Merchiston Castle School Iona Thomas, harpist to Laura Mvula� ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC� CLARSACH� Plug Straight into Amplifier� 34 Strings� Concert Gut Strung� Weight: 8.2kg/18lbs� All-brass Semitone Levers� Custom Decoration Available� Pilgrim Harps,� Stansted House, Tilburstow Hill Road,� South Godstone, Surrey RH9 8NA� Tel: (01342) 893242� email: [email protected]� www.pilgrimharps.co.uk� Edinburgh International Harp Festival WELCOME FÀILTE Welcome to the 34th Festival where you can enjoy an exuberant line-up of harp talents featuring great Irish performers and teachers as we turn the spotlight on our Celtic neighbours. This year, five-day courses have been restored and a wide range is on offer alongside shorter courses throughout the week. Following the success of last year’s seminars. There are also two sessions over the weekend where potential or established harp teachers can gain and share expertise. Concerts and workshops reflect the diversity of interests we aim to cater for; you can explore the role of the harp in healing or relish the greater prominence of both jazz and pedal harp. The Festival team appreciates the support and generosity of our sponsors and enjoys successful partnerships with the Harpmaker exhibitors. We are very grateful to them all. I invite you to join us and revel in the Harp Festival experience! Fàilte chun 34mh Fèis far am taigh sibh tlachd bho shreath de thàlantan clàrsaich comasach a’ toirt a-steach cluicheadairean is luchd-teagaisg iomraiteach à Èireann agus sinn a’ toirt sùil gheur air ar nàbaidhean Ceilteach. Am-bliadhna, tha sinn a’ dol air ais gu cùrsaichean còig-latha agus tha raon farsaing ga thabhann còmhla ri cùrsaichean goirid fad na seachdain. Às deidh cho soirbheachail sa bha na co-labhairtean an-uiridh, tha cuideachd dà sheisean thairis air an deireadh sheachdain far am faigh luchd-teagaisg eòlach is ullachaidh na clàrsaich buannachd agus cothrom air eòlas a roinneadh. Tha na cuirmean is na bùthan-obrach a’ nochdadh farsaingeachd de dh’ ùidh a tha sinn airson a thaisbeanadh; faodar sgrùdadh a dhèanamh air dreuchd na clàrsaich a thaobh slànachaidh no sùil a thoirt air mar a tha ùidh a’ fas ann an jazz is a’ chlàrsach mhòr. Tha sgioba na Fèis taingeil airson cho taiceil is cho fialaidh sa tha na buidhnean-taice dhuinn agus mar a tha com-pàirteachas soirbheachail eadar sinn agus luchd-dèanaidh nan clàrsaichean. Tha sinn a’ toirt taing mhòr dhaibh. Tha mi gar fiathachadh a thighinn còmhla rinn agus tlachd fhaighinn bho bhith an sàs ann am Fèis na Clàrsaich! Mary Scott, Festival Co-ordinator Festival Co-ordinator / Co-òrdanaiche na Fèise Hon Secretary of The Clarsach Society / Rùnaire Urramach, Comunn na Clàrsaich Contents The Clarsach Society 2 Get more from EIHF 4 Supporters6 Harpmakers’ Exhibition 7 Children’s events 8 Concerts9 Courses20 Workshops28 Festival at a glance 30 Workshops (continued) 32 Biographies34 Booking Information 57 Information for your visit 58 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 1 THE CLARSACH SOCIETY COMUNN NA CLÀRSAICH The Clarsach Society is the organisation that underpins the Edinburgh International Harp Festival. Established in 1931 at the close of the National Mòd in Dingwall, the founding principle of the Society – to advance the clarsach and its music, and to preserve its place in the national life of Scotland – is still at the heart of what we do today. Branches There are twelve regional branches of the Society across the UK and one special interest Wire Branch. Branches meet regularly to share music, plan workshops, or other events that meet the needs and enthusiasm of members in each area. Harp hire Members can hire good quality instruments at an affordable monthly rental. Through this scheme, some of the best-known performers and teachers - many of whom feature in the Festival were enabled to take their first steps in successful careers. Young Composer Award To encourage the development of new music for the clarsach, the Society administers an annual award for young composers aged between 16 and 25. The prize is £500 plus the opportunity to premiere the composition at the Harp Festival. This year’s Young Composer will be announced, their piece performed and the award presented at the closing concert on Wednesday, 15 April (p. 19). Annual scholarship Our annual scholarship is designed to benefit and encourage promising players at all levels who have limited resources. The scholarship can be used towards the cost of tuition or instrument hire. clarsachsociety.co.uk 2 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 Highland Branch Isle of Lewis Branch North East Scotland Branch EDINBURGH Branch Wire Branch Argyll Branch Glasgow Branch Dumfries and Galloway Branch National Office Northumbrian Branch Transpennine (Yorkshire & NoRthern England) Branch Wales Branch Bristol & West of England Branch London & South East Branch Tuition support To facilitate learning in areas where there is a lack of formal tuition, the Society supports branches by contributing to the cost of tutors’ travel and by providing practical support to experienced members so that they may share their knowledge and skill with local members. During the Festival, you’ll find members of the Society at our Information Desk located at the Festival Hub in the Main Building. Open daily between 9am and 5pm, we’d be happy to introduce you to the Society and answer any of your questions. International Pan Celtic Festival To celebrate and strengthen our cultural links with Celtic peoples, the Society nominates and supports a clarsach player to represent Scotland at the International Pan Celtic Festival in Ireland. The Clarsach Society Convenor, Jennifer Port, invites everyone attending this year’s Festival to meet the committee and branch members at our Opening Gathering on Friday, 10 April at 7:00pm and the Society’s AGM on Monday, 13 April at 2:45pm in the Robertson Room. We hope to see you there. The Royal National Mòd Since the establishment of the Society at the close of the National Mòd in 1931, we have continued to work with the Mòd to offer a wide range of clarsach competitions and produce a folio of prescribed music and guidance for competitors each year. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 3 GET MORE FROM EIHF FAIGH TUILLEADH BHO EIHF Distinguished guest This year we welcome Anne Macdearmid as our distinguished Festival guest. Anne’s performances are legendary for good music and wonderful stories as can be heard in her “Audience with—” concert on Wednesday morning (p.17). We wish to celebrate, acknowledge and thank her for her years of service to The Clarsach Society and EIHF, inspiring students and harpists throughout the world with her beautiful arrangements, compositions, friendship and generosity. Participants will have the opportunity to benefit from this wealth of experience by booking private lessons with Anne during the Festival. Harpmakers’ exhibition The Harpmakers’ Exhibition is perfect for browsing the work of makers from across the UK and beyond. See page 7 for full information and list of makers. Lunchtime open platform 12 - 1.45pm, Festival Café. Want to share your talents with us in an informal atmosphere? Sign up for a 10 minute slot at The Clarsach Society Information Desk. Relax and rejuvenate Indulge and enjoy massage or relaxation therapy (Holistic Pulsing) with qualified therapists Tana Collins and Marianne Cranston. Deeper therapeutic massage to relieve muscular stress or aid injury recovery is also available and each treatment is tailored to the individual’s needs. Full information is available at The Clarsach Society Information Desk. You can also learn different pulsing and grounding techniques in a practical workshop with Marianne. See page 28 for full information. Private lessons Private lessons are available from a wide range of tutors and on all harps. Cost: £30 per hour. Full information is available at The Clarsach Society Information Desk Late Night Sessions Festival Club (Theatre) Our late night sessions ensure there is even more music to enjoy after our evening concerts. Music is available to download from our website (harpfestival. co.uk) and everyone is welcome to join in – bring your harp along or any other instrument, or just relax with a nightcap whilst soaking up the atmosphere. The Clarsach Society Annual General Meeting The Clarsach Society will hold its AGM on Monday, 13 April at 2:45pm in the Roberston Room. Everyone is welcome to attend. WHAT DO YOU THINK? An informal session for members of the Festival team, performers, teachers and participants to discuss future plans for the festival – come and join in the conversation: Monday, 13 April at 3.45pm in the Robertson Room. Book tickets Online: harpfestival.co.uk. Phone: +44 (0)131 473 2000. See page 57 for full information. Contact us If there is anything you’re not sure about, give us a call on +44 (0) 131 554 0212 or email [email protected]. For queries about course levels please call Isobel Mieras on +44 (0)131 445 2022. During the festival you can reach us on +44 (0) 7794 792951 4 