The Harp Flashcards
What were the earliest harps developed from?
The hunting bow
How many Celtic harps survived from the medieval period?
Less than a dozen
What is the oldest harp in the world
The trinity college harp. The one on which the official national emblem of Ireland is based.
Where is it on display?
The long room of trinity college Dublin.
What are the harps distinguishing features?
It’s use of wire (usually brass) strings
It’s resonating chamber carved from a single log (traditionally willow)
The highly tensioned strings are played with fingernails producing a very clear sound
What type of strings do Irish harps use today?
Gut or synthetic string
What is the sound base made out of
It is usually fabricated from sawn pieces of wood glued together
What are planxties
Pieces of music written for a patron
Where an when was turlough o Carolan born?
1670 in county Meath
Who recognised his gift for music
His fathers employer, Ms McDermott Roe. He was then given harp lessons as a result
What did she give him?
Money, a guide and a horse
What is he more well known for?
He is more well known for composing than playing.
Who was his first patron
George Reynolds of County Leitim, the man who suggested he first compose music
When did he usually compose tunes and who for?
He usually composed tunes on his journeys for many patrons
Who was he influenced by
An Italian composer
Why did he travel
He traveled widely throughout Ireland because of his music even though he was blind
When did he return home and why
In 1738 he returned to the home of Mrs MacDermottRoe as he was feeling unwell
Who was his final composition to
To the butler Flinn, who brought him his last drink
How long did his wake last
4 days
Where and when was Dennis Hempson born
He was born in Co. Derry in 1965
How did he learn harp
He learned to play harp as a boy
Where did he travel as a boy
He travelled around Ireland and Scotland
What style did he play in?
Unlike other harpists at the time, Hempson played in an old traditional style with long fingernails
Which one of his songs was notated at the Belfast harp festival and by whom?
One of his tunes, ‘the coolin’ was notated by Bunting at the Belfast Haro Festival
When did he attend the Belfast harp festival
At the age of 97 Hempson attended the Belfast harp festival 1792
What age was he when he died
112
What is the Belfast harp festival also known as?
The Belfast Harper’s Assembly
When did it run from?
The 11th-14th of July 1792
How many days did it last
4
Who was it organised by
Dr. James McDonnel, Robert Bradshaw and Henry Joy
What festival was it after?
It was arranged 6 years from the last Granard Harp festival
Why was it set up?
To revive interest in Harp music
What was Edward bunting commissioned to do?
Take down the airs, which formed the major part of his collection, published in 1796
What was the venue
The assembly room of the northern bank building on wearing street in Belfast
Give three harpists that attended the festival
Denis Hempson
Arthur O’Neill
Charles Fanning
Who won second and first prize
Arthur O’Neill was the inner of second prize with ‘The green woods of Truagh”
Charles Fanning was the winner of first prize for “The coulin”
How many harp players were blind
7 out of 10 harpists were blind
What were the results of the Belfast harp festival
It meant that more people took up the harp and its style and spread music across the country
