Online Group-Tuition Programmes

Academy Programmes

Beginning - 22 Oct 2022

Guth agus Téada / Voice and Strings: Songs for voice and harp from the Bunting manuscripts

Description

Participants will learn three Irish-language songs connected to the Irish harp tradition: the ancient Thugamar féin an samhradh linn [‘we brought the summer with us’] (Bunting MSS, and in the living tradition), Molly Nic Ailpín [‘Molly MacAlpine’] by harper, William Connellan (c. 1645–c. 1700), and Seabhac na hÉirne [‘the hawk of Lough Erne’] by Turlough Carolan (1670–1738).


Through working on these three appealing – and very contrasting – harp songs from the Bunting collection, these sessions are designed to give you a new approach to learning and performing Irish harp songs, and will offer you a way to produce flexible and fluid speech rhythms in your own performance of the melodies on your harp.

NB: No prior knowledge of Irish language is required.

Course Duration

6 Sessions

Level

Voice: all levels; harp: intermediate+

Class Time

2.00–3.15 pm

Tutor(s)

Price

€120.00

Saturday | 2.00–3.15 pm

22 Oct

Session 1

Thugamar Féin an Samhradh Linn [‘we brought the summer with us’] 1 of 2

In this first session (of two), for voice and harp, Eibhlís will guide you through the manuscript, and printed, sources of the lively song – one of the very oldest surviving Irish songs with roots in ancient seasonal ritual – a song from the Bunting collection that is also in the living song tradition in Ireland. 

Then, using the Irish-language lyrics, you will learn to pronounce and sing the words, and we will work on breathing, phrasing, intonation and ornamentation.

29 Oct

Session 2

Thugamar Féin an Samhradh Linn [‘we brought the summer with us’] 2 of 2

This session begins with a recap. of  the vocal pronunciation and song work done in session one. Now you will learn more about how singing the lyrics of Irish-language songs  to your own harp accompaniment – or at least having a new-found familiarity and facility with their lyrics – can greatly enhance your harp playing, the cadences of the Irish language informing your ability to phrase authentically and naturally. 

N.B. Session two of two.

05 Nov

Session 3

Molly Nic Ailpín [‘Molly MacAlpine’] 1 of 2

In this first session (of two), for voice and harp, Eibhlís will guide you through the manuscript, and printed, sources of this exquisite harp song. Then, using the Irish-language lyrics, you will learn to pronounce and sing the words, and we will work on breathing, phrasing, intonation and ornamentation.

12 Nov

Session 4

Molly Nic Ailpín [‘Molly MacAlpine’] 2 of 2

This second session begins with a recap. of  the vocal pronunciation and song work done in session one. Now you will learn more about how singing the lyrics of Irish-language harp songs, to your own harp accompaniment – or at least having a new-found familiarity and facility with their Irish-language song lyrics – can greatly enhance your harp playing, the cadences of the Irish language informing your ability to phrase authentically and naturally. 

N.B. Session two of two. 

19 Nov

Session 5

Seabhac na hÉirne [ ‘the Hawk of Lough Erne / ‘the Hawk of Ballyshannon’ / ‘Miss Moore’] 1 of 2

Carolan set his words to  a variant of ‘Port Atholl’ – a tune said to be by the 16th-/17th-century harper, Ruaidhri Dall Ó Catháin – to create this majestic song. In this first session (of two), for voice and harp, Eibhlís will guide you through the manuscript, and printed, sources of this wonderful harp song. Then, using the Irish-language lyrics, you will learn to pronounce and sing the words, and we will work on breathing, phrasing, intonation and ornamentation.

03 Dec

Session 6

Seabhac na hÉirne [ ‘the Hawk of Lough Erne / ‘the Hawk of Ballyshannon’ / ‘Miss Moore’] 2 of 2

This second session begins with a recap. of  the vocal pronunciation and song work done in session one. Now you will learn more about how singing the lyrics of Irish-language harp songs, to your own harp accompaniment – or at least having a new-found familiarity and facility with their Irish-language song lyrics – can greatly enhance your harp playing, the cadences of the Irish language informing your ability to phrase authentically and naturally. 

N.B. Session two of two. 

 

What to Expect

In this course students will 

  • learn three contrasting Irish-language harp songs
  • be guided through 18th-century manuscript and printed sources of these
  • learn to pronounce and sing the Irish-language lyrics
  • learn vocal technique – breathing, phrasing, intonation and ornamentation – and a plausible singing style for these songs
  • discover how to produce flexible and fluid speech rhythms in your own harp performance of the melody

Technical Requirements

  • A laptop, desktop or tablet computer; we do not recommend using a phone to participate
  • Speakers or headphones
  • Access to a printer for downloadable course materials
  • Access to the Zoom platform; further information to help you get set up for participating over Zoom will be sent after you have registered

Enrollment is now closed

You can no longer join this course