Jane Ross was born in or near Limavady, County Londonderry on 5 August 1810. She was the eldest of the four daughters and two sons of John Ross (1781–1830) and his second wife Jane (née Ogilby). Her siblings were Elizabeth, William, Ann, Theodosia and John. Her father was captain in the Limavady yeomanry and owner of land, flour mills, and a bleach green. Her brother William (born 1814) became rector of Dungiven and later canon of Derry cathedral. Her paternal grandfather, William Ross, was a land agent for the Conolly estate, provost of Limavady from 1789, and a linen merchant. Through both her parents she was related to other local gentry families.[2][3]
Music collectingedit
Ross lived with some of her sisters in Limavady at 51 Main Street. Around 1853 she collected a number of traditional songs and airs from her local area and sent them to George Petrie, the Dublin-based folk music collector. He published them with other songs as Ancient music of Ireland (1855). The air, which became known as Londonderry Air or the Derry air, was published unnamed without lyrics as a melody for the piano. It gained popularity, with a number of composers producing their own arrangements, the most notable with the words written by Fred Weatherly in 1912, which is better known that the Alfred Perceval Graves version. Weatherly put the lyrics of his song Danny Boy to the air, which became a popular song given the themes of emigration of loss and connections to the experience of the Irish diaspora.[2][4]
There are a number of views on the age and origin of the Londonderry Air, but there is a lack of evidence to settle the case. Some believe that Ross altered the original melody to her taste, with others think that Ross wrote it herself and claimed it was older. The majority of scholars agree that Ross heard a musician play a melody similar to that collected by Edward Bunting from Denis Hempson. Despite varying theories about the composer of the air, Ross is given the credit for collecting it.[2]
Death and legacyedit
Ross died in 1879, and was buried in Christchurch Church of Ireland graveyard, Limavady. A plaque was erected in her memory on her home in Limavady at 51 Main Street, and an annual music festival is held in her honour. The Royal Irish Academy holds the music Ross collected and sent to Petrie. In 1998 the Ross Archives were compiled.[2]
Referencesedit
^Froggatt, Richard. "Jane Ross (1810–1879): Musical antiquary". The Dictionary of Ulster Biography. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
^ abcdLunney, Linde; Carson Williams, Fionnuala (2009). "Ross, Jane". In McGuire, James; Quinn, James (eds.). Dictionary of Irish Biography. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
^Drummond, Brendan. "A Long Drive from Limavady". The Journal of Music. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
^Robinson, Michael (12 January 2009). "Danny Boy: Derry's Gift To The World". Culture Northern Ireland. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
April 18, 2024
jane, ross, collector, jane, ross, august, 1810, 1879, irish, folksong, collector, from, limavady, county, londonderry, ireland, most, notable, collecting, tune, that, became, londonderry, jane, rossborn, 1810, august, 1810limavady, county, londonderrydied1879. Jane Ross 5 August 1810 1879 was an Irish folksong collector from Limavady County Londonderry Ireland She is most notable for collecting the tune that became Londonderry Air 1 Jane RossBorn 1810 08 05 5 August 1810Limavady County LondonderryDied1879 1879 00 00 aged 68 69 LimavadyNationalityIrishOccupationFolksong collector Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Music collecting 3 Death and legacy 4 ReferencesEarly life and family editJane Ross was born in or near Limavady County Londonderry on 5 August 1810 She was the eldest of the four daughters and two sons of John Ross 1781 1830 and his second wife Jane nee Ogilby Her siblings were Elizabeth William Ann Theodosia and John Her father was captain in the Limavady yeomanry and owner of land flour mills and a bleach green Her brother William born 1814 became rector of Dungiven and later canon of Derry cathedral Her paternal grandfather William Ross was a land agent for the Conolly estate provost of Limavady from 1789 and a linen merchant Through both her parents she was related to other local gentry families 2 3 Music collecting editRoss lived with some of her sisters in Limavady at 51 Main Street Around 1853 she collected a number of traditional songs and airs from her local area and sent them to George Petrie the Dublin based folk music collector He published them with other songs as Ancient music of Ireland 1855 The air which became known as Londonderry Air or the Derry air was published unnamed without lyrics as a melody for the piano It gained popularity with a number of composers producing their own arrangements the most notable with the words written by Fred Weatherly in 1912 which is better known that the Alfred Perceval Graves version Weatherly put the lyrics of his song Danny Boy to the air which became a popular song given the themes of emigration of loss and connections to the experience of the Irish diaspora 2 4 There are a number of views on the age and origin of the Londonderry Air but there is a lack of evidence to settle the case Some believe that Ross altered the original melody to her taste with others think that Ross wrote it herself and claimed it was older The majority of scholars agree that Ross heard a musician play a melody similar to that collected by Edward Bunting from Denis Hempson Despite varying theories about the composer of the air Ross is given the credit for collecting it 2 Death and legacy editRoss died in 1879 and was buried in Christchurch Church of Ireland graveyard Limavady A plaque was erected in her memory on her home in Limavady at 51 Main Street and an annual music festival is held in her honour The Royal Irish Academy holds the music Ross collected and sent to Petrie In 1998 the Ross Archives were compiled 2 References edit Froggatt Richard Jane Ross 1810 1879 Musical antiquary The Dictionary of Ulster Biography Retrieved 11 February 2020 a b c d Lunney Linde Carson Williams Fionnuala 2009 Ross Jane In McGuire James Quinn James eds Dictionary of Irish Biography Cambridge Cambridge University Press Drummond Brendan A Long Drive from Limavady The Journal of Music Retrieved 11 February 2020 Robinson Michael 12 January 2009 Danny Boy Derry s Gift To The World Culture Northern Ireland Retrieved 11 February 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jane Ross collector amp oldid 1190823268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
