|
It sure is a busy time for festivals. And what a choice we have with fetes and fairs the length and breadth of the land. Each and every instrument takes its place of honour, deservedly hogging the limelight from banjos in Longford to fiddles in Baltimore. And not to be outdone is the Armagh tradition of celebrating the harp in all its splendour. The Edward Bunting Harp Festival, with all its tradition and rite, will entertain and educate the masses with events and workshops from 24th-27th May 2007. And who else but a famous daughter of the Orchard County to host the festival. Patricia Daly, Irelands most formidable harpist, is the woman with the finger on the pulse and the responsibility that goes with it.
The Senior All Ireland Champion and International Award Winner holds a Masters Degree in Irish traditional Music Performance and is a highly recognised and accomplished performer, teacher and researcher within Irish traditional music. Contemporaries of Daly would be the first to recognise her lead in a genre which requires every ounce of spirit to conquer. Her harp skills are evident through her live appearances and indeed on stage she commands a presence befitting the attention and admiration of all. In the past few years Patricia has performed to captive audiences at Glasgow’s Piping Live Festival, The McPeake Summer Events in Belfast and on TG4’s Geantrai to critical acclaim. And rightly so. The Armagh musician has earned every comment.
2007 looks as if the harpist is set to continue forging ahead with her quest for all things harp with the release of a fourth album due in the Autumn. “I’ve been very busy composing new pieces and finding new ideas for this next album” says Patricia. “The three previous albums helped me to find my foundation and I’ve been experimenting ever since, still playing the Irish Celtic airs as a centrum, but looking at and delving into other harping cultures such as Breton, Scottish, Welsh and English.” And you can hear the development in progress throughout the previous albums Inner Calm Wants For Nothing, Harping Daly and the excellent Rolling Wave, an album that made many in the Irish music world sit up and listen.
Whilst preparing for the new album Patricia has also taken on the mantle of hosting and organising this years Edward Bunting Harp Festival. “It’s a real labour of love, and I’m proud to be associated with it” Daly continues. “I was asked to manage the project and couldn’t say no. It’s something I’m very proud of, being so closely attached to it in the past, and also being a local woman. It’s a true celebration of not just harps and harpers, but other instruments and musicians, singers and composers. To bring them all to my home town for such a spectacle is fantastic.”
The festival, organised by Armagh Harpers' Association, celebrates the life and work of the 18th century Armagh musician Edward Bunting. In 1792, at the age of 19, Bunting noted down the music of harpers attending the Belfast Harp Festival. These musicians represented a distinctive Irish harping tradition, dating back to at least the 12th century. He was able to preserve melodies which were otherwise certainly destined for extinction. And it’s this tradition that Patricia and others strive to keep alive through the annual festival. The impressive line-up includes hothouse favourites and recent BBC Folk Award winners Flook, Scottish composer, harper and multi-instrumentalist William Jackson, harper Paul Dooley, Harriet Earis from London-based trad band Siansa, Armagh harper Mary O’Neill and New Zealander Anna Dunwoodie, Kathleen Loughnane and son Cormac Canon joined by De Dannan’s Alec Finn, Laoise Kelly joined by Steve Cooney. The Spanish Lady Ensemble will also contribute from late April to early August by travelling to different venues North and South in a special outreach concert series.
An excellent billing for sure, and the harpist certainly has her work cut out. “I think the festival has a remarkable line-up of very talented and dedicated performers,” states Patricia “and we expect good public support for all of the events.” I should think so. And there’s no resting on her laurels for the Armagh woman. “As well as the festival I’ve a busy schedule of classes and concerts throughout the year. I’m also really looking forward to completing the new album which I promise to be something special. I think it’s a more personal reflection of who I am as I’ve written it from life experiences. It’s emotive, and somewhat soul revealing. Certainly a change in direction.” Those of you wishing to sample Patricia Daly can purchase her albums online at www.patriciadaly.co.uk as well as catching up with latest news and tour dates.
Eddie Creaney
|
