news – Page 19 – Simon Chadwick

Ar Bhruach na Sionainne

I made a video demonstration of the tune of the banks of the Shannon, based on Edward Bunting’s live transcription of the playing of an old Irish harper, perhaps Daniel Black in 1796.

I made a video demonstration of the tune of “Bonny Shannon Water” from Edward Bunting’s manuscript notation which I think was written as a live transcription from the playing of an old Irish harper in the 1790s.

Mailí Bhán

When I started playing the harp, I worked through Ann Heymann’s book Secrets of the Gaelic Harp (Clairseach, 1988). The first tune that I learned from this book was Mailí Bhán, “fair Molly”.

Madam Maxwell

I made a video demonstration of Madam Maxwell (DOSC 101), based on Edward Bunting’s live transcription from an old Irish harper in the 1790s.

Making the harp case

I made a case for the harp, and I photographed every stage so that I could show you the process. If you want some background to the design decisions see harp case part 1 and harp case part 2.

Harp case part 2

I’m busy making my harp case, which is why there has not been another tune for over a week.

As I was sewing I was thinking about things and I remembered a few references that I should have checked out before I started. But that is the way of these things.

An bhfaca tú mo valentine?

I made a video demonstration of the song air “did you see my valentine”. I am trying to follow what I think is a live transcription made by Edward Bunting from a traditional harp performance, in the summer of 1792.

Cúileann fín

I made a demonstration video of the song air, Cúileann fín (fine, fair-haired one), from Edward Bunting’s transcription apparently made in in the summer of 1792 from the harper Hugh Higgins.

Miss Dillon

I made a video demonstration of the first half of Miss Dillon and Jigg, by Carolan (DOSC 35).

Thugamar féin an samhradh linn

I made a video demonstration of Thugamar féin an samhradh linn, based on Edward Bunting’s live transcription most likely from the playing of the harper Hugh Higgins, in the summer of 1792: