Early Gaelic Harp Info: Playing the instrument: the second tune

These web pages are a companion for my new book, Progressive Lessons for Early Gaelic Harp. Click here to order your copy.

Our source for these versions is the Bunting manuscripts. Performances of the music by the harpers Denis O'Hampsey and Patrick Quin were transcribed into field notebooks by Edward Bunting.

Burns March was described by the 18th century harpers as ‘the second tune taught the pupil, with a bass first time introduced by the learner’ (Edward Bunting, ms 12 f33r); we are also told that ‘This is one of the Progressive Lessons and is also the fourth tune generally learnt’ (Bunting ms33(3), f10v, Denis O'Hampsey's set). And it is also labelled as the ‘3rd tune’ (Bunting, ms 33(1), Patrick Quin's set).

For Patrick Quin's set, the notation on p.41 of my book is copied from Bunting ms33(1) p.63 (f32r) which is not yet available from Queens University Belfast.

For Denis O'Hampsey's set, click here for a facsimile of the notation transcribed on p.43 of my book: Bunting ms29 p.31 (f15r), at Queens University Belfast. The facing page previous in the manuscript, Bunting ms29 p.30 (f14v), has the first rough notation taken down 'live' from Denis O'Hampsey's playing.

For Denis O'Hampsey's words, on p.37 of my book, click here for a facsimile of Bunting ms29 p.51 (f23r), at Queens University Belfast.

Video demonstrations

The video below demonstrates Patrick Quin's version, played on a copy of his harp (HHSI Student Otway made by David Kortier in 2009);

Below is Denis O'Hampsey's set played on a copy of his harp (HHSI Student Downhill made by David Kortier in 2006).

Next: the third tune

Comments? Questions? Want to find out more?
lessons in St Andrews, Dundee & Edinburgh
One-to-one tuition at home, anywhere in the world: online video lessons using Skype
Every August in Kilkenny, Ireland: Scoil na gCláirseach - Summer School of Early Irish Harp