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 5 OUR SUPPORTERS HARPMAKERS’ EXHIBITION LUCHD-CUIDEACHAIDH LUCHD-DÈANAIDH CHLÀRSAICHEAN EIHF gratefully acknowledges the continuing support received from Camac Harps, Holywell Music, Jack Hayward Insurance, Pilgrim Harps, City of Edinburgh Council, An Comunn Gàidhealach, Ardival Harps, Celtic Music Radio, Peter Green & Co, Rae Macintosh Musicroom, Telynau Vining, and branches of The Clarsach Society. During the Festival there will be an exhibition of harps made in the UK and overseas. This offers an opportunity to try instruments made by different makers and perhaps even to purchase or rent a harp. In addition there will be music, CDs and harp-related goodies on sale. The Clarsach Society and EIHF also wish to thank the countless number of friends and volunteers who help us along the way. EIHF is very grateful to all exhibitors who create such an exciting event. Further information on exhibitors is available from our website harpfestival.co.uk Principal Sponsors Exhibition Opening Hours: Saturday: 9:30am – 6:00pm Sunday: 9:30am – 5:30pm Monday: 9:30am – 6:00pm Tuesday: 9:30am – 6:00pm Wednesday: 9:30am - 12 noon Some exhibitors may not be present throughout the Festival and some may amend their opening times so please check this with them. At the time of publication the following have reserved space at the Exhibition: Edinburgh Branch Funders Media Partner Celtic Music Radio, Scotland’s leading music station, will be providing prefestival coverage and broadcasting highlights of this year’s Festival. Available to listen online at celticmusicradio.net and on 95FM across Glasgow. Sponsors and Supporters An Comunn Gàidhealach Ardival Harps Peter Green & Co. Rae Macintosh Musicroom Telynau Vining Branches of The Clarsach Society Argyll Glasgow Highland Isle of Lewis London and SE Northumbrian Transpennine Wales ACCUSOUND accusound.com INTERNATIONAL JAZZ HARP FOUNDATION AFFAIRS OF THE HARP KILLARNEY HARPS jazzharp.org affairsoftheharp.com killarneyharps.com ALASDAIR MACLEOD DESIGN CLIVE MORLEY HARPS LTD [email protected] morleyharps.com ALAW MUSIC MARK NORRIS HARPS alawmusic.com norrisharps.com ARDIVAL HARPS PILGRIM HARPS ardival.com pilgirmharps.co.uk BLB HARP DOCTOR SALOPIAN STRINGS [email protected] salopianstrings.co.uk CREIGHTON’S COLLECTION SILVER SPEAR, HARPS AND DULCIMERS cccd.co.uk silverspearinstruments.co.uk PETE GRASSBY, THE MELODEON REPAIRER STARFISH DESIGNS [email protected] starfishdesigns.co.uk JACK HAYWARD INSURANCE TELYNAU TEIFI jackhayward.co.uk welsh-harps.com HOLYWELL MUSIC TELYNAU VINING HARPS holywellmusic.co.uk camacharps.co.uk Safety Notice: To reduce the chance of instruments being damaged, please DO NOT bring shoulder bags, rucksacks and similar objects into the Exhibition areas. 6 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 7 TUESDAY 7 & WEDNESDAY 8 APRIL FRIDAY 10 APRIL JACK AND THE LAND WITHOUT MUSIC STORYWALK AND COME AND TRY HARP SESSIONS Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR PREE F S T IV A LR EVENT FO C H IL D R E N OPENING GATHERING £9.00 (one accompanying adult goes free) C1a C2a C1b C2b Join Heather Yule, spellbinding storyteller and harper, on a storywalk around the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Through story, riddles and rhymes we will follow Jack as he seeks his fortune and unlocks the mystery of the kingdom that has no music. Participants must solve the puzzles to find the lost magical harps and help Jack bring music back to the land. The storywalk ends with a come-and-try session where you will have the chance to try the harps and learn a simple tune. A fun and entertaining event. 20% D IS C O U NseTs with C3 • MEMORIAL HALL • 7.00PM - 10.00PM C1a Tuesday 7 April 10am – 11.15am (5 – 8 years old) Free but numbers limited. Tickets will be available on the door only from 6.45pm. C2a Tuesday 7 April 2pm – 3.15pm (9 – 14 years old) Join us for an opening reception and musical gathering featuring cameo performances from some of this year’s artists and tutors followed by a chance to dance to the music of Sandy Brechin. Come and meet friends old and new. C1b Wednesday 8 April 10am – 11.15am (5 – 8 years old) C2b Wednesday 8 April 2pm – 3.15pm (9 – 14 years old) Note: Wine will be served at the reception and bottled water available to purchase at the gathering. The Festival bar will open early at 9:00pm. ginner cour On Child Be (T1a & T1b) when le Yu er is Heath a ticket for th you purchase 22 for further ge pa e event. Se th courses details on bo Supported by: 8 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 Peter Green & Co EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 9 SATURDAY 11 APRIL SATURDAY 11 APRIL HERMANOS CORBALÁN THE HEARTH STANE SIXTO AND JUANJO CORBALÁN: PY’AGUAPY AILIE ROBERTSON WITH HEATHER YULE, IRENE WATT AND CALUM MACLEOD C4 • MEMORIAL HALL • 3.00PM - 4.00PM • £11.00 • £9.00 • £5.00 The ‘hearth stane’ – the fireplace – traditionally a place to gather to be entertained by travelling musicians and storytellers. Share in a magical afternoon with Heather Yule, Irene Watt, and Calum Macleod, three Scottish artists with very different backgrounds and approaches to harp playing and tradition. Gather round and listen to an enchanting story interlaced with harp and song in a mix of Scots, Gaelic and English – Celtic strands of ancient legend, fantasy, ballad, lullaby, woven together with contemporary compositions and arrangements in a concert to delight all ages. C5 • MEMORIAL HALL • 7.30PM - 10.00PM • £14.50 • £12.50 • £7.00 Py’aguapy comes from the Guaraní word, the native and official language of Paraguay that means ‘peace, happiness and quietness’. It is the name of a new album released in 2014, where the brothers display their very own style which gathers all the influences of their musical careers. It shows the harp’s transition through a harmonic journey, inspired by the meaning of the word Py’aguapy. A fresh approach to their instrumental arrangements enhances their performance, displaying the versatility of the Paraguayan harp. “Her synthesis of Irish, Scottish and contemporary harping technique into an individual style represents the realization of otherwise unimagined possibilities for the Celtic harp” - Niall Keegan “…a thrilling sweep of dynamic, textual and emotional contrasts, from bare-knuckle bassy attack to exquisitely pretty playfulness, tangy jazz tones to country-blues lick, clamorous drama to shimmering serenity” - The Scotsman Supported by: 10 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 Ailie Roberston will present a selection of Scottish, Irish, Quebecois and original music for solo harp, from her latest award-winning album Little Light. Edinburgh Branch EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 11 SUNDAY 12 APRIL SUNDAY 12 APRIL NINE NESTS (LESSONS FOR SPRING) THE WHITING ON THE WALL BEN CREIGHTON GRIFFITHS BY TOM POW WITH MUSIC BY WENDY STEWART AND ALEX MCQUISTON This cycle of prose and music came out of the multi-media exhibition, Locating the Nest, shown at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and at Gracefield Arts Centre in Dumfries in 2012, featuring short poems by the celebrated writer Tom Pow. To extend this work to pieces that were engaging, that focused on what was intimate and particular about nests but were not prescriptive, he took as his model an old guidebook found in a second hand bookshop: Nests and Eggs Shown to the Children. To its somewhat dated prose he added a touch of Borges – narratives that were hidden or unexpected. The sense of wonder in each of the Nine Nests is added to by Wendy Stewart`s inspired harp arrangements and compositions, carefully chosen C7 • MEMORIAL HALL • 7.30PM - 10.00PM • £14.50 • £12.50 • £7.00 Photo: Kim Ayres Photo: Jemima Kuhfeld C6 • MEMORIAL HALL • 3.00PM - 4.00PM • £11.00 • £9.00 • £5.00 for their provenance or aural resonance. Along with the exquisite cello playing of Alex McQuiston, these layered and interlocking melodies weave into an entire 45 minute imagined soundscape, creating a magical performance and linking all of us with the idea of the nest as a symbol of much more. We are delighted to welcome Amanda Whiting with her trio The Whiting on the Wall for their first performance at EIHF. This jazz trio of Amanda (harp), Deej Williams (bass) and Tony Robinson (drums) met while studying at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff in 2011. They will perform music from Piazzolla, Ellington and Hubbard, amongst other greats, creating a mesmerising sound which transports you between a foot tapping groove to a chilled vibe. They have recently released their CD Butterflies with another in the pipe line. “A fresh new sound that transports you to afternoons of sunshine” - Roger Warbuton Supported by: 12 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 Ben Creighton Griffiths has been earning an enviable reputation as a jazz artist both locally and abroad, and will perform a varied jazz set – from Funk to Latin – featuring his own compositions as well as his own interpretations of some famous jazz standards. During his electro-acoustic jazz