• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer

The Historical Harp Society of Ireland

Rediscovering the early Irish harp

  • Home
    • Aims
    • Activities
    • The early Irish harp
    • Personnel
    • Governing Body
    • Policies
      • Child Protection Policy and Procedures
      • GDPR
    • Supporters
    • Benefactors
    • Support us
    • Location
  • News
  • 2021 Events
    • Summer Festival 2021
      • About
      • Photos
      • Programme
      • Timetable
      • Artists and Staff
      • Virtual One-to-One Coaching
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • 2019 Festival: Director’s Report
      • Feedback
  • Resources
    • Members area
    • Tuition and rental harps
    • Library
      • Catalogue
    • Antique harps
    • Online resources
  • Shop
  • Contact us

Uncategorised · 2nd February 2020

TV and radio reports on new HHSI project at National Museum

Sinéad Crowley, RTE, interviews head of project, Dr. Karen Loomis, HHSI.

A Scientific Harp Survey: New HHSI Pilot Project at the National Museum of Ireland


WATCH the RTE TV news report

LISTEN to the RTE Radio 1 Morning Ireland report


In Jan. 2020, the National Museum of Ireland kindly facilitated the HHSI, to undertake an important scientific survey of one of the historic Irish harps at the Museum. This kind of work – including 3-D laser scanning – is vital because there is so much we don’t know about the type of ancient Irish harp depicted in the national emblem. 

The project is led by the HHSI’s Dr Karen Loomis (USA), the world’s leading organologist in the field, working with her research associate, the HHSI’s Simon Chadwick (UK), an expert in the history and material culture of the early Irish harp. 

The small number of surviving historic early Irish harps comprise a rare, irreplaceable resource for current and future researchers. The surviving instruments also hold unique clues to historical musical performance practice, providing essential information for present-day musicians. With the originals in very fragile condition, modern harpists rely on replicas in order to try to emulate the original performances of the old Irish harpers. 

Ciaran McCormack, 3D Printing Ireland, laser scanning the harp.

The harp chosen by Dr Loomis for analysis was NMI DF:1986.2, the eighteenth-century Hollybrook harp. The work undertaken includes visual and microscopic assessment, a detailed photographic survey including infra-red and visible light fluorescence under UV illumination, construction analysis, and 3-D laser scanning to generate accurate external measurements and cross-sections. 

The HHSI would like to thank the director and curatorial staff of The National Museum of Ireland for facilitating this project. The Society also gratefully acknowledges the Arts Council for their one-off support for this pilot project, which will raise the bar in the building of replicas for use by modern harpists who want to emulate the original music-making of the old Irish harpers. 

The HHSI is excited to be working on this important area of research, and welcomes offers of philanthropic funding to allow more longer-term study of the other early Irish harps in the Museum.

Dr. Jennifer Goff, National Museum, Dr. Karen Loomis, HHSI, and Simon Chadwick, HHSI.

Read more information on the Hollybrook harp inc. a 2019 report on the original Hollybrook harp by harp researcher and builder, Mike Billinge.

Photos: Simon Chadwick and Siobhán Armstrong

Filed Under: Uncategorised

« Our new baby has arrived!
NEW: Browse the HHSI Library Catalogue Online »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Supported by the Arts Council          Supported by the Arts Council          Supported by Music Network           logo          logo          logo

PATRON
Michael D. Higgins, PRESIDENT OF IRELAND

Full list of supporters

Footer

The Historical Harp Society of Ireland
33 Altamount Park
Kilkenny
Co. Kilkenny R95 R7DE
+353 (0) 86 8623430
info@irishharp.org

Facebook
Twitter
Youtube

All rights reserved by The Historical Harp Society of Ireland

Copyright © 2021 · Showcase Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in