Ireland is the only country in the world with a musical instrument as its national emblem. The symbol of the harp is everywhere: on our coins, passports, tax demands and even the ubiquitous pint glass. It is probably one of our most enduring and recognisable images and today there are more professional harpers and students of our national instrument than ever before. Masters of the Irish Harp (produced in association with Cairde na Cruite) is the latest release from RTÉ lyric fm and it celebrates the virtuosity of sixteen of our leading harpers playing music ranging from solo harp tunes collected at the Belfast Harp Festival in 1792 right up to compositions created in the twenty-first century for harp, trumpet and guitar. Masters of the Irish Harp includes harpers who have played for American Presidents, as part Riverdance, at international festivals and events, and who have won Grammy Awards. All of the musicians on the CD have toured throughout the world and are the leading players of their instrument. Masters of the Irish Harp is a musical snapshot of the vitality of Irish harp playing today and is a must for all music lovers. In the words of Giraldus Cambrensis, the twelfth century scholar, describing the musicianship of the harper “...the perfection of their art seems to lie in their concealing it, as if it were the better for being hidden.” Masters of the Irish Harp joins a growing stable of releases from RTÉ lyric fm, a label that is getting critical acclaim from reviewers at home (The Sunday Business Post/ The Irish Times/ JMI) and abroad (Gramophone/ The American Record Guide/ The Strad/ Classical Music Magazine).
Track Listing
1. Gráinne Hambly: The Geese in the Bog [3.22]
2. Aibhlín McCrann: Anna Mhic Dhiarmada Rua [2.28]
3. Laoise Kelly: Lon Dubh / Maidrín Ruadh [4.09]
4. Helen Davies: An Leannán (Ní Uallacháin)* [5.33]
5. Paul Dooley: Port an Deoraí / An Phis Fluich [3.07]
6. Anne-Marie O’Farrell: Prelude from Lute Suite 1006a [5.11]
7. Siobhán Armstrong: Da Mihi Manum [5.25]
8. Michelle Mulcahy: The Green Mountain / The Hearty Bucks of Oranmore [2.54]
9. Máire Ní Chathasaigh: Reel for a Water Diviner** [3.53]
10. Kathleen Loughnane: The Queen of the West / Eleanor Plunkett [3.42]
11. Áine Ní Dhubhghaill: Arrane Ghelbee [2.59]
12. Cormac de Barra: The Monaghan Jig† [3.19]
13. Tríona Marshall: Rakish Paddy/The Bucks of Oranmore/The Mortgage Burn [4.16]
14. Janet Harbison: Suantraí (Harbison) [3.13]
15. Dearbhail Finnegan: Bridget Cruise/ The Deer’s March [3.51]
16. Gráinne Yeats: Farewell to Music [4.59]
* with Palle Mikkelborg trumpet and Mikkel Nordsoe guitar ** with Chris Newman acoustic & electric guitars, mandolins, electric bass, Roy Whyke drums, percussion † with Fionán de Barra guitar, Mário N'Goma percussion