set you will hear (and see) him use a wide variety of special effects and technology which enables him to create a unique modern sound. “You are a brilliantly talented young man. You will discover many things for the next era of the harp. Congratulations on your spectacular performance.” - Ray Pool, on YouTube. Telynau Vining EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 13 MONDAY 13 APRIL TUESDAY 14 APRIL MÁIRE NÍ CHATHASAIGH & CHRIS NEWMAN MICHELLE MULCAHY SIOBHÁN ARMSTRONG & AODÁN Ó CEALLAIGH TEA CONCERT PIPPA REID-FOSTER, RUTH MACKAY, STEPHANIE IRVINE C8 • MEMORIAL HALL • 7.15PM - 10.00PM • £14.50 • £12.50 • £7.00 Máire Ní Chathasaigh and Chris Newman: This celebrated partnership has brought its special musical vision to venues large and small in twentythree countries on five continents. Chris and Máire’s performances are rooted but eclectic, emotional but adventurous: a breathtaking blend of traditional Irish music, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with striking new compositions - and what The West Australian calls Chris’s “delightfully subversive wit”! are “reflective and spacious, and utterly in harmony with the filigree lines of the tune” – Siobhan Long, Irish Times “There are only a few harp players in the world who have a truly distinctive style... Michelle Mulcahy is one of them” – Bill Margeson, Live Ireland Awards Siobhán Armstrong & Aodán Ó Ceallaigh: This is a rare chance to hear part of the sound world of 17th and 18th century Ireland. Aodán sings powerful, “An eclecticism and spirit of adventure that is quite unaccompanied songs from the Ring gaeltacht thrilling” – The Times in Co. Waterford, many learned from his famous sean-nós [‘old style’] singer mother, while Siobhán “Music of fire and brilliance from the high-wire act in plays haunting harp music on her replica of Ireland’s traditional music” – The Irish Times national emblem — and possibly Europe’s oldest Michelle Mulcahy is considered to be one of Ireland’s surviving harp — the medieval Trinity College harp, most adroit and creative harpers. Her style of playing strung in brass and 18-carat gold. Together, they and approach to the music are completely rooted in perform rare and evocative songs by Irish harper the traditions of Irish music, but at the same time she composers, some last heard perhaps over 300 brings her own innovations to the instrument that years ago! C9 • CAFÉ • 3.00PM - 4.00PM • £11.50 Pippa Reid-Foster recently graduated with a Masters in Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and was a semi-finalist in the BBC Young Trad Musician 2013. She previously studied design, which has inspired her composing and performing. She plays in Harp Bazaar with harpist Heather Downie and together they have released their first tune book. Pippa teaches privately and in Lomond School and is currently working on a new recording with a book of new compositions and illustrations. Stephanie Irvine has had the good fortune to be tutored from an early age by Catriona McKay. She is currently a student at The Newark School of violin-making, where she has recently completed a viola. This afternoon she will be playing a mixture of traditional and contemporary harp music and song. Supported by: 14 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 Ruth Mackay grew up in the Highlands with a love of traditional music, and discovered where her true passions lay when introduced to the Scottish harp aged twelve. Ruth now holds a Diploma in Music Education and is in her third year of BA (Hons) Scottish Music in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. An exciting up-and-coming talent, Ruth relishes all opportunities to perform, including RCS national tours and Celtic Connections concerts. She teaches one-to-one and group lessons, and has experience in leading music workshops in nurseries and schools. Glasgow Branch EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 15 TUESDAY 14 APRIL WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL ELEANOR TURNER CLOUDS HARP QUARTET AN AUDIENCE WITH ANNE MACDEARMID C10 • MEMORIAL HALL • 7.30PM - 10.00PM • £14.50 • £12.50 • £7.00 It’s obvious when a musician connects with their music and Eleanor Turner certainly does. Celebrated internationally for the warmth and passion she brings to every performance, Eleanor has a refreshingly good-humoured approach to the pedal harp repertoire. She will share her interpretations of Mozart’s emotive duet Ah, perdona al primo affetto and Liszt’s evocative Nightingale thoughtfully transcribed by Henriette Renié. The whimsical characters of the accordion, harpsichord, guitar and toy piano from Yann Tiersen’s mesmerising film score, dance across the strings in Eleanor’s arrangement Suite from Amelie. Eleanor will also perform music by Piazzolla, Henson-Conant and her own Two Breton Girls by the Sea for electro-acoustic harp and loop station. C11 • MEMORIAL HALL • 11.00AM - 12.00PM • £9.00 • £5.00 Clouds Harp Quartet is a unique group of four harpists who perform music by Esther Swift, which includes improvisation and extended techniques with a strong Scottish influence. Elfair Dyer, Angelina Warburton, Rebecca Mills and Esther Swift have been playing together for the past five years. They all bring their own individuality and experiences into the music of the quartet, performing without music, which makes the bond and interaction between this group of friends unique and ever stronger. They will be performing Water, which will take you on a crashing, cascading and calming journey through six movements. e Don’t miss th are sh to ity n u rt o p op om and Anne’s wisd ts in a h g musical insi ith her w n o ss private le . see page 27 This year’s distinguished Festival guest, Anne Macdearmid, will share fascinating and often hilarious insights and experiences from her long career as a performer, teacher, adjudicator and composer. She is well known, loved and respected throughout the harp world and particularly for her many years of service to The Clarsach Society. “Seriously one of the best gigs I’ve experienced, and if I ever get the chance to see this quartet again I would jump at it” - David Meadows “Wow! Musicality, power, beauty, power, rhythm ... and power!!! I love it!” - Deborah Henson-Conant Supported by: 16 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 17 WEDNESDAY !5 APRIL WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL MISCHA MACPHERSON TORNISH THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA, DIRECTED BY ISOBEL MIERAS NORTH EAST HARP ENSEMBLE, DIRECTED BY CHRISTINE EDWARDS THE ROYAL NATIONAL MOD PRIZE WINNER - RACHEL RUTHERFORD WINNING ENTRY 2014 YOUNG COMPOSER AWARD C12 • MEMORIAL HALL • 3.00PM - 4.00PM • £9.00 • £5.00 The Festival Orchestra is made up of students at this year’s Festival and members of Na Clàrsairean, the orchestra of the Edinburgh Branch of The Clarsach Society. They will perform a new suite of music, incorporating new and traditional music specially arranged and composed by Isobel Mieras. C13 • MEMORIAL HALL • 7.30PM - 10.00PM • £14.50 • £12.50 • £7.00 Mod prize winner Rachel Rutherford from Glasgow will play a selection of Gaelic and Scottish airs and dances including some of her own exciting arrangements. (supported by An Comunn Gàidhealach) The North East Harp Ensemble was established in 2013 to give members of the North East Branch of The Clarsach Society the opportunity to expand their repertoire and share their music with the wider community. Under the direction of Christine Edwards they have performed throughout the region including at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival. Expect to hear a bit of everything from traditional tunes to contemporary music and popular song. “Her voice is soft as rain, swooping as a seabird, rooted in the traditions of the Hebrides. When she stops, the audience rise to their feet in a breaking wave of fierce applause.” – The Independent Supported by: 18 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner, Mischa Macpherson is a new Folk artist who – if the success of her trio in 2014 is anything to go by – looks set to achieve great things. A singer, native Gaelic speaker and clarsach player from Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, Mischa is joined by Conal McDonagh on Scottish border-pipes and whistles and guitarist Innes White. Mishca discovered an enjoyment in creating music at a very early age, and it is these influences that the young singer now presents with clarity and tenderness, and to multi award-winning acclaim. Supported by: Tornish: Gwen Màiri Yorke hails from St Andrews with Scottish and Welsh parents and Tim Orrell is a Yorkshire man brought up on Irish folk music and now living in Wales. They first met on Anglesey at Trac Cymru’s BEAM course in 2011 and started performing together shortly afterwards. Their music is an exciting blend of their varying musical influences from all over the British Isles and beyond, combining old songs and tunes with new compositions and infectious energy. Highlights have included performances at the National Eisteddfod of Wales as well as