Events
Harps Alive: Harping with Words: Reimagining Gaelic Bardic Poetry with Harp Accompaniments
The recitation of Gaelic bardic poetry alongside accompanying harp music was a highly esteemed performance practice throughout Gaelic society which involved the famed trio of An File, An Reacaire agus An Cruitire (the poet, reciter and harper). Whilst the survival of many Gaelic bardic poems provides us with insights into the complex nature of the poetry, a lack of recordings, transcriptions and source material relating to the accompanying harp music obscures our knowledge and understanding of the harpers’ creative practice.
Frequently mentioned throughout early Irish literature, the harper undoubtedly played a vital role within this mode of practice which demanded a high level of skill in accompanying poetry governed primarily by syllables and strict metrical rules of composition. Have you ever wondered what these 16th century Irish bardic poems could sound like with harp accompaniment? Come along to get a glimpse into our Gaelic past, and how we might reimagine it for musicians today.
Lauren Ní Néill
Cruitire traidisiúnta, léachtóir agus taighdeoir mór le rá as Gleann an Iolar, Co. Dhoire, is ea an Dr Lauren Ní Néill. Tá sí tar éis seinm go fairsing ar fud na hÉireann agus na hEorpa, agus tá sí ina stiúrthóir ceoil ar Chruitirí Dhoire agus ar Chruitirí Inis Eoghain chomh maith. Cuireadh spotsholas uirthi i léiriúcháin ar nós Sruth (TG4/BBC Alba), Folk Map of the British Isles agus Beart Bunting, agus léiríonn a cuid oibre ceangal domhain le traidisiúin stairiúla agus chomhaimseartha na cruite. Ina taighde PhD le déanaí, Bairdne, déanann sí iniúchadh ar chur chuige nua maidir le tionlacan cruite do fhilíocht bhairdice Ghaelach. Ba í Lauren an chéad CEO ar Chruit Éireann | Harp Ireland agus tá sí ag léachtóireacht faoi láthair i gceol traidisiúnta na hÉireann in Ollscoil Uladh.
Dr Lauren Ní Néill is a highly regarded traditional harper, teacher and researcher from Glenullin, Co. Derry. She has performed and taught widely across Ireland and Europe and is musical director of both the Derry Harp Ensemble and the Inishowen Harp Ensemble. A featured performer on productions including Sruth (TG4/BBC Alba), Folk Map of the British Isles and Beart Bunting, her work reflects a deep engagement with both historical and contemporary harp traditions. Her recent PhD research, Bairdne, explores new approaches to harp accompaniment of Gaelic bardic poetry. Lauren was the first CEO of Cruit Éireann | Harp Ireland and currently lectures in Irish traditional music at Ulster University.
Date: Monday 27th July
Time: 2:30pm
Venue: Ulster University
Tickets: Book here.
