Turlough O’Carolan (1670 - 1738)
He was born the son of a farmer in County Meath, Ireland and perhaps would have also become a farmer, if he had not lost his eyesight at the age of 18 years. Many Irish harpers were blind, and so, his father´s employer taught him for three years to play the harp and furnished him with an instrument, a helper and a horse. At age 21, he began his life as a traveling minstrel.
His first host encouraged him to compose - and this was very fortunate, because later on he was famous as a composer, not as a harpist. He composed while traveling, and when he arrived at his next host, the composition was ready to play. Contrary to the custom of the time, he first composed the melody and then added the words. Almost all of Carolan's songs bear the names of his hosts and friends - they are like musical portraits. He combined the old Gaelic harp tradition with the then new world of Italian Baroque to create his own style full of lightness and joy.
The old Irish way of playing is perhaps nearest to the manner Carolan played. Unlike the classical style, here the hands are not strictly divided into melody and accompaniment: All notes with the stem written downwards are played by the bass hand, its thump often playing melody notes. The remaining notes with the stem written upwards are played by the the melody hand. The two hands complement each other.
Content
Bridget Cruise
Fanny Power
Planxty John Irwin
Mrs. Abigal Judge
Eleanor Plunkett
Planxty Kelly
Captaine O’Kane
Squire Woods Lamentation
Carolan’s Dream
Sir Arthur Shaen
Princess Royal
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