being invited to record for Radio Cymru’s folk music programme, Y Sesiwn Fach. The winner of The Clarsach Society Young Composer Award 2014 will be announced, their piece performed and the prize presented. Isle of Lewis Branch EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 19 COURSES CODELEVEL GUIDE TO COURSE LEVELS AND TEACHING METHOD STIÙIREADH MU ÌREAN CÙRSA AGUS MODH TEAGAISG Please read the guidelines to course descriptions and standards very carefully. It is essential that you book appropriate courses – for your satisfaction, for the success of your course and the sanity of our tutors! If in ANY DOUBT, please check with your teacher or call us for advice about levels (+44 (0)131 445 2022). Please note that this number is to be used only for advice about courses – bookings must be made via Hub Tickets – see page 57 for full details) Most courses start on Saturday, 11 April and run for five days (unless otherwise stated) and will last 1½ hours each day except Monday when sessions will be 1 hour long. Cost: course fees have been frozen for another year and are £72 for 5-days or pro rata for shorter courses. Levels and standards: before choosing courses please read course descriptions carefully. Harps are provided for beginner courses only. For all other courses, participants must bring their own harp, stool and music stand. What we mean by: Beginner: You have no experience of playing the harp. Post-beginner: You took last year’s Beginners’ course, have had relatively few lessons and/or require help with basic technique. Elementary: You can already perform simple tunes, require further help in consolidating basic technique and wish to work slowly and carefully. Elementary/Intermediate: As Elementary but you feel ready to stretch your boundaries. Intermediate: You already have good technique and can work at a moderate pace. Intermediate/Advanced: As Intermediate, but you are ready and willing to work at a faster pace. Advanced: Your technique is good and you wish to work at a good pace to stretch yourself. Mixed abilities: For all levels, except Beginner. 20 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 TUTOR DESCRIPTION TIME T1a Beginner Heather Yule Children 5 - 8 years E+M 9:00am T1b Beginner Heather Yule Children 9 - 14 years E+M 10:10am T2 Beginner Gwen Màiri Yorke Adult beginners E+M 1.00pm T3 Beginner John N. MacDonald Ùlpan: Gaelic language course 4:30pm T4 Post-beginner Helen MacLeod Adult post-beginners E+M 4:30pm T5 Elementary Fiona Rutherford Children 5 - 11 years E+M 9:00am T6 Elementary Ben Creighton Griffiths Intro to jazz improvisation M+E 4:30pm T7 Elementary Juanjo Corbalán Intro to Paraguayan music M+E 9:00am T8 Elementary Sarah MacNeil Scottish E+M 1:00pm T9 Elementary Patsy Seddon Learning by ear E+M 9:00am T10 Elementary Michelle Mulcahy Irish music E+M 4:30pm T11 Elem / Inter Christine Edwards Pop and film music E+M 1:00pm T12 Elem / Inter Anouk Platenkamp Dutch music E+M 9:00am T13 Elem / Inter Irene Watt Contemporary Scottish song E+M 4:30pm T14 Elem / Inter Esther Swift Composing and arranging on E+M 1:00pm clarsach and pedal harp T15 Elem / Inter Ailie Robertson Quebecois E+M4:30pm T16 Elem / Inter Karen Marshalsay Laments and airs on the M+E 9:00am wire-strung harp T17 Intermediate Amanda Whiting Blues, lead sheets and improvisationM+E 9:00am T18 Intermediate Sixto Corbalán Trends, techniques and dynamics M+E 1:00pm of contemporary Paraguayan harp music T19 Intermediate Siobhán Armstrong Musicke of Sundrie Kindes M+E 4:30pm T20 Intermediate Gwen Màiri Yorke Crossing borders E+M 9:00am T21 Intermediate Wendy Stewart Scottish E+M 1:00pm T22 Inter / Adv Sixto & Juanjo Corbalán Trends, techniques and dynamics M+E 4:30pm of contemporary Paraguayan harp music T23 Inter / Adv Michelle Mulcahy Dancing the strings E+M 1:00pm T24 Inter / Adv Siobhán Armstrong The heart of the tradition: M+E 1:00pm wire strung harps T25 Inter / Adv Fiona Rutherford Composition E+M 4:30pm T26 Inter / Adv Mary Macmaster Two plus two makes more E+M 9:00am T27 Advanced Amanda Whiting Improvising and reading the M+E 4:30pm lead sheet language of jazz T28 Advanced Ailie Robertson Scottish E+M 1:00pm T29 Mixed Abilities Christine Edwards Teenage harp course E+M 9:00am T30 Mixed Abilities Isobel Mieras Festival orchestra M+E 1:00pm T31 Mixed Abilities Anouk Platenkamp The healing harp M+E 4:30pm T32 Mixed Abilities Eleanor Turner The pedal harp is a musical E+M 1:00pm playground T33 Elem / Inter Rachel Hair Celtic connections E+M Sat & Sun 9:00am & 4:30pm T34 Inter / Adv Charlotte Petersen Scottish music E+M Sat & Sun 1:00pm & 4:30pm T35 Mixed Abilities I. Mieras & W. Stewart Teachers’ course Sat & Sun 9:00am T36 Elementary Helen MacLeod Practice can be fun! E+M Mon, Tues & Wed 1:00pm T37 Inter / Adv Wendy Stewart Traditional music of Europe E+M Mon, Tues & Wed 9:00am T38 Mixed Abilities Calum Macleod Intro to harp and electronics E+M Mon, Tues & Wed 1:00pm T39a Come & Try Kathy Stewart Come and try ukulele Sat: 4:30pm T39b Come & Try Kathy Stewart Come and try ukulele Tues: 1:00pm T40a Come & Try Pete Grassby Come and try whistle or bodhran Sun 1:00pm T40b Come & Try Pete Grassby Come and try whistle or bodhran Tues: 4:30pm T41a Come & Try Bill Taylor Come and try wire-strung clarsach Wed: 1:00pm T41b Come & Try Bill Taylor Come and try wire-strung clarsach Sat: 9:00am EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 21 COURSES COURSE DESCRIPTIONS & FEES MÌNEACHADH CÙRSA IS COSGAISEAN TEACHING METHOD Ùlpan - Gaelic language course for beginners Scottish Contemporary Scottish song E teaching will be by ear with written music given out only at the end of the course E+Mteaching will initially be by ear with written music given out during or at the end of each session M teaching will be from written music M+Ewritten music will be given at the start of the course. However, teaching will be sympathetic to all levels of skill in reading/assimilating music T3 • 4:30pm • John N. MacDonald • £72 A set of five classes on Scottish Gaelic language for beginners. The classes will be delivered by a native Gaelic speaker with an emphasis on speaking the language. Ùlpan is a fast and effective way to learn a language. It has been used to great effect for over 50 years in Israel where it originated and in Wales where it has brought thousands to fluency in Welsh. It is now being used very successfully with students of Gaelic in Scotland. T8 • 1:00pm • E+M • Sarah MacNeil • £72 Come along to explore Scottish music on the harp in a relaxed setting. We will be looking at newly composed melodies from musicians in today’s vibrant folk scene, as well as classic, well-known Scottish treasures such as the works of Robert Burns, Willie Hunter and Phil Cunningham. Recording devices are welcome. T13 • 4:30pm • E+M • Irene Watt • £72 This course will feature songs from contemporary Scottish singer/songwriters including Karine Polwart, Dougie MacLean, Annie Lennox, James Grant and The Cast (Marie Campbell & Dave Francis). Irene will explore ways to create harp accompaniments with interesting intros, outros, the use of hooks and riffs that identify songs, create bridges, and incorporate chord progressions. The course is ideal for those who wish to sing and accompany themselves or others on the harp. FIVE DAY COURSES POST BEGINNERS Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 1½ hours each day. Monday: 1 hour (unless otherwise stated) Adult post-beginners BEGINNERS Child beginners 1 hour session each day. T1a • 5 - 8 years • 9:00am • E+M • Heather Yule • £50 T1b • 9 - 14 years • 10:10am • E+M • Heather Yule • £50 Come along and have some fun on the harp. Learn a few easy tunes, how to play chords and discover some exciting musical sounds. A perfect introduction to this versatile instrument. Harps provided. Adult beginners: Old melodies for new fingers T2 • 1:00pm • E+M • Gwen Màiri Yorke • £72 Become acquainted with this beautiful instrument through some of Wales’ and Scotland’s most pure and simple melodies. We will also incorporate a good technique foundation which will ensure that you can approach any tune with confidence. A relaxed course with plenty of individual help. Harps provided. Follow-on classes After the Festival, come along to our Follow-on Classes organised by the Edinburgh Branch of The Clarsach Society. Classes will run at a relaxed pace with the aims of consolidating technique, improving confidence and having a bit of fun. There will be five classes: 25 April, 9 & 16 May, and 13 & 27 June. Course cost: £50 adults / £33 children. Harps provided. More information will be available at the Festival. 