Tag: Celtic harp

Delyth Evans – “Y Bardd/Mother’s Delight” (The Poet/Mother’s Delight).

   Hey guys! 🙂 

   Today, I decided on another piece from Delyth Evans/Jenkins’ album Ar y Ffin (On The Border). These are both traditional tunes. 

Harriet Earis Trio – “Earl of Hyndford”.

    Hey people! 🙂 

   For today, I chose yet another piece from  Harriet Earis Trio’s album which I really like, From the Crooked Tree. The piece itself is called Earl of Hyndford, which refers to a Scottish title but I have no idea if it’s about any of its bearers in particular. 

Song of the day (20th March) – Lynn Saoirse – “Glass of Beer / The Musical Priest”.

   And for Monday’s song, I have for you guys two cheery tunes played by the Irish harpist Lynn Saoirse. They’re both traditional reels. 

Song of the day (17th March) – Delyth Evans – “Andante”.

   And another harp piece for Friday, but much shorter and much different in vibe, by the frequently featured on here Welsh harpist Delyth Evans/Jenkins. It comes from her 1998 album Ar y Ffin (On The Border). 

Song of the day (16th March) – Anne Roos ft. David Blonski – “Cantiga”.

   Hey people! 🙂 

   I’ve been a bit behind on our regular series posts lately, so let’s catch up on the overdue ones. First, I’d like to share with you something from a harpist who I believe has never been featured on this blog before – Anne Roos. – Anne plays the Celtic harp, and last year she released an album together with multi-instrumentalist David Blonski. Here is one piece from this album, which I like for how evocative and elaborate it is. 

Golden Bough – “The Wren Boys / Gavin’s / Honeysuckle”.

   Hey people! 🙂 

   Today I’d like to share with you a set of three tunes performed by a group whom, a bit strangely, I have discovered only very recently. I say strangely because not only does this group seem quite popular on the Celtic music scene, or at least the American Celtic music scene, but also one of its founding members is harpist Margie Butler, whom I’ve been loving for years. And I have quite a sentiment for her music which I’ve already written on here before, because I actually was introduced to it by my Mum, who bought me a tape with her music when I was a kid and when my interest in all things Celtic started emerging. I believe she’s even better known as part of Golden Bough rather than a soloist, and they’ve been around ever since the 80’s, so it’s a bit strange that it took me so long to find out about the existence of this group, but I’m glad that I have come across them after all and would like to share something from them with you. 

   Golden Bough are based in California, but have toured quite a lot. The group was founded by the aforementioned Margie Butler, as well as Margot Duxler, Lief Sørbye, Paul Espinoza and Simon Spaulding. Currently, it is a trio, consisting of Margie Butler (Celtic harp, penny whistle, recorder, bodhran), Paul Espinoza (accordion, octave-mandolin) and Kathy Sierra (violin, viola). All members of the group also sing and each of them can play the guitar. 

   All three tunes are Irish hornpipes. 

Celtic WOman – “Mná Na hÉireann (Women Of Ireland)”.

   Hiya people! 🙂 

   For today, I’d like to share with you a song from the famous Irish all-female group Celtic Woman, whose music I’ve enjoyed for years and have shared a few of their songs on here already. This one comes from their album Ancient Land. Mná na hÉireann is actually a 18th-century poem, written by Ulster poet Peadar Ó Doirnín, but it was later set to an air composed by Seán Ó Riada another of whose compositions, Mo Ghile Mear,, sung by a former Celtic Woman member, I’ve featured on here before. Women of Ireland has been performed by all kinds of musical artists, not even just Irish ones. I believe the first one I heard was by Mike Oldfield when I was a kid, others include Sinéad O’connor, Kate Bush or Jeff Beck. A lot of such old Irish poems personify Ireland, whether as a mother or a goddess, or, as is the case here, as a beautiful woman who is mistreated by the English and the Irishmen need to defend her, though are not always successful at it. Here, the lyrical subject is also mutually in love with the woman in question. As you may know, I myself don’t speak Irish (yet), so couldn’t write a translation, but there is an article about it on Wikipedia  which contains several different translation of this song. At the time of releasing Ancient Land, Celtic Woman consisted of Eabha McMahon, Mairead Carlin, Megan Walsh and Tara McNeill, the latter also playing the violin and harp. 

Nordan – “Djupini”.

   Hey people! 🙂 

   Have I even shared anything from Faroe Islands on here before? I doubt it, because despite my love for the Faroese language, there’s not a whole lot of Faroese musicians that I know. A month or so ago, I shared with you a piece performed by Norland Wind, a group comprised of various accomplished Celtic and Scandinavian musicians, including the late Duggan brothers from Clannad. Soon after I discovered Norland Wind, I also discovered that the founder of the group – German harpist Thomas Loefke – has also worked on another folk project called Nordan, together with Faroese fiddler Angelika Nielsen. So, given what I said before that I don’t really know as much Faroese music as I’d like, I was really happy to get to know Angelika’s music and I really like her fiddle playing. Angelika is from Vestmanna and, coming from a musical family, he started playing the violin when she was only three years old. While she is a traditional fiddle player, she also feels comfortable in jazz and classical music. This piece’s name refers to a sound in Faroe Islands called Djupini. 

Patrick Ball – “Turlough MacDonough”.

