Madam, - Seán McGouran (March 6th) makes a spirited case that Irish composer Jerome de Bromhead is more deserving of being highlighted in the radio listings of The Irish Times than Englishman John Tavener. He suggests that The Irish Times appears to regard "Irish composer" as an oxymoron, and praises the BBC for the promotion of its "local product", asking: "When are The Irish Times, and RTÉ, going to start taking the same attitude to the 'cultural product' of the many capable composers working in Ireland (not to mention Germany, America, and Great Britain)?"
I cannot speak for RTÉ, but The Irish Times takes the "cultural product" Mr McGouran espouses rather more seriously than he seems to know. The De Bromhead symphony was featured in a highlight panel in advance of its January première, and the concert itself was reviewed. Other living composers who featured in similar panels so far this year include Frank Corcoran, Arvo Pärt, Georg Pelecis, Rihards Dubra, Deirdre McKay, Jonathan Dove and Joan La Barbara. There have been CD reviews of works by Gloria Coates, Jane O'Leary, Raymond Deane, Donnacha Dennehy, Ed Bennett, Deirdre Gribbins, Kevin Volans and Byambasuren Sharav.
The range of living composers covered in concert reviews has been even greater, including, beyond those already mentioned, representatives from Germany, Hungary, Japan, Poland, Spain, Wales, and a further dozen from Ireland.
Does The Irish Times regard "Irish composer" as an oxymoron? Definitely not. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL DERVAN,
Irish Times Music Critic,
Dublin 8.