Ann Heymann, Siobhán Armstrong
Willie Matheson, Róisín Elsafty, Angus MacLellan
Barnaby Brown, Bill Taylor, Rob MacKillop, Alison Kinnaird
Alasdair Codona & Keith Sanger
Arnold Dolmetsch, Heloise Russell-Fergusson
Alan Stivell of course
Hélène La Rue at the Bate
Fairport Convention & Sandy Denny
The Morrigan, Colin Masson & Cathy Alexander
Lorenzo Ghielmi, Ozric Tentacles, Fabian Stedman
Edward Bunting and Denis O'Hampsey
Bonnie Rideout, Padraig O'Keefe
Rauno Niemenen and his squeaky old men
Bob Evans and Mary-Ann Roberts
If you know who all of these are then I will be most impressed. If you like them all then I want to meet you!
Neye Benziyor?
The music of court and castle hundreds of years ago. Pure, intense, lush. A lost ancient sound-world vividly recreated.
I play early clàrsach. I’m based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland.
I started studying the old Irish and Scottish Gaelic harp traditions in December 1998. This is a music which goes back to over 1000 years ago, but it actually died out in the 1800s. The old Gaelic harp with metal strings, played left-hand-treble, right-hand-bass, stopped being played - the last old harpers in the early 19th century taught no students so the tradition ended.
However there are many tangible remains of the old tradition - as many as 18 harps in museums in Ireland and Scotland, and many many ancient books and manuscripts filled with tunes, techniques and lore.
So, I have a pretty exact copy of one of the famous old harps - a brand new decorated replica of the 15th century clàrsach preserved in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, known as the Queen Mary harp. The new harp was built for me in 2006-7 by Davy Patton, of Co. Roscommon, Ireland, from willow, sycamore, apple and rowan wood, hand-carved, inked, painted, and burned, with silver decoration and handmade brass fittings, and is strung with Daniel Tokar’s handmade Latten, sterling silver and 18 carat gold wire strings. In the tenor range two strings (called na caomhluighe) double the pitch of g, symbolically and practically dividing the treble and bass ranges of the harp.
I find music to play by visiting archives and libraries such as Dundee’s Wighton Collection and the National Library in Edinburgh, and rifling through antique tomes in search of forgotten and neglected gems. I have attended classes with Ann Heymann, Siobhán Armstrong, Javier Sáinz, Bill Taylor and Paul Dooley, but am almost entirely self-taught, initially from Ann Heymann’s tutor books and more recently from studying early printed and manuscript sources.
Wonderful sound from this resurected instrument. You play it beautifully. If only more lost traditions could be re-examined one more time. Many thanks to you for unearthing a beautiful piece of gaelic history. CC
Hello and thanks very much for the add. Our latest live album "Pagan Folk at the Fairy Ball" is downloadable for FREE on our website http://www.omnia-neocelt.com. We're just proposing you to donate something if you really want to support our cause. Many greenie thoughts and blessings.
Thanks for playing the ancient music of the Clarsach. I do some early music too, but my focus is on bringing the instrument forward. Thanks again for keeping the early music alive.
Hi there and many thanks for the add. It is really appreciated. If you get the chance please have a listen to my new track entitled "Alba" Hope you are having a great week. Keep in touch!
hi Simon I'm very pleased you like "Tree of Strings" I try to bring some of the great music to people who wouldn't otherwise listen,there's disbelief when I describe the antiquity, they like it!. No I haven't heard Ms Heymann's version. Keep the faith. Best wishes Geordie