Bray musicians featured in Harps for Hope online gig
MUSICIANS from Bray featured in a 200-strong ensemble performance as the finale to the Harps for Hope online concert series.
11 harpers from Bray Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann featured in a video released last Saturday.
A 200-strong ensemble of young harpers from all over Ireland celebrate the beginning of the national recovery, the success of the Harps for Hope series and the 350th anniversary of harper, Turlough Carolan, in an ensemble performance of his well-known love song called ‘Fanny Power’, specially arranged for this performance by Aileen Kennedy.
The performance, and the full Harps for Hope series, can be viewed at harpireland.ie.
‘We were very moved by the response to our Harps for Hope online concert series and by the array and diversity of harp performances that we have received from our wonderful harpers,’ said Aibhlín McCrann, Chair of Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland. ‘Now we have young harpers from all over Ireland coming together to celebrate our unique harping heritage, lending their voices to the national recovery as we emerge from the pandemic with a spirit of hope, embodied in the Irish Harp.’
Rachel Duffy from the Bray CCÉ Harp Ensemble, who contributed to the series, said: ‘We’re delighted to have students from the Bray Comhaltas Harp Ensemble featured in this performance collaborating with harpers from across the country. The ensemble has been rehearsing together online for the past few months and this has been a great chance for them to participate in a new kind of performance experience.’ The ensemble, based in Bray, features 11 students aged 12-21. They have performed at numerous festivals and events both locally and nationally and they will represent Ireland at the World Harp Congress in Wales in August 2021.
Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland is the national umbrella resource organisation for the harp in Ireland.