22 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 T4 • 4:30pm • E+M • Helen MacLeod • £72 Come along to a friendly post-beginners’ class and learn to play some fun tunes from around the world. This class is intended for those who either attended last year’s beginners class or have been playing already for a short amount of time. In this class we will be concentrating on solidifying a strong technique, reinforcing good habits and increasing repertoire with some fun and easy tunes. ELEMENTARY Elementary for children (age 5-11 yrs) T5 • 9:00am • E+M • Fiona Rutherford • £72 A fun class for young players with just a little experience of playing. We will work on simple melodies and accompaniments from a wide variety of sources, whilst also developing confidence and a great sound on the harp. We will also be playing some musical games and making some new harp playing friends along the way! An introduction to jazz improvisation T6 • 4:30pm • M+E • Ben Creighton Griffiths • £72 No previous experience of jazz or improvisation is required for this course, which will explore the exciting world of jazz improvisation. During the week, we will work through different styles from Bossa Nova to Swing, improvising as we go! Some basic information will be emailed to participants in advance and on arrival students will receive a free course book which also includes a useful further studies section. Introduction to Paraguayan Music T7 • 9:00am • M+E • Juanjo Corbalán • £72 Juanjo will focus on melodic and harmonic patterns of Paraguayan harp music. For players of all kinds of harps. As well as expanding their musical horizons, participants will learn about the structure of Paraguayan music and how to play the basic melody and accompaniment. Learning by ear for the terrified T9 • 9:00am • E+M • Patsy Seddon • £72 After the success of last year’s short course here is a further chance to gain confidence in learning beautiful Scottish tunes by ear through working with rhythm, pitch and form. Patsy has spent a long and varied musical career developing these skills and in recent years has trained in and now delivers Kodály musicianship, which has many fun ways of nurturing the inner musician. Irish music T10 • 4:30pm • E+M • Michelle Mulcahy • £72 This course will focus on the basic playing of Irish traditional repertoire including marches, jigs, hornpipes, flings and airs with a strong emphasis on technique. Basic accompaniment chordal patterns associated with the playing of these tunes will also be taught. ELEMENTARY / INTERMEDIATE Pop and film music Composing and arranging on clarsach and pedal harp T14 • 1:00pm • E+M • Esther Swift • £72 Esther works with a variety of different musical outfits in many genres and continues to write and arrange music for both harp and voice in new and unique ways. Working mainly by ear, Esther will show you some of her arranging ideas and invites you to bring your own compositions and tunes to the class to work on, share and receive constructive feedback. If you are interested in composing or arranging, but not sure how to start, Esther will suggest some simple chord progressions, ways to start writing a melody, and different voicing ideas. The aim of the course is for each individual to write some music, learn to value and harness their own ideas, realising their potential when it comes to composing. Songs, tunes or other types of compositions all welcome! T11 • 1:00pm • E+M • Christine Edwards • £72 There’s a wealth of music out there that you never knew existed for the harp. From the latest chart tunes to contemporary film music, we’ll explore some music that won’t fail to impress an audience. Participants are encouraged to bring along a piece, or recording of a well-known song / tune for which they would like to make their own arrangement. Dutch music T12 • 9:00am • E+M • Anouk Platenkamp • £72 In many countries, such as Scotland and Ireland, folk music is well established. The Dutch have always liked adopting different styles, but have for a long time neglected their own roots – time for a Dutch folk revival! Did you know there are many tunes still around today that were played in the Amsterdam playhouses in the 18th century? These tunes are a real treasure. In this course we’ll explore some of these tunes, a few favourite Dutch songs from the Dutch folk repertoire and work on arrangements. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 23 COURSES Quebecois music T15 • 4:30pm • E+M • Ailie Robertson • £72 Come and fall in love with Quebec’s unique brand of vibrant French culture. Quebecois music exudes the vibrant energy and dynamism that is characteristic of the diverse musico-cultural heritage of the region and has developed into one of the best loved styles of music in North America. Quebec has a rich tradition of achingly beautiful waltzes and airs, as well as wonderful dance tunes. Come and learn about the lyrical Quebecois tradition with its sweet melodic lines and rich accompaniment. You will leave with your fingers flying, your feet tapping, and your heart full of joie-de-vivre!. Laments and airs on the wire-strung harp T16 • 9:00am • M+E • Karen Marshalsay • £72 500 years of tradition and culture have produced a rich and expressive way of both celebrating and lamenting people, occasions, places, and all aspects of life. Drawing on similarities with pibroch and Gaelic pibroch songs, oran mòr, old harp repertoire, and haunting fiddle airs, this course will explore these emotive pieces, focusing on the plaintive resonance of the wire strings, the use of grace notes, and ways to bring out the beauty of the harp and its inherent suitability for playing laments and airs. All techniques used will be explained, along with the story and context of each tune. INTERMEDIATE Blues, lead sheets and improvising T17 • 9:00am • M+E • Amanda Whiting • £72 This course will look at the blues, easy standards and the methods of improvisation. Amanda will explain how to interpret jazz music, find chords and achieve that ‘jazzy sound’ on the harp. life. We’ll open up a world of enjoyable musical ‘noodling’ by learning how to improvise on historical bass patterns. And we will taste other juicy music, from plainchant in medieval manuscripts to melodies found in 18th century English printed music collections via 17th century Spanish dances! Suitable for harps of ‘sundrie kinds’. Crossing borders T20 • 9:00am • E+M • Gwen Màiri Yorke • £72 Discover the music of Scotland and Wales through a variety of tunes and songs. A relaxed course with music provided along the way and a great selection of tunes to add to your repertoire by the end of the festival. With mixed Scottish and Welsh heritage, Gwen’s natural instinct is to use music from both countries in her playing. It’s always fun to look for musical and thematic connections as well as appreciating the distinctive styles of each country. Scottish T21 • 1:00pm • E+M • Wendy Stewart • £72 Slow airs, dance tunes and new compositions, all with Wendy`s fabby layered arrangements to help the intermediate harper find their comfort zone. Class taught carefully by ear with time built in to get fingering patterns and decorations into the mental hard drive. Printed music given at the end of each session but recording device also recommended to help jog the memory and catch the memorable group performances! INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED Trends, techniques and dynamics of contemporary Paraguayan harp music T22 • 4:30pm • M+E • Sixto & Juanjo Corbalán • £72 Sixto and Juanjo will give an in-depth look and feel of the harmonic and rhythmic structures of their compositions. In this class you will also transform a traditional melody Trends, techniques and dynamics of with chord symbols into a fresh ‘jazzy’ interpretation contemporary Paraguayan harp music and add basic bass lines and harmonies. Topics to be T18 • 1:00pm • M+E • Sixto Corbalán • £72 Sixto Corbalán invites you to get familiar with the current covered include work on reharmonization of traditional trends in the interpretation of contemporary Paraguayan tunes, polyrhythms, syncopation and techniques for using special keys “llaves” specially created to produce harp music. He will introduce you to dynamics and accidental sharps and flats. explore contemporary techniques in his very particular style. Topics to be covered include work on traditional Dancing the strings tunes, phrasing, harmonic pattern and rhythm section T23 • 1:00pm • E+M • Michelle Mulcahy • £72 techniques on both hands. This intermediate / advanced course will focus on Irish traditional style development within the framework of Musicke of Sundrie Kindes jigs, reels, airs, hornpipes and O ‘Carolan pieces while T19 • 4:30pm • M+E • Siobhán Armstrong • £72 looking at more advanced rhythmic and harmonic What does an ‘historical’ approach imply and in what accompaniment patterns and styles. Within the course ways can it inform our playing? We’ll study historical the particular ornamentation style of these tunes will fingering, phrasing and early sources of tunes to see how they differ from more modern approaches and how also be taught. learning about these will enable us to bring the music to 24 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 The Heart of the tradition: wire strung harps T24 • 1:00pm • M+E • Siobhán Armstrong • £72 What does it mean to reconstruct early Gaelic harp music for wire harp in a historically informed way? How does it help? Tunings and modes information to help ‘place’ tunes on the harp; a look at 17th & 18th c. Irish and Scottish sources to discover evidence of what the elusive bass