Irish Music Essays
Irish Music Essays
The Harping Tradition Cruit Clairseach Symbol on coins
Up to 16th Century An aristocratic art tradition – highly skilled – opposite to peasant class music of jig, reels on fiddle, flutes, etc. Patrons: Catholic and irish speaking employed a harper, poet (file), reacaire . Harping was a good, stable, well paid job. Handed down from father to son.
English Rule in Ireland – 16th Century Patrons lost power, money, land Could no longer afford to employ harper Harpers had to travel from house to house – itinerant harpers Harpers tended to be blind – only job for someone that had lost their sight They travelled on horseback with a guide They played the wire harp and plucked with their fingernails – bell-like sound Had to dampen the strings a lot – held on the knee
17th Century These new patrons had other tastes in music so harpers had to satisfy their Baroque influenced musical tastes Turlough O’Carolan tended to play Irish music with Baroque elements Mostly played by male
O’Carolan: 1670 – 1738 “Last of the Great Irish Bards” Born in Meath and grew up in Roscommon – father employed by McDermott-Roe family Blinded by smallpox Education arranged by Mrs. McDermott-Roe – got harp lessons Recieved horse, guide and money and travelled as Itinerant Harper Very pleasing personality and an excellent composer of harp tunes Pieces: ‘Carolan’s Concerto – played by The Chieftains ‘Planxty Irwin’ – a planxty is a tune written in honour of a patron ‘Carolan’s Farewell to Music’ – written on his deathbed Music published as he was so popular and his music was very respected Neale Bros. Collection: ‘A Collection of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes’ 200 tunes attributed to him However, harping was in decline at the end of the 18th Century
Belfast Harp Festival 1792 An attempt to revive the decline in the Irish harp
The Harping Tradition Cruit Clairseach Symbol on coins
Up to 16th Century An aristocratic art tradition – highly skilled – opposite to peasant class music of jig, reels on fiddle, flutes, etc. Patrons: Catholic and irish speaking employed a harper, poet (file), reacaire . Harping was a good, stable, well paid job. Handed down from father to son.
English Rule in Ireland – 16th Century Patrons lost power, money, land Could no longer afford to employ harper Harpers had to travel from house to house – itinerant harpers Harpers tended to be blind – only job for someone that had lost their sight They travelled on horseback with a guide They played the wire harp and plucked with their fingernails – bell-like sound Had to dampen the strings a lot – held on the knee
17th Century These new patrons had other tastes in music so harpers had to satisfy their Baroque influenced musical tastes Turlough O’Carolan tended to play Irish music with Baroque elements Mostly played by male
O’Carolan: 1670 – 1738 “Last of the Great Irish Bards” Born in Meath and grew up in Roscommon – father employed by McDermott-Roe family Blinded by smallpox Education arranged by Mrs. McDermott-Roe – got harp lessons Recieved horse, guide and money and travelled as Itinerant Harper Very pleasing personality and an excellent composer of harp tunes Pieces: ‘Carolan’s Concerto – played by The Chieftains ‘Planxty Irwin’ – a planxty is a tune written in honour of a patron ‘Carolan’s Farewell to Music’ – written on his deathbed Music published as he was so popular and his music was very respected Neale Bros. Collection: ‘A Collection of the Most Celebrated Irish Tunes’ 200 tunes attributed to him However, harping was in decline at the end of the 18th Century
Belfast Harp Festival 1792 An attempt to revive the decline in the Irish harp