TG4 Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001

“The doyenne of Irish harp players” - Scotland on Sunday

"The most interesting & original player of our Irish harp today"
- Derek Bell

About The Irish Harper Volume Two: 24 Pieces by Turlough O’Carolan Arranged for the Irish Harp by Máire Ní Chathasaigh - Second Edition

ISBN 978-1-873077-02-3 ISMN 979-0-708208-00-6 (Print edition)
ISBN 978-1-873077-03-0 ISMN 979-0-708208-01-3 (Digital edition)

Second Edition published July 2022. (First published 2001.)

44 pages.

Standard: Intermediate to Advanced.

A number of the arrangements from this book have been set pieces for various Royal Irish Academy of Music Grade examinations over the years.

TURLOUGH O'CAROLAN was the most famous of all the Irish harper-composers of his day, and his music is the most popular ever composed for the harp in Ireland. It affords a lot of scope to the creativity of the individual performer and arranger, since only Carolan’s melodies survive. This book contains Máire Ní Chathasaigh's original arrangements (with suggested fingering) of 24 of Carolan’s beautiful tunes, informed by her knowledge both of the native Irish harp tradition and of baroque forms; a brief biography of Carolan; historical notes on the pieces; and performance guidance.

The book was first published by Old Bridge Music in 2001. It has been amended, updated and given a new cover for the Second Edition, published in July 2022.

The arrangements originally appeared on Máire’s 1994 CD with Chris Newman, The Carolan Albums. “Restores the harp to its true voice." THE IRISH TIMES “Máire is the foremost modern interpreter of Carolan.” TAPLAS "In a plethora of Carolan records, this is the best.” FOLK ON TAP
Further review extracts below. Full reviews here.

For those harpists that have been asking how the second edition differs from the first, here is a summary:

The arrangements in the original book were identical to those on The Carolan Albums and therefore feature Máire's own versions and variations. In the new edition Máire has indicated by means of ossia staffs where her versions diverge from the printed or manuscript sources. Other changes include rewriting of some of the notes on the pieces; the use of additional interpretative symbols and guidance; the correction of a small number of fingering typos - and a new cover!

Go to About Máire and List of Contents

Second Edition published by Old Bridge Music, 2022.
First published by Old Bridge Music, 2001.

Extracts from reviews of the companion recording, The Carolan Albums

"A masterpiece of virtuosity... A must for any folk-related collection"
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH 

"If Máire wasn’t around, Irish harping would be so much the poorer. Her work… could be described as an attempt to restore the harp to its true voice… Unfussy, with all the spaces left empty and resonating, the long arm of the music reaches back into a noble tradition” THE IRISH TIMES

“Faultlessly played, with consummate skill and a perfect understanding of the grace and elegance of the music… Breathtaking. Máire’s… deep understanding of the music, combined with technical skill and passion mark her out as the foremost modern interpreter of Carolan” TAPLAS (Wales)

“A delight... The sheer excellence... sets standards which should be aspired to not only in this field but throughout folk music.” FOLKWRITE

“No one else could have done justice to such a project”
FOLK NORTHWEST

"Magnificent... in a plethora of Carolan records, this is the best”
FOLK ON TAP

“The playing of this duo exhibits a virtuosity and balance of expression combine with a simple elegance which has a reviewer running to the thesaurus in search of superlatives. Enchanting, expressive, a remarkable piece of work" TYKES NEWS

Go to About Máire and List of Contents

"a masterpiece of virtuosity" - The Daily Telegraph

Contents of The Irish Harper Volume Two

1. Carolan's Draught; 2. John O'Connor; 3. Colonel John Irwin (Planxy Irwin); 4. Hewlett; 5. Máire Dhall (Blind Mary); 6. Lord Inchiquin; 7. Morgan Magan; 8. Sí Bheag's Sí Mhor; 9. The Princess Royal; 10. John Drury; 11. Fanny Power; 12. Carolan's Concerto; 13. Maurice O'Connor; 14. Constantine Maguire; 15. Mr O'Connor; 16. Robert Jordan; 17. Bridget Cruise; 18. Frank Palmer; 19. Grace Nugent; 20. George Brabazon; 21. Kean O'Hara; 22. Madam Judge; 23. Eleanor Plunkett; 24. Baptist Johnston

About this book

About Máire

Contents:

24 arrangements
of compositions by
Turlough O'Carolan