes. In the mid-1930s, he created his Pipes Quartet. They played on the radio often throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
Leo was also the first Irish artist to perform on BBC TV in 1933! He made many recordings for famous record labels like Decca, Columbia, and HMV. His last commercial recording was called "Ri na bPiobairi" (King of the Pipers) and was made in 1966.
Leo's Family and Legacy
In 1934, Leo married Helena Williams. They had two sons, Leon and Liam, and twin daughters, Helena and Olivia. All of their children were musical and played different instruments.
Leo's oldest son, Leon, continued the family tradition of making uilleann pipes. Leon also traveled the world playing the pipes by himself and recorded two albums. Leon and his wife, Noreen, had five children: Kevin, Mary, Anne, Nuala, and Caitríona. They also had ten grandchildren, who are Leo's great-grandchildren! Five of these great-grandchildren are now the sixth generation of uilleann pipers in the family.
Leon's son, Kevin, is a very talented and well-known uilleann piper today. He is the fifth generation of pipers in this amazing musical family.
Death and Lasting Impact
Leo Rowsome passed away suddenly on September 20, 1970, while he was judging a music competition in Riverstown, County Sligo.
To celebrate 100 years since Leo's birth in 2003, his daughter Helena had some of his original music notes published. This book, called "The Leo Rowsome Collection of Irish Music," contains 428 traditional Irish tunes like reels and jigs. It helps keep his music alive for new generations of musicians.
Recordings
- Rí na bPíobairí (King of the Pipers) (1969)
- The Drones and the Chanters (1971)
- Classics of Irish Piping (1975)
