The Harp

Question 1

When did the harping tradition in ireland flourish

Answer 1

From medieval times to the 17th century, when it was fostered and developed among powerful and wealthy Irish and Anglo Irish families.

Question 2

Where did harpers find employment

Answer 2

They were employed along with poets and orators so provide entertainment for families. These families were often patrons for the Harper’s

Question 3

Planxties

Answer 3

Solo pieces written by the harper for the ir family that patroned them in their honor

Question 4

Example of a famous planxty

Answer 4

Planxty Kelly

Question 5

What happened after the 1600

Answer 5

The great families went into decline and there was a loss of patronage and the harpers were left unemployed.
The harping tradition became a nomadic one, harpers would have to go from county to county and playing for money and food.

Question 6

The two styles of harp

Answer 6

Bardic harp and Neo Irish harp

Question 7

Bardic harp

Answer 7

Had between 29 and 31 strings usually made of wire, played with the fingernails.
70cm in height with curved pillar and a hollow soundbox.
It was the more resonant of the two harps

Question 8

Neo Irish harp

Answer 8

34 strings made of nylon or cat gut which were played with the pads of the fingers.
Taller (about 91cm) than the Bardic harp
Less resonant of the two

Question 9

When was the Belfast harp festival set up and why

Answer 9

1792

To prevent the decline of the Irish harping tradition

Question 10

Players at the Belfast harp festival

Answer 10

11 harpers from the age of 15 to 97
They played pieces from their own particular style

One player that was the light of the day was Denis Hempson, age 97, being the oldest player there. Edward Bunting was commissioned by the Belfast Harp Society to record the lifestyles of the harpers as well as recording and writing down the music from the festival to preserve it for future generations. This method, unlike the oral tradition which had existed up until then, did not allow for particular nuances in style and some of these were lost.

The role of the harp as a traditional instrument was led by Máire Ní Chathasaigh, who had solo albums such as “The New Strung Harp” and Laoise Kelly who release the album “Just Harp”