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The 27th Edinburgh Harp Festival 
THERE is a strong Irish presence in the 27th Edinburgh International Harp
Festival with Irish acts opening and ending the programme.
Brilliant, innovative harpist Máire ní Chathasaigh —
Irish Traditional Musician-of-the-Year 2001 — will kickstart the
festival with a concert on Friday, March 28 accompanied by Chris Newman
and a band specially formed for the festival.
Later in the week Anne-Marie O’Farrell will direct the Kylemore
Harp Ensemble in a concert featuring harp ensembles from Scotland, Brittany
and Ireland in a Celtic collaboration. And the festival will finish with
a concert featuring Gráinne Hambly and William Jackson which is
being sponsored by Culture Ireland.
As two of the foremost harpers of Ireland and Scotland Gráinne
and William join forces to present a concert of traditional and newly-composed
music from their respective traditions. Besides the contrasting and complementary
sounds and styles of the harps, the concert will also include concertina,
whistle and bouzouki.
Harp Festival administrator Lindsay Robertson said: “We are delighted
to welcome such a strong Irish contingent. We have forged creative bonds
with our Celtic cousins over the years and the Irish musicians are always
a great addition to the atmosphere of the festival. They bring not only
great musicianship but also real friendship and warmth.”
The festival runs from March 28 to April 2 at Merchiston Castle School,
Colinton Road, Edinburgh. It features concerts, workshops and classes
for all ages and abilities from complete beginners to masterclasses for
advanced players.
The festival includes all styles of music from traditional Scottish and
Irish to classical and jazz as well as Jewish, Scandinavian, Breton and
Paraguayan and is suitable for all kinds of harp including clarsach, pedal
and wire-strung instruments.
Since the Harp Festival began in 1982 — set up by two harp makers
— it has gone from strength to strength and now attracts more than
300 harp players from all continents.
In 2006 a new Guinness World Record was created when 201 harp players
all played together — an event that was recorded by the BBC World
Service.
Festival programme:
Friday, March 28, 7.30pm: Máire ní Chathasaigh, Chris Newman
and Band.
Wednesday, April 2:
Gráinne Hambly and William Jackson present a concert of traditional
and newly-composed music from their respective traditions. The concert
will also include concertina, whistle and bouzouki.
Wednesday, April 2:
Celtic nations in harmony. This concert brings together harp ensembles
from three Celtic nations. The Kylemore Harp Ensemble from Dublin, directed
by Anne-Marie O’Farrell, Mil ha ur Gorden from Brittany, led by
Tristan le Govic and the Festival Orchestra with na Clarsairean, the Scottish
Harp Orchestra, directed by Isobel Mieras join to present a programme
of traditional and contemporary music.
For more details go to: www.harpfestival.co.uk
Tel: Lindsay Robertson (EIHF Administrator) 0131 478 8446 or e-mail:
administrator@harpfestival.co.uk |
