The Gaelic harp tradition died out in the 19th century. Harps played in Scotland and Ireland since then have almost all been of a modern European design with only a superficial nod towards the old tradition.

The old tradition seems to have been well defined and strong for up to a thousand years or more. Its heartland was the Gaelic speaking lands - Ireland and the West of Scotland.

The old Gaelic harp traditions were however not isolated in some Celtic fringe; they were well connected with events and fashions in the rest of Europe.

There are many elements of the old traditions that are of interest today, and pages in this section cover these elements separately:

The revival: Since the old traditions died out in the 19th century, they need to be reconstructed and recreated.

Oral and written: the old traditions did not use writing.

Progressive connections: early Gaelic harp in mainstreal European musical life.

Conservative connections: the Gaelic harp traditions as fossilised primal repositories.

Mythic symbolism: as with other medieval arts, the early Gaelic harp has accumulated much detailed and esoteric lore.

Simon Chadwick