hand played; ornamentation in surviving MSS and composing our own; retracing a path from more modern printed editions of tunes back to versions hopefully more true to the original; and how we can use all these tools to make living music from dusty melodies in old sources! Composition T25 • 4:30pm • E+M • Fiona Rutherford • £72 A creative and exciting class that will get you experimenting with new compositional ideas and methods for the harp. We will discuss how this versatile instrument can be used in a wide variety of musical contexts and cover a little bit of relevant music theory along the way. The aim is to get everyone enjoying the process of writing their own music! Please feel free to bring along any musical ideas you are working on. MIXED ABILITIES Two plus two makes more Teenage harp course T26 • 9:00am • E+M • Mary Macmaster • £72 Mary will teach some of her favourite tunes arranged for two harps with harmonies, bass riffs and wee twiddly bits for decoration. Learn how having four hands means less stress with more space for magical moments and how duets make two more than the sum of their parts. If participants wish they could bring along their own favourite piece to work on. Duos and individuals welcome. ADVANCED T29 • 9:00am • E+M • Christine Edwards • £72 For all abilities of players aged 12-17 years. We will have fun exploring different types of music for the harp and also look at some pop music that will impress your friends. Come along and try out playing in a group of harp players, sharing your ideas and experiences. We’ll also look at how to make the most of your practice time when you have so many other activities on! Bring along a tune / recording that you’d like to work on or learn to play. Festival orchestra T30 • 1:00pm • M+E • Isobel Mieras • £72 Your chance to take to the stage at EIHF! Is it your dream to be a performer at the Festival? No matter what T27 • 4:30pm • M+E • Amanda Whiting • £72 your ability you can do that now as part of the Festival A course which looks at how to approach playing jazz Orchestra at our Wednesday afternoon concert. We will on pedal or lever harp. Starting with an easy blues, we perform a new suite of traditional and original music with will progress to chord extensions and voicings, creating parts to suit all abilities specially written by Isobel Mieras. rich harmonies which can be used to enhance your own Music will be sent out in advance for you to choose personal style and improvisatory skills. your part and learn the notes. Isobel will then gently lead you through rehearsals, gradually incorporating Scottish other instrumentalists to create a polished and satisfying T28 • 1:00pm • E+M • Ailie Robertson • £72 Strathspeys, Jigs, Reels and Slow Airs, both old and new, ensemble – with the promise of a great deal of fun on the way! will be explored in this course. Suitable for advanced players, we will learn about decoration and arranging traditional tunes. The class will be taught aurally, but music will be given out at the end. Improvising and reading the lead sheet language of jazz EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 25 COURSES The healing harp T31 • 4:30pm • M+E • Anouk Platenkamp • £72 An introduction to playing harp for the sick and disabled. Live music, especially on the harp, can promote pain relief, relaxation, help forget hospital surroundings, and give extra meaning to special moments. The best effect of live music is created when you fit the key, the mode, the rhythm and the style of playing to the person you are playing for. This workshop will show you how the modes affect people’s moods, and help you use them in improvisation. Whether you have experience playing for people or the intention to start, this course can help you achieve your goals, and will teach you how to create effective healing music. The pedal harp is a musical playground T32 • 1:00pm • E+M • Eleanor Turner • £72 Join Eleanor on this pedal harp course where you will turn work into PLAY! Have you ever heard harp music described in terms of ‘colour’ and ‘texture’ but are confused about how to work this elusive magic through your own fingertips? If you imagine that you are a flute, will your melody instantly become mellifluous and flutelike? No! Eleanor will explain how everything really works on the course and you will receive specific, practical instructions and learn to trust your own skills in order to make a vibrant, convincing sound. Trills, spills, laughs and games! WEEKEND COURSES Celtic connections • Elementary / Intermediate Sat and Sun: two sessions per day of 1½ hours T33 • 9:00am & 4:30pm • E+M • Rachel Hair • £62 Come join us for a musical journey to celebrate the fantastic vibrant music from the lesser known Celtic countries and discover new tunes from countries that you may not have known to have a Celtic connection. From the Canadian provinces and the Nordic regions to Spain and the British Isles, this course will awaken your senses and help widen your Celtic music repertoire on the harp. On Saturday, Wendy will discuss ways to bring a disparate (by age or ability) group of harpers together in a positive music making experience. She will share tips on choice of material, arrangement ideas, gradual build up of layers and the psychology of group learning. On Sunday, Isobel will discuss working with individual students of all ages to establish sound technique and good tone and how to continue to encourage and inspire personal development, suiting the talents and aspirations of each student. Bring your harps, as both sessions will be fun, hands on and with scope for questions and comments. Recording devices are welcome and written examples of relevant music will be available for perusal. THREE DAY COURSES Monday: 1 hour session Tuesday & Wednesday: 1½ hours each day. Practice can be fun! • Elementary T36 • 1:00pm • E+M • Helen MacLeod • £42 Are you struggling with a tricky bar that just doesn’t seem to get any easier? Or perhaps you feel that despite regular practice sessions, you’re just not getting any better? Then THIS is the course for you! The art of practice is an important part of any musician’s life and without it we will never achieve our goals. With a healthy spattering of technique to build a strong foundation and some fun exercises, this course is designed to help achieve what at first can seem impossible… and Helen will make it as fun as possible! If anyone has a piece or an exercise that you are struggling with, please feel free to bring it along Traditional music of Europe • Intermediate / Advanced T37 • 9:00am • E+M • Wendy Stewart • £42 In these days of an ever expanding Europe, let’s explore and celebrate its rich heritage of melodies and rhythms. From Finnish slow airs to Galician jigs, Estonian songs to Bulgarian 7/8s, we`ll get a feel for appropriate harp accompaniments to some memorable if exotic tunes. Scottish music • Intermediate / Advanced Expand your repertoire with Wendy`s pick of her Sat and Sun: two sessions per day of 1½ hours favourites. Recording devices welcome, pace brisk but T34 • 1:00pm & 4:30pm • E+M • Charlotte Petersen • £62 kindly. Enchanting airs, lilting waltzes and lively dance tunes from Scotland. Learn some lovely tunes, old and new, taught by Intro to harp and electronics • Mixed Abilities ear with ready arrangements available. You are welcome T38 • 1:00pm • E+M • Calum Macleod • £42 Scared of amplification? Curious to explore the to bring along a recording device. possibilities of the harp with the aid of electronics? In this Teachers’ course • Mixed Abilities three-day course you will learn everything from basic Sat and Sun: one session per day of 1½ hours amplification techniques through some special harp T35 • 9:00am • Isobel Mieras & Wendy Stewart • £31 techniques right up to incorporating effects processors Established and aspiring teachers are invited to share alongside any harp. Detailed handouts will be available their experience with Wendy and Isobel. each day showing examples of playing technique, 26 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 rhythmic patterns and all the relevant jargon. No prior knowledge of amplification/electronics required. Please bring your harps and Calum will have a range of harps to help demonstrate different amplification systems. COME AND TRY CLASSES 1 1/2 hour sessions Come and try ukulele Kathy Stewart T39a • Saturday 4:30pm T39b • Tuesday 1:00pm £15.50 per session An introductory workshop showing the accessibility and enjoyment of one of the currently most popular instruments, the ukulele. Everyone will receive an easy to follow chord chart, be taught how to follow it, how to tune your instrument, and how to form chords. Guaranteed fun. Bring your singing voices! Instruments provided. Follow-on classes After the Festival, come along to our Follow-on Classes organised by the Wire Branch of The Clarsach Society. Classes will run at a relaxed pace with the aims of consolidating technique, improving confidence and having a bit of fun. There will be five classes: 25 April, 9 & 16 May, and 13 & 27 June. Course cost: £50 adults / £33 children. Harps