Contemporary Irish Harpers - a sampler

Subject: RE: Contemporary Irish Harpers - a sampler
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 11:57 AM

Thanks, Bonnie. That's interesting. I have friends who play harp, so I enjoyed hearing the history of yours.

Subject: RE: Contemporary Irish Harpers - a sampler
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 09:15 PM

Thank you for the kind words! ITMA is a great resource. I hope folks will buy their publications and generally support them in these truly evil economic days for Ireland. Nicholas Carolan and his team are national treasures.

That harp is an interesting hybrid - an Erard Grecian (Regency period or just after) but extensively rebuilt by Pilgrim Harps in Surrey because the metalwork was sound but the timber had mostly deteriorated, so they effectively built a new harp around Erard's design & harmonic curve, keeping the original pedals & mechanical workings. Also I used thinner stringing (gut) than restorers were putting on antique pedal harps in those days, about half an octave lighter. So it's a new-old-Erard-Pilgrim with what amounts to "lever gauge" stringing, though that classification didn't exist then - it's something Michael worked out by his own calculation. Can't remember what wood the soundboard was made of, reddish colour, maybe cedar? One of a kind, that instrument. And that's probably more than you ever wanted to know...

Subject: RE: Contemporary Irish Harpers - a sampler
From: gnu
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 03:38 PM

Lovely! Thanks! Bookmarked for later this eve.

Subject: RE: Contemporary Irish Harpers - a sampler
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 10:55 AM

Thanks for the link.

Your version of 'Her Mantle so Green' is beautiful, Bonnie. who made your harp?

While on the page I naturally had to listen to the tune 'The Cat that Kittled (had kittens) in Jamie's Wig.' It's a fine tune and an even better title.

Subject: Contemporary Irish Harpers - a sampler
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 01 Dec 10 - 10:43 AM

The Irish Traditional Music Archive, as part of its growing online presence, has just posted some audio samples of current harpers - including Mudcat's own Bonnie Shaljean!

Click here