Historical Harp Society of Ireland

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Concerts: Harp Music of the Old Gaelic World

The Historical Harp Society of Ireland is delighted to present three concerts:
Harp Music of the Old Gaelic World

at Rothe House, Parliament St, Kilkenny on Saturday 25th August at 8.00 p.m.
Galway Arts Centre, Nun’s Island, Galway on 30th August  at 8.00 p.m.
and at St. Ann’s Church, Dawson St, Dublin on Saturday 1st September.


In these unique concerts historical harpers Ann Heymann (USA), Javier Sáinz (Spain) and Siobhán Armstrong (Irl) will perform traditional, Renaissance and Baroque harp music from Ireland and Scotland together with traditional Irish song sung by Connemara’s prizewinning young sean-nós singer, Róisín Elsafty and the unique uilleann pipes playing of historical piper Jimmy O’Brien-Moran.

This will be a rare opportunity to hear
Three of the world’s foremost players of the medieval instrument which is the national emblem of Ireland
The authentic sound of brass and 18-carat GOLD strings played in the traditional manner with fingernails
Exquisite replicas of Ireland’s only surviving medieval harp: the Trinity College Harp, as well as replicas of a famous 18th century Irish harp, the 'Downhill' of 1702.

The concert promises to be a great delight to all historical and traditional music lovers.

The event is part of the international Scoil na gCláirseach – Summer School of Early Irish Harp, which takes place at Kilkenny School of Music 22nd-28th August.
The concerts start at 8.00 p.m. and admission is €15 / €10 (Kilkenny, Galway), and €18 / €12 (Dublin), payable at the door.

The Historical Harp Society of Ireland is kindly supported by the The Arts Council and Kilkenny County Council.