In the beginning was the Dublin Chamber Music Group! The far-seeing committee of those enthusiastic musicians, who met once a month in each other's homes, and still do to this day, felt that it would be of enormous benefit to everyone to hold a residential weekend course which would be open to players from all over the country.

In no other situation would it be possible to explore the repertoire of larger ensembles, and more importantly to have time to study in depth a work of their choice which would be coached, all this being in an environment far removed from all the usual cares and interruptions of normal life, especially the telephone! But where to find this musical heaven? That was the vexing question.

One Sunday the Dublin Orchestral Players gave a concert in "An Grianán" on their way home from Belfast. I still remember catching the eye of Alma Brooke Tyrell across the table where we were enjoying the usual superb spread, and together we said, "this has to be it!"

Before departing, we had found someone in authority, and we put to her our proposition of holding a weekend course from Friday to Sunday evening. To our great delight, our proposal was greeted with enthusiasm, so Alma and I went home eager to put the matter to our committee.

The rest is history, and forty years on, the "Termonfechin Weekends" continue to flourish twice yearly since 1960, and are hugely increased in numbers of players from many parts of Ireland. If only Alma were with us now to see it all.

For the first while, many people enrolled individually, so there was matching up to be done to suit the players to each other and each other's musical ability if possible, and even to

suggest a work for their study. A large amount of music from the excellent library owned by the Chamber Music Group has always been available to the weekend courses. As a sort of Parkinson's law, a group would be arranged, but at the last moment the viola players would fall by the wayside. It always seemed to be the violas - I must have phoned every violist in Dublin over the first few years!

In 1958 and for many years later, we did not have the beautiful new bedroom wing, which meant that all the activities - playing, coaching, rehearsing, eating and sleeping took place in the main house.

Making out the bedroom lists was quite a headache. Three or four hopefully compatible people had to share a bedroom for 3 or 4, there being also some double rooms and about 2 singles. We had to trust that our choice of room-mates would be acceptable and allow harmony to prevail for the 24 hours of each day!

The pattern of coaching, rehearsing, and concert at the end of the course has remained pretty much the same over the years. At the very first weekend some players played in two groups, but we quickly learned that that was not a good idea. Any mixing up to play with other groups was confined to the evenings, and marvellous music-making continued well into the small hours each night.

You will see from the 1958 photographs that Heinz Hammerschlag was present on his own, having come from Belfast. He was a real inspiration to us all, and made an enormous contribution to the weekends by coming thereafter with a string quartet for many years, with the troubles in Northern Ireland making it impossible for them to leave their homes. Heinz only died a few months ago, aged 95. He is sorely missed by those of us who knew him well and had had the privilege of playing with him and learning so much from his broad knowledge of the chamber music repertoire, especially our introduction to the Brahms' Sextets!

The most momentous matter which had to be decided before we started was the appointment of our coach, who needed to be an exceptionally gifted person, able to teach and to deal tactfully with players of all ages and stages. Can anyone possibly imagine anyone more perfect for the job than Michael McNamara - "Mr Mac", as he was affectionately called by us all for the next 30 years? He handled each and everyone of us with extraordinary patience, good humour and wisdom, giving encouragement and praise which sometimes ended with the little work "BUT"... pause... "Your intonation (bowing, phrasing, tempi or whatever) is pretty terrible, d'ye know that?" This would be followed by his great roar of laugher. We all loved him.

Very early on, Mr Mac would bring a group of young students from the College of Music with him. So many of them have become professionals and some are household names in the musical world. We are proud to have had them with us, and we hope that their introduction to the world of chamber music has brought them as much pleasure as they gave to us in their wonderful performances in "The Concert".

Each weekend has ended with all groups performing one movement of a work in a concert given in front of all the other groups, as well as visitors of family or friends who join us for tea. It is the highlight of the weekend, but, for all that, each and every one of the players have confessed to being absolutely terrified at the prospect of facing such an audience!

All the same, none of them would ever have dreamed of going home without having "faced the music" - the lucky ones being those who performed early on and were then able to enjoy the rest of the concert!

There have been some truly memorable performances over the years, but all the items have been played with real dedication and love for the music.

This little tale from the first concert of all shows what can happen under stress! - The performers were playing a flute quartet movement on the stage of the Kellogg Hall, which we all found rather intimidating. About halfway through, it became clear to all that they were well and truly lost. Frantic loud whispers of "Letter B! Letter B!" from the desperate violinist fell on deaf ears. The performance pursued its chaotic course all to little avail and much damage to the music. Eventually the flautist arrived at his last bar, well ahead of the other three; he then leapt to his feet and marched briskly off the stage leaving his companions trailing one by one to the end. The ensuing deafening applause was as much an excuse to release an explosion of suppressed mirth as to express congratulations to the brave performers!

What wonderful times we have all had, and now we can look forward to our Golden Jubilee in 2008! Under the inspired and dedicated commitment of our Course Organiser Brian McBryan, how can it be anything but a continued joy to many people and to the growth and love of chamber music across the whole of Ireland?