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Simon Chadwick - early clàrsach
Celtic / Roots Music / Classical

"Old Gaelic harp music from Ireland & Scotland"

St Andrews, Scotland
United Kingdom

Profile Views:  4481




Last Login:  7/20/2008
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   Contacting Simon Chadwick - early clàrsach

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/simonchadwickearlyclarsach  

   Simon Chadwick - early clàrsach: General Info
Member Since7/15/2007
Band Websitesimonchadwick.net/harp
Band MembersSimon Chadwick
Guest singer on Clàrsach na Bànrighe CD: Mairead Murnion
InfluencesAnn Heymann, Siobhán Armstrong
Willie Matheson
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
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 know and like them all then I want to meet you!
Sounds LikeThe music of court and castle hundreds of years ago. Pure, intense, lush. A lost ancient sound-world vividly recreated.
Record Labelhttp://www.earlygaelicharp.info/emporium
Type of LabelIndie





   Upcoming Shows ( view all )
Jul 19 2008 12:00A
Arbroath Abbey Arbroath, Scotland
Aug 3 2008 7:30P
Pittenweem Arts Festival Pittenweem, Scotland
Aug 12 2008 12:45P
Prior’s House St Andrews, Scotland
Aug 13 2008 3:00P
Piping Live! Glasgow, Scotland
Aug 20 2008 9:00A
Scoil na gCláirseach Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Aug 21 2008 9:00A
Scoil na gCláirseach Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Aug 22 2008 9:00A
Scoil na gCláirseach Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Aug 23 2008 9:00A
Scoil na gCláirseach Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Aug 24 2008 9:00A
Scoil na gCláirseach Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Aug 25 2008 9:00A
Scoil na gCláirseach Kilkenny, Kilkenny
Aug 26 2008 8:00A
Scoil na gCláirseach Dublin, Dublin
Sep 9 2008 12:45P
Prior’s House St Andrews, Scotland
Sep 19 2008 1:00P
Brechin Arts Festival Brechin, Scotland
Nov 9 2008 12:45P
National Museum of Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland
Nov 9 2008 1:45P
National Museum of Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland
Nov 9 2008 2:45P
National Museum of Scotland Edinburgh, Scotland

Simon Chadwick - early clàrsach's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Arbroath Abbey recital  (view more)

Scoil na gCláirseach - Summer School of Early Irish Harp  (view more)

New music added  (view more)

CD launch recital  (view more)

CD launch recitals  (view more)

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   About Simon Chadwick - early clàrsach
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.

My debut CD Clàrsach na Bànrighe was launched in 2008


   Simon Chadwick - early clàrsach's Friend Space (Top 20)
Simon Chadwick - early clàrsach has 217 friends.
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 Helen Forbes 


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 La Camera 


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 Harp, Renaissance & Early Irish, Brenda Malloy 


 Roisin Elsafty 


 Chad McAnally 


 Karla 


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 Sacrilami 


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 Joanne 





Simon Chadwick - early clàrsach's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 87 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Clari Claíomh-Caileag





Jul 17 2008 8:16 AM

hehehe awesome, maybe.. =P
Clari Claíomh-Caileag





Jul 17 2008 7:47 AM

That sounds cool I will see if I can make it, I have always wanted to visit arbroath again. It's really nice =)
VSNAYA





Jul 8 2008 3:30 PM

hello Simon ! really really enjoying your music ! cheers ~ Josie
Laoise Kelly





Jun 26 2008 3:17 PM

Thanks Simon,
Tara was amazing and inspirational as always. The sunset the night before and pre sunrise were magical. Then gardaí and security arrived shattering the vibe. They've never been on the top of the hill before so ....who knows the future of this most Sacred place for us harpers and indeed everyone.
There is the viable alternative to the motorway through Tara valley meathmasterplan.com
Have a great summer with lots of harping.
hereditarius





Jun 24 2008 5:04 PM

Thanks for accepting the invitation and for your kind words. Your music is just amazing, a real link with the past.
Joanne





Jun 20 2008 10:28 AM

Oh cool - I didn't realize you had it on CDBaby. I love those guys - will definitely order it from there.
Thanks Simon
Joanne





