Classical Principle Weekly
February 28, 2023
In Anticipation of St Patrick's Day:
The harp is Ireland's national instrument. harpists were celebrated in ancient Ireland. Legend tells us that the last high king of Ireland, Brian Boru (who died in 1014,) loved the harp so much that his son is said to have presented his father’s beloved instrument to the Pope as a sign of respect. A document dating from 12th century Ireland implies that the harp was the only music played during the Crusades. The harp was so revered all over Europe that most monarchs and lords had a resident “Master Harper/Harpist.”
The harp was so recognized as a part of Irish culture, that in an attempt to gain control of Ireland, laws were enacted by the English Crown making it illegal for the Irish to speak their language, play their music, own land, become educated and to marry. The penalty was death. In 1603, a proclamation was issued by the Lord President of Munster, where the Marshal of the Province was strictly charged “to exterminate by marshal law all manner of Bards, Harpers,” etc. Within ten days after this proclamation, Queen Elizabeth herself ordered Lord Barrymore “to hang the harpers wherever found, and destroy their instruments.”
Oliver Cromwell took the persecution of harpers to new extremes. Between 1650 and 1660, Oliver Cromwell ordered all harps and organs throughout Ireland be destroyed. In Dublin alone, 500 harps were seized and burned. Harpers in cities large and small were forbidden to congregate. By the late 18th century, traditional Irish harpers were nearly extinct.
Because harp music had always been handed down orally, very little of it has been preserved. The most important attempt to save the music was made in 1792, by a nineteen year old Armagh church organist named Edward Bunting who was hired to archive the music.
In order to encourage and preserve the old harping tradition, a festival was held in Belfast and newspaper advertisements invited all Irish harpers to come and play for cash prizes. Only ten harpers, ranging in age from fifteen to ninety-seven, could be found. It is due to the effort of Denis Hempson, one of the old Harpers, and Edward Bunting, that as much of the terminology and their traditional music was preserved.
Bunting became the first archivist of Irish folk tunes, and he made it his life's work to travel the length and breadth of Ireland collecting old traditional tunes that were on the verge of disappearing forever. He collected not only the music, but much lore and technical information from the harpers. Bunting had so much enthusiasm during the festival that he continued to collect traditional tunes throughout his life, publishing three collections, in 1797, 1809, and 1840. In 1840, the publication of his landmark book “The Ancient Music of Ireland” saved hundreds of classic Irish airs from extinction.
Turlough O'Carolan’s music dates from that period. He was a poor blind harpist who travelled the country composing music for his patrons. His music bridges classical and folk. Here are two beautiful examples.
O'Carolan's Concerto
Carolan's Dream
Attached the image of Samuel Beckett Bridge in Dublin, shaped like a harp.
