Now that I have got to the end of part 1 of Bunting’s ms29, it is a good time to review my Old Irish Harp Transcriptions Project.
Continue reading Part 1 summaryTag: Old Irish harp transcriptions project
This project was my main focus from Autumn 2019 through to Spring 2022. The idea was to identify, categorise, catalogue and analyse live transcription notations of traditional Irish harp performance practice.
So far, almost all of the live transcription notations I have identified were done by Edward Bunting, done between 1792 and about 1802. I have made a a tune-list spreadsheet which lists all of the live transcriptions I have so far identified, and PDF indexes and text-transcripts of the key transcription notebooks: Queen’s University Belfast, Special Collections MS4.29, MS4.33.1, and others.
Seónin Ó Raghallaigh, fear gasda
I made a video demonstration of part of the tune of Sean O’Reily, as transcribed by Edward Bunting probably in the summer of 1792.
Betty O’Brian
I was going to make a video demonstration of Edward Bunting’s live transcription of the tune of Betty O’Brian, but I didn’t because it is too corrupt.
Continue reading Betty O’Brian
Pléaráca na Ruarcach
I made a video demonstration of a version of Pléaráca na Ruarcach, from Edward Bunting’s transcription notation in Queen’s University Belfast, Special Collections, MS4.29 page 107/103/112/f51r.
Continue reading Pléaráca na Ruarcach
Peigí Ní Shléibhín
I made a demonstration video of a version of the tune Peigí Ní Shléibhín, based on a live transcription from a harper in the 1790s.
Continue reading Peigí Ní Shléibhín
Sín síos agus suas liom
I made a demonstration video of a version of the tune of Sín síos agus suas liom. Bunting transcribed this version from the playing of an old Irish harper in the 1790s.
Continue reading Sín síos agus suas liom
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.
Continue reading Ar Bhruach na Sionainne
Bonny Shannon Water
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.
Continue reading Bonny Shannon Water
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”.
Continue reading Mailí Bhán
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.
Continue reading Madam Maxwell