O’Carolan’s #176
September 13, 2009 by Ed
Filed under Featured Music
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This latest piece is from the “Baroque” era, written by the Irish harpist, Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). He was one of the last Irish harp composers of which many of his compositions survive in “single line” melody. His works only survive as single line melody without a clue as to how they may have been accompanied or harmonized. The National Library of Ireland has the only copy of Carolan’s works.
O’Carolan was blinded by smallpox at the age of eighteen. “It was at this time it is believed he studied under MacDermott Roes. O’Carolan studied for three years at the end of which Mrs. MacDermott Roe gave him a harp, a horse and some money to begin his career as an itinerant harper. For forty-five years Carolan would travel throughout Ireland composing tunes (planxties) for his patrons”. O’Carolan is not known for his skill as a harpist as much as he is revered for his compositions.
Digideroos
In this interpretation, I decided to introduce an authentic Australian “Digideroo”. True masters of this ancient instrument are able to utilize “continuous breathing” thereby providing a continuous deep gutteral voicing almost indefinately without interruption.
This tune will be featured for a limited time only. I hope to include this on the next CD release. I hope you enjoy it.
(click to play)
