Rediscovering the early Irish harp: history and craftsmanship

History and context: an overview

In this session, we will survey the history of harps in Ireland and Scotland, from the medieval period to the present day, paying particular attention to the metal-strung harps played in Ireland and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland until the early 19th century. We'll consider these harps in the context of their historical time periods and the music that was performed on them.

The surviving instruments, and how to examine and study them

In this session, we will look at the surviving early Irish harps and explore their construction and craftsmanship. We'll discuss methods for examining an historical instrument, what to look for, and what to record and measure.

Historical decorative work

In this session, we'll focus on the decorative work of the surviving instruments. We'll discuss style, methods and materials, and historical and cultural context. We'll also discuss how to identify and interpret evidence of decoration that may have been reworked or added later.

How to look for, and interpret, signs of use on the historical harps

In this session, we'll discuss how to identify and interpret signs of use on the surviving instruments. We'll explore how these can inform performance practice, and what they can tell us about the working lives of these harps.

Design philosophy, historical modifications and 'replica' instruments

In this session, we'll look at how to identify, assess and interpret historical modifications, damage, and repairs. We'll also consider the design of these harps — What was the maker's intention? —  and we'll discuss 'replica' instruments in this context.  

Reconstructing instruments from historical evidence [Guest speaker: Dr Alice Margerum]

This session addresses musical instrument construction, the practical application of information gleaned from museum examples, and the difference between ‘replicas’ and historically-informed ‘reconstructions’.