This book contains the first arrangements of Irish traditional dance tunes ornamented in an authentic style ever to be published, and sold out its first print run of 1,000 copies within weeks of publication in 1991.

The fruit of many years’ experience of performing and teaching Irish traditional music to harpers by the pioneer in the field, it represented the first attempt in print to analyse and explain the aesthetic principles which inform the stylistically correct performance of this music on the harp. Most of these ground-breaking arrangements are of traditional Irish dance music, but also included are two songs and some unusual settings of the music of Turlough O’Carolan.

44 pages. Standard: Intermediate to Advanced.

Scroll down for List of Contents.

Catalogue details:

ISBN 1-873077-00-9  (Available in both print and digital formats.)

Published by Old Bridge Music, 1991 (many reprints).

This book contains the first arrangements of Irish traditional dance tunes ornamented in an authentic style ever to be published, and sold out its first print run of 1,000 copies within weeks of publication in 1991.

The fruit of many years’ experience of performing and teaching Irish traditional music to harpers by the pioneer in the field, it represented the first attempt in print to analyse and explain the aesthetic principles which inform the stylistically correct performance of this music on the harp. Most of these ground-breaking arrangements are of traditional Irish dance music, but also included are two songs and some unusual settings of the music of Turlough O’Carolan.

Máire has recorded most of them on her 1985 solo album, The New Strung Harp, (the first harp album ever to concentrate on traditional Irish dance music), and on two of her subsequent albums with Chris Newman, The Living Wood and The Carolan Albums. Idiomatic and fluent results can be achieved by listening carefully to the recorded versions while paying close attention to the detailed fingering provided in the book.

Contents

1. Eibhlín Ní Ríordáin’s Slide 2. Marcshlua Uí Néill 3. Mairéad’s Mazurka 4. Julia Clifford’s Polkas 5. Walsh’s Hornpipe 6. The Peacock’s Feather 7. Cuach mo Londubh Buí 8. Caitlín Ní Aodha 9. The Sport of the Chase 10. Fanny Power 11. Planxty Sudley 12. Tomeen O’Dea’s Reel 13. The Bantry Girls’ Lament 14. Madam Maxwell 15. The Gander in the Pratie Hole 16. The Queen of the Rushes 17. The Boys of Malin 18. The Old Oak Tree 19. The Pullet 20. The Volunteer