The old Irish wire strung harp, an exquisite and intriguing instrument will be taking centre stage at a music festival in Belfast this weekend.
And one of the harpers who will be performing on this very instrument at the Harps Alive│An Chruit Bheo│Harps Leevin festival is Armagh musician Sylvia Crawford.
Sylvia, one of the finest harpers on the Island, is a professional musician, teacher and author, specialising in the old Irish wire strung harp.
“I have played music all my life, (piano and fiddle), but only came to the harp in 2006” she said.
She will be leading an exciting Harp-learning workshop as part of the Early Harp Discovery Day: Listen, Learn, Have A Go! event on Saturday July 16.
Aiming to revive and reintroduce the lost art of old Irish wire strung harp playing, Sylvia said: “The living tradition died out, and so the inherited knowledge of how this instrument was played was lost. Rediscovering this has been my biggest challenge”.
In 2021, she published ‘An Introduction to Old Irish Harp Playing Techniques’, an attempt to replicate authentic methods and practices, embedded in the limited evidence of the ancient tradition.
Her latest passion, forming a collection of harp airs arranged for the old Irish Harp, is shaping the focus of her second book. Slyvia notes that this exciting second work focuses on:
“Using the traditional harp fingerings and playing techniques published by Edward Bunting in 1840”.
At the Early Harp Discovery Day attendees will have the opportunity to hear a 45-minute illustrated talk that delves into the exciting history and pioneers of the old Irish harp, hosted by Simon Chadwick, an internationally renowned old Irish harp history and tradition expert.
This is followed by Sylvia’s 75-minute interactive hands-on beginners’ workshop, anyone can get involved.
Speaking about her role in the event, Sylvia said: “it’s what I do best, and what I love the most.
“Attendees will be given the chance to learn to play the first tune traditionally taught to harpers, Mailí Bhán, and to learn some old Irish harp playing techniques: briseadh, leath leagadh, bualladh suas, and leagadh anuas”.
Each beginner gets the chance to handle their own harp, a unique and likely one-time experience.
Organised by the Harps Alive partnership, the festival will bring together the finest harpers from across the island to recognise the landmark event that collected music more than two centuries ago for future harpers to learn from and perform.
The partnership between Harp Ireland and Reclaim The Enlightenment is to mark 230 years since the Belfast Harpers’ Assembly in Belfast. In 1792 the Harpers’ Assembly in Belfast brought together 11 harpers, six of which were blind and the eldest Denis Hempson was 97 at the time.
Aibhlín McCrann, Chair of Cruit Éireann Harp Ireland, said that celebrating the anniversary presented a unique musical opportunity for the harping community.
“We are delighted to bring harpers from all over Ireland together to mark 230 years since the Belfast Harpers’ Assembly in Belfast” she said.
“Our harping heritage transcends boundaries and has really connected the partners, north and south.
“It is wonderful to hear the harpers’ music reflecting our living tradition and to see that there is so much interest in it. We are looking forward to welcoming audiences across the city of Belfast to our concerts, talks and exhibitions and in Dublin later in the month.”
John Gray, Chair of Reclaim the Enlightenment added that the Harps Alive│An Chruit Bheo│Harps Leevin festival is rooted in musical history.
“In bringing more than 50 harpers to Belfast, the festival will create the largest ever such assembly in the city,” he said.
“It will be a celebration of the heritage of the harp and the contemporary revival of harp playing, and when it concludes we hope to have created more awareness of the harp tradition with the public and leave a lasting legacy.”
There are just eight places available in Simon & Sylvia’s workshop. For more information or to book tickets go to http://harpsalive.com