Tragic loss of a 'musical genius' By Lesley Walsh TRIBUTES have been flooding in following the sudden death in America of world-renowned Belfast musician Derek Bell. Described by friends in the business as a ''musical genius", 68-year-old Mr Bell was an accomplished musician who mastered a staggering number of instruments. A member of the legendary Chieftains group, Mr Bell received an MBE in 2000 for more than 30 years of devotion to his beloved traditional music. The Chieftains, of which Mr Bell was the only member from Northern Ireland, yesterday said his passing would leave a silence than could never be filled. Fellow Belfast musicians Van Morrison and Brian Kennedy were among those who issued personal tributes in his memory. Derek Bell was a classically trained musician, composer and professor who was also a much loved "bubbly character" in the field of traditional Irish music. A native of Belfast, Mr Bell lived in Bangor with his wife Stephanie but had been in America when he died, following a concert there. In a statement from the Chieftains, its seven other members spoke of their great shock and sadness at the news of his death. "Following a recent concert in the US, Derek had remained behind for minor surgery and a number of routine health checks. "He had just been given the all-clear to return home, so his death has come as a great shock to all those close to him. "Apart from his renown as a traditional musician and long-standing member of The Chieftains, Derek was enormously respected in the world of classical music. "His passing has left a silence that will never be filled and anyone who has had the honour of meeting him will know the world will just be a much less interesting place without him." The statement, issued by band frontman, Paddy Maloney, and members Sean Keane, Kevin Conneff, Matt Molloy, Martin Fay, Michael Tubridy and Sean Potts, concluded: "We will all miss him terribly - Ar dheis De go raibh a anam." Van Morrison said: "Derek was a musical genius, and a great friend. He will be sadly missed." Brian Kennedy yesterday said he felt honoured to have worked with Mr Bell. "The world has lost an extraordinary talent and my heart goes out to his family," he said. Eamonn McCann of Wonderland Promotions, added his own words of shock and sadness. "Irish music has lost one of its finest ambassadors," he said. Derek made many guest appearances with the Chieftains before joining them full-time in 1974, featuring on four of their best-selling albums. A child prodigy who wrote his first concerto at the age of 12, Derek was a classically trained musician, being the pupil of such internationally renowned teachers as Leon Goossens and Madam Rosina Lhevinne. He studied at the Royal College of Music and at a number of the finest colleges throughout Europe and America. Best known for his skill on the harp, Derek only took up the instrument in his 30s when he took his first lessons with Sheila Larchet-Cuthbert, using a harp borrowed from a local arts council. His flair for the instrument was immense, catapulting him to the prestigious role as professor of harp with the Belfast Academy of Music. But he could also turn his hand effortlessly to the oboe, horn, cor anglais, hammered dulcimer and keyboards. His talents on the oboe and keyboards formed part of the trademark sound of the Chieftains, while his skills on the hammered dulcimer has lead to the recreation of the ancient Irish instrument, the tiompan. Among his list of appearances with the world's musical elite, Derek played with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the symphony orchestras of Moscow, Budapest, London and Pittsburgh. Throughout his life, he played with the BBC Northern Ireland Orchestra, composed piano sonatas and a symphony in E-flat for orchestras and received the Manns Prize from the Royal College of Music for his musical talents. Sir James Galway, a friend of Mr Bell since they were students together at the Royal College of Music, said he occupied "a unique position in the music world". "Derek was an essential member of the Chieftains professionally and personally,'' he said. "He retained a real passion for folk music and will be sadly missed." Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he was deeply saddened to hear of Mr Bell's death. "Derek was a gifted musician, a great character and one of life's true gentlemen. Since joining the Chieftains in the early seventies, he brought a new dimension to the group that helped them to make traditional Irish music accessible to an international audience. "His many millions of fans throughout the world will mourn his passing." Friend and music writer for the News Letter, Geoff Harden added his own fond memories of the great musician. "Derek was just a lovely, bubbly person and was always the character of the Chieftains and the butt of Paddy Maloney's jokes in their concerts. "He was a wonderful character and was so enthusiast about his music and about helping others in the music world." Published: 18/10/2002