Salut! Folk has yet another death to record, that of the Belfast-born flute player, singer, music lecturer and collector Desi Wilkinson.
Colin Randall writes: seven months ago, he was addressing a Montreal’s audience in English and French . On May 21, in Limerick, Desi Wilkinson died after what was described as a short but difficult illness bravely borne. Unusually, I can find no mention of his age.
To read the tributes from fellow musicians is to gain some appreciation of a man who was much loved and respected. I have decided his death is best marked by reproducing a small selection from the torrent of goodwill that news of his death has unleashed.
Altan posted heartfelt condolences at Facebook , mourning the passing of “one of our oldest friends”.
The band added: “Desi Wilkinson was an amazing flute player. His great humanity, music and sense of humour will always stay with us.
“Our deepest condolences to Genevieve and all the family.”
Paraic Mac Donnchadha, the renowned Irish tenor banjo player, recalled past times together.
“I remember Desi, his fun-loving travels, his tasty, distinctive flute-playing style, and deep interest in all aspects of our music as a student of his craft.
“We travelled together on a bit of a skite across the country many years ago in his beat-up car, looking for tunes and crack in different places. Him with his big head of hair and his flute, and me with my banjo… I remember him as a lovely, warm, genuine fella, even in his more reflective times where his concerns were never too far under the surface. You made a mark, Desi. You inspired so many of us. Slán leat, a chara.”
From the documentary director and producer Feilimi O’Connor;
“A man of great wit, intelligence, generosity, and brilliant artistry on the wooden flute, whistles, and in song.
A ferocious pulse and rhythm to his music, he could make the bottom D bark and the high octave softly sing like a bird, in Irish, Breton, or Corsican airs alike.”
The Irish Music Magazine listed among Wilkinson’s own influences such fellow Ulster musicians as Tommy Gunn, Charlie O’Neill and Cathal McConnell. “He recorded three solo albums and five acclaimed albums with the renowned group Cran.”
And finally, a description of Desi Wilkinson’s work from his own official website;
“A lecturer and published author he has twenty years’ experience working in Universities in Ireland, Canada and the UK.
“He holds a PhD in ethnomusicology and his academic work has been published in journals and book chapters. His recent book ‘Call to the Dance’ – with field recordings included- concerns the cultural context and aesthetics of traditional dance music in Brittany (Pendragon Press, New York, 2016).
“He spent 10 years as a full-time lecturer in Music studies at Newcastle University UK (2005-2015). From 2015 until May 2020 he held the post(s) of traditional Artist in Residence at University College Cork and MIC, University of Limerick.”
Salut! Folk adds its own condolences. RIP Desi,
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