Report on the Harping Tradition in Ireland

There was some concern expressed in interviews about a decline in the practice of
harpers singing to their own accompaniment. Historically (both pre-1800 and up to the
middle of the twentieth century), this was a significant aspect of harp performance.
At the harp recital at the 2014 Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, in which eleven harpers
participated, two harpers sang to their own accompaniment. Song accompaniment
is at 38% in Chart 7, although this may not necessarily be to one’s own singing.
Specialism
Respondents were also asked to indicate what kind of repertoire they specialise in.
60% indicated that they did specialise (Chart 9), 40% indicated that they mainly played
a mix of music (Chart 10).
Specialism – 1
30.4%
9.7%
7.6%
6.2%
2.4%
2.1%
1.7%
Irish trad. Classical
dance music (28)
(88)
Chart 9: (Sample: 289)
Trad. Irish
airs
(22)
Music of
early Irish
harpers (18)
Song with
harp acc.
(7)
Pop
(6)
Own
comps.
(5)
15.9%
Specialism – 2
10.7%
8.3%
2.8%
1.0%
1.0%
Mix of Irish
classical &
others
(46)
Mix of Irish
music
(31)
Classical &
Irish
(24)
Own comps.
& Irish
(3)
Irish &
pop
(3)
Other
(8)
Chart 10: (Sample: 289)
35