   Hey people! 🙂 

   Today I’d like to share with you another tune composed by Turlough O’Carolan. It is also known as Young Terence MacDonough or Lament for Terence MacDonough. Terence MacDonough was a man who lived in the 17th and 18th century in county Sligo. He was a lawyer, a soldier, a poet and a patron of other poets and artists. At the time of his life, he was the only Catholic counsel who was admitted to the Irish bar. This tune mourns MacDonough’s death, although in one source I’ve read that it is not about his death, but that of his son. 

   Patrick Ball who plays this tune is not only a harpist, but also a passionate storyteller. He was born in California, but currently lives in county Clare in Ireland. He plays a wire-strung harp, so just like original Irish harps. 

Alan Stivell – “Ys”.

   Hey people! 🙂 

   For today, I decided to share with you an incredibly evocative and deliciously long harp piece from Breton harpist and singer Alan Stivell. It is the opening track from his album Renaissance of the Celtic Harp. The name of this piece refers to a Breton legend about a city called Ys or Ker Ys (literally Low City). It was a rich, luxurious city that is said to have been built by a pious king called Gradlon for his daughter Dahut. Dahut in turn was said to be very sinful and frivolous, but she loved the sea, hence the city was built on  land reclaimed from the sea. very much. To prevent inundation, the city was surrounded by a dike, which had a gate that opened for ships during low tide, and the keys to the gate were held by Gradlon. Once when the king was sleeping, Dahut stole the keys from him, to let her lover in. Instead of opening the city gates though, she opened the dike and caused the sea to flood the entire city, except for Gradlon, who was woken up by saint Gwénnolé and managed to flee. He took his daughter together with him, but Dahut ended up falling into the sea as a punishment for her sins. After falling into the sea, she is said to have changed into a mermaid and haunt the sea to this day, and some believe that the ruins of Ys can still be seen during low tides. 

Anne Crosby Gaudet – “A Sense of Wonder”.

   Hey guys! 🙂 

   Very recently, I introduced you to a new to me Canadian harpist and harp teacher Anne Crosby Gaudet, and shared her arrangement of a traditional Irish tune Buachaill ón Éirne. Like I mentioned in that post though, Anne also writes her own music, composed especially with learners in mind. And this short, light piece is her own creation. 

Carol Thompson – “Lullaby”.

   Hey people! 🙂 

   Today I have for you a really lovely arrangement of a traditional lullaby. It is played by Carol Thompson. She is an American harpist of English and Welsh descent, and is quite versatile, as she plays the Neo-Celtic harp, but also  classical and even triple harp. 

Harriet Earis Trio – “Laughing Wolf”.

   Hi guys! 🙂 

  Today I’d like to share with you another piece from  Harriet Earis Trio’s album From the Crooked Tree. For those unfamiliar, this is a trio based in Wales, consisting of Celtic harpist Harriet Earis, as well as Andy Coughlan on bass and Sam Christie on drums. Their music could be described as an experimental blend of folk and jazz, and I really like it because I like when the harp is used in experimental settings like that, and the way they do it sounds really good and interesting. This particular piece is a jig composed by Harriet Earis herself. 

Lisa Lynne & Aryeh Frankfurter – “Aran Boat Song”.

   Hey guys! 🙂 

   For today I chose a traditional Scottish piece, played by the duo whose music I have featured on here before – harpist Lisa Lynne and multi-instrumentalist Aryeh Frankfurter. – I’ve shared this song previously played by the Irish harpist Aine Minogue. 

Song of the day (15th February) – Anne Crosby Gaudet – “Buachaill ón Éirne” (A Boy From Ireland)

   Hey people! 🙂 

   For yesterday’s overdue song of the day, I want to share with you something from a harpist that I discovered recently. Anne Crosby Gaudet is a harpist, pianist and composer from Nova Scotia. She also teaches other people how to play harp, both with her compositions which she writes specifically with learners in mind, as well as tutorials that she posts on her YouTube channel (she actually makes playing harp sound so easy that watching her videos just for fun I started wondering whether perhaps it would be doable even for someone as uncoordinated as me 😀 ). Anne also has her own shop called Music Discoveries, where she offers various resources for learning the harp as well. This piece, however, is not her original composition, but a traditional Irish tune, which I have already shared here sung by Clannad and included a translation of the lyrics in that post. 

Rachel Hair Trio – “The Marching Gibbon”.

   Hey people! 🙂 

   For today, I’d like to share with you another piece by the Scottish Rachel Hair Trio, consisting of Rachel Hair (harp), Jen Butterworth (guitar and vocals) and Cameron Maxwell (bass). This tune was written by Glasgow-based jazz pianist and accordionist Tom Gibbs. 

Lynn Saoirse – “A Stór Mo Chroí” (Treasure of My Heart).

   And for today, I want to share with you this lovely Irish air, played on the harp by Lynn Saoirse. It was composed at the beginning of the 20th century by Brian O’Higgins. It is originally a song, which addresses someone who is about to leave their home country. 

Song of the day (8th February) – Órla Fallon – “Two Sisters”.

   This is yet another version of Two Sisters, a folk song that is known in many different parts of the world, or at least Europe, with slightly different plot lines. You can also check out the ones I’ve posted previously on here, by Loreena McKennitt,  Clannad, and Emily Portman. 

Rachel Hair Trio – “Tune for Esme”.

   Hey people! 🙂 

   For today, I’d like to share with you an instrumental folk tune from the Rachel Hair Trio. Rachel Hair is a Celtic harpist, who also plays solo, and has collaborated with the guitarist Ron Yappy. I have shared before several of her other pieces. This one appears to be Rachel’s original composition.