Description

Maire Ni Chathasaigh – The New Strung Harp – Vinyl Record

The New Strung Harp is an album by Irish harpist Máire Ní Chathasaigh, released in 1985. Máire Ní Chathasaigh is renowned for her innovative approach to the Irish harp, blending traditional styles with contemporary techniques and arrangements. This album is significant for its role in revitalizing and modernizing the traditional Irish harp repertoire.

Irish harpist and singer. She began playing at only eleven years old, inspired by her family, many of whom are noted musicians from West Cork. She drew heavily on traditional styles, but also created new techniques of ornamentation. She has won the All-Ireland competition at under-fourteen and under-eighteen levels and then, in the mid 1970s, she won the Senior version three years in succession.

Her 1985 The New-Strung Harp was the first harp album to consist of exclusively Irish traditional dance music. Her stylistic innovations made her famous in the Celtic music scene, and she began teaching in continental Europe and in the United States. She has taught for more than fifteen years at Cúirt Chruitireachta, a school in Termonfeckin, County Louth, organized the Irish Harp Society, Cairde na Cruite. Her arrangements have been collected in two books, The Irish Harper Vols. I and II, and she has an honours degree in Celtic Studies from University College Cork.

Máire also works with the Choir of New College, Oxford and the New English Chamber Orchestra, and she also appeared on the film Driftwood. Among other musicians, she has worked with Celtic pioneer Dan Ar Braz.

The New Strung Harp features a mix of traditional Irish tunes and original compositions, showcasing Ní Chathasaigh’s virtuosic playing and creative arrangements. The album is characterized by its intricate melodies, rhythmic complexity, and the blending of traditional Irish music with modern influences. Themes include traditional Irish dance tunes, airs, and original pieces that reflect Ní Chathasaigh’s deep connection to Irish musical heritage.

Upon its release, The New Strung Harp was widely acclaimed for its innovative approach and technical excellence. Critics and listeners praised Ní Chathasaigh for her fresh interpretations of traditional tunes and her contributions to the revival of the Irish harp. The album helped to cement her reputation as one of the leading figures in Irish traditional music.
Legacy:

The New Strung Harp is considered a landmark album in the world of Irish traditional music. It played a significant role in bringing the Irish harp to a wider audience and inspiring a new generation of harpists. Ní Chathasaigh’s innovative techniques and musicality have had a lasting impact on the tradition, making her a key figure in the modern Irish music scene.

For fans of traditional Irish music and the harp, ‘The New Strung Harp’ by Máire Ní Chathasaigh is an essential listen. It offers a captivating blend of tradition and innovation, showcasing the rich possibilities of the Irish harp in the hands of a master musician.

Temple Records 1985 TPOT9

Track Listing
Charles O’Connor/Father Hanly
O Ho Nighean, E Ho Nighean
Madam Maxwell
The Pullet/The Volunteer
An Speic Seoigheach
The Humours of Ballyloughlin
Hindero Horo
The Bantry Girl’s Lament
The Gander in the Praitie Hole/The Queen of the Rushes
Carolan’s Farewell to Music
The Fisherman’s Hornpipe/The Cuckoo’s Nest
The Boys of Malin/The Old Oak Tree
Planxty Sudley