Jun 19 2008 6:10 PM

I just saw all your upcoming shows listed here. That's great - good luck with it all. I am going to try to pick up your CD while I am in England to save on international mailing.
DALRIADA





Jun 5 2008 2:26 AM

Thanks for your support Simeon & good luck to you on your mission to bring back the 'real' Harp of Scotland & Ireland. As a Hammered Dulcimer player I must say I much prefer the sound of those wire strings. However, my wife plays Harps but unfortunately she has lots of bother keeping her wire strings in tune!
I guess she needs a better one! :-)
Cheers, Dick
Joanne





May 31 2008 1:34 PM

Hi Simon - I am thinking next year I might spend two weeks visiting Wales and Scotland so will definitely let you know. Enjoy Harp School - I just know it will be fabulous. I am still planning on getting a harp once finances allow.
Joanne





May 25 2008 11:30 AM

Hi Simon - Thanks for your message. I am heading back to the UK for two weeks in July/August and going to Druid camp while I am there. Looking forward to meeting some of my online friends in person!
Emmanuel Férel





May 10 2008 2:17 AM

hello and thank for the add
Joanne McIver & Christophe Saunière Scottish Music





Apr 30 2008 4:18 AM

Hello !
Thanks for sharing the music and...Slàinte mhath!!
Bags





Apr 22 2008 1:37 AM

Thanks very much for the add - gorgeous music! x
Harp, Renaissance & Early Irish, Brenda Malloy





Apr 19 2008 3:38 PM

DON'T LIKE MY TULIPS?
JUST A BIT OF FUN OLD BEAN. GLAD
YOU GOT THE MAIL. ALL THE BEST!!!
Roos





Apr 14 2008 2:32 PM

Many thanks for being my new "space" friend. Find your music superb and you're playing fantastic !! Wish you many success !!
Roos
Katherine Liley





Apr 13 2008 1:33 PM

Hey thanks, congrats on yours too!
See you Saturday, looking forward to it!
Kat :)
Mimosa


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Apr 9 2008 12:17 PM

Ooh, I cant believe this: I AM getting clarsach. I sold my concert harp and now been emailing with MacDonalds harps. I just cant believe this is happening :) I am so happy!
I wish I could make it to UK so I could hear you playing - we´ll see. I try to arrange the trip so!
Chad McAnally





Apr 1 2008 10:00 AM

Funny...seems I've seen it somewhere! (wink)
La Camera





Mar 29 2008 5:50 PM

Simon i really like your version of Carolan's Loftus Jones!
Margaret Stewart





Mar 22 2008 5:49 PM

Hi Simon,

Thank you so much for the comments. I've been listening to your music too and enjoying it very much. The second song I've put up on my page has D James Ross playing the chalumeau. He's a very good friend of mine and I'm sure you are familiar with his work.

Thank you also for the support on the forum - very much appreciated.

Margaret
La Camera





Mar 18 2008 3:48 PM

Hello Simon!
Great cd ...good job!
Cathy Clayton





Mar 16 2008 9:43 PM

Thanks for the add

Happy harping!

~Cathy Clayton~
Katherine Liley





Mar 16 2008 9:28 AM

Oh cheers, that's very kind!
What cello stuff would that be then?
I'm afraid if it's this saturday I'll be away playing in Ullapool but that sounds like a big shame!
Kat x
Brendan Ring





Mar 13 2008 5:33 AM

Hi Simon
Just to say great CD, I particularly like the medieval tunes at the start.
Sacrilami





Mar 12 2008 2:54 PM

Congratulations on your CD! Thanks for preserving an important part of history.
All the best,
Cynthia
Edinburgh International Harp Festival





Mar 7 2008 4:59 PM

Hi Simon

thank you for the comment! Looking forward to meeting you soon

Corrina, for the EIHF
Harp, Renaissance & Early Irish, Brenda Malloy





Mar 1 2008 1:19 AM

Dear Simon,
Just to say, enjoy the launch recitals. I know they'll be brilliant because the CD is. Fair play to ye!
Brenda
Brendan Ring





Feb 26 2008 6:15 AM

Wow Simon, a CD!! I'll be off soon to a certain emporium to purchase a copy!
Mimosa


Is Online