Handed Down documents the traditional fiddle playing and dancing culture in particular areas to the east and centre of county Down.

Throughout the years many cultural traditions have regrettably been lost. Now thanks to a new book funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and written by Musician Nigel Boullier, entitled Handed Down, country fiddling and dancing traditions in East and Central Down have been safe guarded for generations to come.

Spanning over three decades, Nigel Boullier has documented the traditions from this part of Northern Ireland, regardless of which tradition they have come from. The project is unique within traditional music and dance in Ireland due to the demographic nature of the county – the musicians, their music and dance.

The book includes 500 pieces of music and profiles of over 300 fiddler players as well as numerous dances, most of which has never previously been recorded. Handed Down explores the origin of many of the popular dances, the extensive network of dancing masters in the 1700s and how fiddle players practised their art in the late 1800s and into the twentieth century. Overall the project sheds fresh light on many of the commonly held perceptions regarding our culture.

Head of Music at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Ciaran Scullion said:

‘Traditional Music and Dance have long  been at the very core of our  communities; preserving them and being able to pass them from one generation to the next helps keep our culture rich and vibrant. Handed Down is a beautifully written book which has documented, alongside original images, the diverse and skilled musical traditions particular to County Down.  Arts Council were delighted to have  helped  fund the publication of this  book and are thankful to Nigel for taking the time to gather and record this precious information.’

Unlike most books of this nature, the music and dances featured were performed  at a wide variety of social gatherings, making this an ideal window for looking at traditional music and dance as it was practised over a century ago. This previously rich culture continues to be practised by a diminishing number of musicians and dancers in, predominantly, rural areas of County Down. This publication offers aspiring musicians an opportunity to be exposed to new tunes and traditions they may not previously have known, in turn maximising the chance of them being revived.

Executive Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation Fintan Mullan said:

‘When we were first introduced to Nigel and his work it was immediately obvious that his research was significant, substantial and completely authentic. The Foundation has been telling the story of the people of Ulster for over 55 years, and this quite unique collection of music and dance, and crucially, biographies of the men and women who played, reflects the Foundation’s own work in telling Ulster’s history through the individual lives of ordinary people, who at times do quite extraordinary things. Traditional forms of music belong to and are shared by people from all backgrounds and that interconnectedness of the musical traditions is ably demonstrated by Nigel in Handed Down. The Foundation very quickly decided this work should be published for the benefit of a wider audience, we are delighted to be associated with it, and are grateful for the financial assistance provided by The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, which has made the publication possible.’

Orders for Handed Down can be placed with the Ulster Historical Foundation, or online at www.booksireland.org.uk