provided. More information will be available at the Festival. Supported by Rae Macintosh Musicroom Come and try whistle or bodhran Pete Grassby T40a • Sunday 1:00pm T40b • Tuesday 4:30pm £15.50 per session Pete has been playing and teaching for many years. This will be a simple taster class for those who wish to try penny whistle and bodhran. Instruments are supplied and may be purchased afterwards. Each student should be able to play a few easy tunes and accompany them on bodhran by the end of the class. Come and try wire-strung clarsach Bill Taylor T41a • Saturday 9:00am T41b • Wednesday 1:00pm £15.50 per session An opportunity to try out the beautifully resonant original harp of the Gaels. While properly played with fingernails of at least 2mm, this is NOT necessary for this taster class. The technique is often called playing in “the stopped style”, where finger pads damp certain strings to stop excessive ringing, thus allowing a clear phrase line. Try out a simple tune, touch on its history and feel free to ask questions. Instruments provided. Supported by Ardival Harps Individual Tuition Our distinguished guest, Anne Macdearmid, will be on hand at certain times on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to offer hour long lessons. Bookings for these popular lessons can be made during the Festival at The Clarsach Society Information Desk. Private lessons are also available from a wide range of other tutors and on all harps. Full information available at The Clarsach Society Information Desk. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 27 WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS BÙTHAN-OBRACH You are welcome to bring your harp with you to the workshop. You are welcome to bring your guitar with you to the workshop. In healthcare settings live musical performances can be highly effective but presentation is all important. With the participation of Isobel Mieras and Rachel Hair, both of whom have given numerous performances for the charity, this workshop will afford an opportunity to identify the very special skills required to achieve the recognised therapeutic benefit which these special performances can bring to frail and vulnerable audiences. Supported by the Northumbrian Branch of The Clarsach Society SUNDAY 12 APRIL 11.00am - 12.00pm Being a music therapist W4 • Rory Campbell • £8 The purpose of this workshop will be to provide a flavour of what it is to be a music therapist. What is music therapy? What does the work involve and who with? We will look at some examples of music therapy practice, some techniques used in music therapy and explore SATURDAY 11 APRIL 11.00am - 12.00pm some of these techniques in musical play. The workshop will also provide an opportunity to discuss and ask Free yourself from stress through Holistic Pulsing questions. If you have an instrument you would like to bring, please feel free. W1 • Marianne Cranston • £8 Do you feel: stressed / without energy / unbalanced / Techniques and tendencies overemotional? This workshop offers you tools to help relax and to get in contact with yourself again. I want to show and teach you different pulsing and grounding techniques that you can use on yourself and others. It’s also interesting for people who work in Health Care. of the Paraguayan harp W5 • Sixto & Juanjo Corbalán • £8 Introduction and exploration of ideas for arrangements and techniques for melody, accompaniment and special effects to make a simple piece more jazzy. Which melodic and rhythmic patterns are important to expand the knowledge of innovative harp techniques? How to Words and music get deeper into the world of improvisation and make W2 • Wendy Stewart & Tom Pow • £8 The writer Tom Pow and harper Wendy Stewart will talk harpists more creative in their practice. In the workshop and play with music and words. These two art forms can we will explain in detail the different techniques we have express the same emotion in so many different ways yet been using and how they enhance the composition to influence each other dramatically. How can we marry the be performed. two without detracting one from the other ? Where is the Supported by the Wales Branch of The Clarsach Society line between songwriting and poetry with music? What Harmony Singing suggests a mode or key for a particular phrase ? Why W6 • Patsy Seddon • £8 does the end result add up to much more than the sum Harmony singing for all. Whatever your experience or of its two parts? Come, listen and reflect. ability, come and find your voice and discover the joy of Supported by the Highland Branch of The Clarsach Society Live music enhancing lives W3 • Alison Frazer • £8 Music in Hospitals is a registered charity which enables people of all ages in hospitals or long-term care across the UK to experience the beneficial effect of live music. 28 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 singing with others. Patsy has been singing for longer than she can remember and has a wealth of experience from choirs to groups like The Poozies and Sileas. MONDAY 13 APRIL 10.30am - 12.00pm Jamming with The Whiting on the Wall Masterclass (pedal and lever harps) W7 • Eleanor Turner • £10 Eleanor wants to help you to find freedom and enjoyment in your harp playing. After all, if you are confident, love the music you choose and know how to improve continually, you and the audience will be fulfilled! Eleanor will work with just three harpists in this masterclass. Eleanor has been helped on her own journey by inspirational teaching by Daphne Boden and Alison Nicholls, her two principal teachers, as well as Marisa Robles, Catherine Michel, Erika Waardenburg, Ernestine Stoop, Hugh Webb and Isabelle Perrin, not to mention early music specialists Douglas Hollick and Trevor Pinnock. Supported by the Transpennine Branch and the London & SE Branch of The Clarsach Society Harp and guitar: duet-playing and arranging W8 • Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman • £10 First of all we’ll discuss our personal approaches to arranging the different styles of music we play (Irish and Scottish traditional airs and dance music, swing jazz, bluegrass etc.) for our individual instruments and the technical challenges and stylistic issues that arise. We’ll then discuss our joint approach to arranging for our duet and how this differs from our approach to arranging for our solo performances. We’ll offer as many hints and tips as we can for ensemble playing and arranging and the workshop will work on a harp / guitar arrangement chosen to suit the technical ability of the participants. Participants are encouraged to bring their harp and guitar along to join in the fun! W9 • Amanda Whiting, Deej Williams & Tony Robinson • £10 Come along and jam with The Whiting on the Wall. A blues workshop which allows you to experience playing with a bass and rhythm section and also the buzz of improvising in a group. Towards an understanding of historical Gaelic music W10 • Siobhán Armstrong and Aodán Ó Ceallaigh • £10 A look at the music played and sung by harpers and singers in the Gaelic world of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands and Islands in the 1600s. How can we access their world? Can we get a sense of how the musicians performed their music and what they thought important? Could we try to replicate what they did and why would we do that? What would it teach us and what would it sound like? Bring your harps to an experimental lab! Supported by the Argyll Branch of The Clarsach Society The power of the lullaby W11 • Irene Watt • £10 Lullabies are normally sweet little songs sung to send babies to sleep - right? So why do so many lullabies contain really dark material? Are they really just for babies? In this workshop Dr. Irene Watt will share some of her insights from her PhD research and reveal some surprising elements in lullabies and their effects on those who listen. There will be an opportunity to sing some lullabies and learn a simple accompaniment for those who wish to bring instruments (not restricted to harps). The workshop will focus mainly on the Celtic lullaby but comparisons will be made with lullabies from around the world. