Siobhán Armstrong: Harp History in Ireland and Building Community by Carrying on the Tradition
My guest today is Siobhán Armstrong. Siobhán is Ireland’s foremost performer of historical harp music, playing 16th-to 18th-century chamber music and opera with many of Europe's most prestigious historical and traditional performers. Siobhán founded The Historical Harp Society of Ireland and is passionate about encouraging the revival of The Ancient Irish Harp.
She is also director of Scoil na gCláirseach—Festival of Early Irish Harp, which takes place this year on July 25th-29th online. The Festival of Early Irish Harp exists to help fill the enormous cultural gap left by the disappearance of the early Irish harp two centuries ago. This year the Festival has teamed up with The Somerset Folk Harp Festival. You can purchase tickets to the Festival of Early Irish Harp as an add on to Somerset or as a stand alone festival.
Síobhan is dedicated to reviving and expanding understanding of how the voice and the harp worked together in the past. Síobhan’s particular focus is on figuring out what the harpers played in the lower hand.
With eclectic interests, she plays seventeenth-century opera and chamber music with the main baroque directors in Europe; has performed as a soloist on Hollywood film soundtracks and gigs at the world's biggest traditional music festivals.
Among her many historical harp copies, she plays a replica of the medieval Trinity College or Brian Boru harp — the national emblem of Ireland — strung in brass and 18-carat gold. Her solo recording on this instrument, Cláirseach na hÉireann: The Harp of Ireland, was released in 2004.
She also performs and records with the leading early music soloists, ensembles, and directors, mainly in Europe but also in North America and Japan.
Enjoy this lovely chat with Síobhan, who is so generous with her knowledge and time. Catch some of her workshops this summer and purchase some of her recordings. Her joy and love of the harp comes shining through.
LINKS:
Síobhan’s website: www.siobhanarmstrong.com
The Historical Harp Society of Ireland: irishharp.org
The Somerset Folk Harp Festival: www.somersetharpfest.com/index.shtml
Scoil na gCláirseach-Festival of Early Irish Harp: festival.irishharp.org