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 29 FESTIVAL AT A GLANCE MONDAY 13 APRIL DILUAIN 13 GIBLEAN 9:00am - 10:00am 10:30am - 12:00pm SEALLADH GOIRID AIR AN FHÈIS TIMEEVENT CODE PRE-FESTIVAL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN Tuesday, 7 April 10:00am - 11:15am Jack and the land without music Heather Yule (Note: event held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre) Tuesday, 7 April Jack and the land without music 2:00pm - 3:15pm Heather Yule (Note: event held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre) Wednesday, 8 April Jack and the land without music 10:00am - 11:15am Heather Yule (Note: event held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre) Wednesday, 8 April Jack and the land without music C1a (5-8 years old) 2:00pm - 3:15pm (9-14 years old) Heather Yule (Note: event held at the Scottish Storytelling Centre) C2a (9-14 years old) C1b (5-8 years old) C2b Registration Opening Gathering Late Night Session - Festival Club (Theatre) 10:00pm... C3 8:00am onwards 9:00am - 10:30am 11:00am - 12:00pm W1 W2 W3 1:00pm - 2:30pm 3:00pm - 4:00pm 4:30pm - 6:00pm 7:30pm - 10:00pm 10:00pm... Courses (Note: T1b starts at 10:10am) Workshops: Being a music therapist - Rory Campbell Techniques and tendencies of the Paraguayan harp - Sixto & Juanjo Corbalán Harmony Singing - Patsy Seddon Courses Concert: “Nine Nests” (Lessons for Spring) by Tom Pow with music by Wendy Stewart and Alex McQuiston Courses Concert: “The Whiting on the Wall / Ben Creighton Griffiths Late Night Session - Festival Club (Theatre) 30 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 10:00pm... 9:00am - 10:30am 11:00am - 12:00pm 1:00pm - 2:30pm 3:00pm - 4:00pm W4 W5 W6 C6 C7 W9 W10 W11 W12 W13 W14 C8 Courses (Note: T1b starts at 10:10am) Workshops: Scottish Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - Joshua Dickson The slow air and dance tradition of Irish harp music - Michelle Mulcahy Gaelic puirt-à-beul (mouth music) - Calum Macleod Courses Concert: Tea Concert: Pippa Reid-Foster, Ruth Mackay, Stephanie Irvine Courses Concert: Eleanor Turner / Clouds Harp Quartet Late Night Session - Festival Club (Theatre) W15 W16 W17 C9 C10 WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL DICIADAIN 15 GIBLEAN C5 SUNDAY 12 APRIL DIDOMHNAICH 12 GIBLEAN 9:00am - 10:30am 11:00am - 12:00pm 1:00pm - 2:30pm 3:00pm - 4:00pm 4:30pm - 6:00pm 7:30pm - 10:00pm C4 W7 W8 TUESDAY 14 APRIL DIMAIRT 14 GIBLEAN 9:00am - 10:30am 11:00am - 12:00pm SATURDAY 11 APRIL DISATHAIRNE 11 GIBLEAN Registration Courses (Note: T1b starts at 10:10am) Workshops: Free yourself from stress through Holistic Pulsing - Marianne Cranston Words and music - Tom Pow & Wendy Stewart Live music enhancing lives - Alison Frazer 1:00pm - 2:30pmCourses 3:00pm - 4:00pm Concert: The Hearth Stane with Heather Yule, Irene Watt and Calum Macleod 4:30pm - 6:00pm Courses Concert: 7:30pm - 10:00pm Hermanos Corbalán / Ailie Robertson 10:00pm... Late Night Session - Festival Club (Theatre) 1:00pm - 2:00pm 2:45pm - 3:30pm 3:45pm - 4:45pm 5:00pm - 6:00pm 7:00pm - 10:00pm FRIDAY 10 APRIL DIHAOINE 10 GIBLEAN 3:30pm - 7:00pm 7:00pm - 10:00pm 10:00pm... Courses (Note: T1b starts at 10:10am) Workshops: Masterclass (pedal and lever harps) - Eleanor Turner Harp and guitar: duet-playing and arranging - Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman Jamming with The Whiting on the Wall Towards an understanding of historical Gaelic music – Siobhán Armstrong and Aodán Ó Ceallaigh The power of the lullaby - Irene Watt Playing pibroch on harp - Karen Marshalsay What shall I wear? - Meinir Heulyn The harp is only half the instrument - Chris Blagdon Courses The Clarsach Society Annual General Meeting What do you think? Future plans for EIHF Courses Concert: Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman / Michelle Mulcahy / Siobhán Armstrong & Aodán Ó Ceallaigh Late Night Session - Festival Club (Theatre) 4:30pm - 6:00pm 7:30pm - 10:00pm 10:00pm... Courses (Note: T1b starts at 10:10am) An Audience with Anne Macdearmid Workshop: Loopy Levers - Rachel Hair Courses Concert: Festival Orchestra / North East Harp Ensemble / Rachel Rutherford (Mod 2014 prize winner) Courses Concert: Mischa Macpherson / Tornish / Winning entry 2014 Young Composer Award Late Night Session - Festival Club (Theatre) C11 W18 C12 C13 Edinburgh International Harp Festival reserves the right to amend this programme without further notice EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 31 WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS (CONT.) BÙTHAN-OBRACH (LEAN) Playing pibroch on harp W12 • Karen Marshalsay • £10 The classical music of the pipes, with its theme and variation structure, translates ideally to the harp, as can be expected from a genre with its origins in harp music. This workshop will look at how to tackle a pibroch, from the haunting fluidity of the ground with its particular phrase structure and singling and doubling, through the increasingly complex and ornamented variations. Suitable for all harps, from small wire-strung to pedal, this workshop will give you the key to two-handed decorations (or ‘gurglies’), fingering techniques for clean ornamentation, and pacing both expressive phrases and rhythmic variations. What shall I wear? W13 • Meinir Heulyn • £10 Meinir invites you to an amusing and informative power point presentation, giving an insight into six decades of fashion for harpists, with special reference to the story of her life as a professional harpist (some of her dresses will be exhibited). Be surprised also, as she reveals the fashion worn by artists as far back as the 1980s – possibly even seen at previous Edinburgh International Harp Festivals! Could all be revealed? Did we really wear such crazy / wonderful outfits? What an opportunity to look back and see what was so proudly worn at earlier events and festivals, which we know are fondly remembered by so many. The harp is only half the instrument W14 – Chris Blagdon – £10 You’ve spent loads of time practising your harp. You know where your sound board is. Your fingers dance over the strings. But what about the other half of this beautiful instrument? Your body plays the harp. At what cost? What steps can we take to mitigate any physical damage? This workshop will explore the relationship between your body and your harp. It is recommended that participants bring a mat or blanket to this Pilates workshop. TUESDAY 14 APRIL 11.00am - 12.00pm Scottish Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland W15 • Joshua Dickson • £8 Scottish Traditional Music, including the Scottish harp and clarsach, has been offered at degree level at the 32 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 Royal Conservatoire of Scotland since 1996. This talk highlights the work and testimony of the harp students over the past academic year and showcases the exciting new curriculum being unveiled for the degree from 2015. A discussion of the degree programme’s links with RCS’s Traditional Music Graded Exams will also feature and in particular the insights that went into the new Graded Exams harp syllabus led by Patsy Seddon. The slow air and dance tradition of Irish harp music W16 • Michelle Mulcahy • £8 Join Michelle for an informal discussion / demonstration on the harp in Irish traditional music, with particularly reference to the slow air and dance tradition. Gaelic puirt-à-beul (mouth music) Join us next year: 1-6 April 2016 W17 • Calum Macleod • £8 Come and learn some fun Gaelic songs that were traditionally used for dance music when instruments weren’t available. No prior knowledge of Gaelic is required but you will leave having learned a set of puirt-àbeul. Handouts will be given that will show the Gaelic words, an English translation and phonetics to help you remember the songs for years to come! WEDNESDAY 15 APRIL (provisional dates) 11.00am - 12.00pm Loopy levers W18 • Rachel Hair • £8 Is the thought of playing jigs, reels and other trad-style tunes with accidentals driving you and your levers loopy?! Well, come along to this workshop and we will banish all fear of changing those levers mid-tune and have you multi-tasking in no time at all. This workshop will be taught by ear, but music and “helpful tips” sheets will be given out at the end. KEEP IN TOUCH Keep in touch and join us online. You can link directly to all online activity from our website homepage: harpfestival.co.uk FACEBOOK Hear about the latest news and updates and share you experience with other Harp Festival fans. TWITTER Follow us on twitter for up-tothe-minute news and share your views about events. SOUND CLOUD Listen to tracks by Harp Festival artists and enjoy the music. BLOG Read behind-the-scenes chat and guest writings on the Festival blog. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 33 BIOGRAPHIES EACHDRAIDHEAN-BEATHA 1 2 3 7 8 9 4 5 6 10 11 12 1. Siobhán Armstrong Siobhán performs and records medieval to 18th century chamber music, church music and opera with many of Europe’s most prestigious historical musicians, and also plays with some of Ireland and Scotland’s best traditional musicians. Siobhán was a professional choral singer and modern harpist before she zoned in on early harps. She now performs on single and multi-row historical instruments and is really happiest when accompanying vocal music: plainchant to polyphony to sean-nós song to baroque opera. She founded and chairs The Historical Harp Society of Ireland and is currently a PhD researcher at Middlesex University. 4. Tana Collins Tana has been a fully qualified Massage Therapist and member of the Scottish Massage Therapists’ Organisation since 2000 and has been the EIHF’s Masseuse since 2002. During this time, Tana has built up a hugely successful client base, working in a number of businesses and from her home in Edinburgh. Tana uses massage as a tool to help combat poor posture and repetitive strain problems, which are prevalent amongst musicians and computer users. She also has experience in treating common sports injuries; sciatica; back pain; stress and anxiety; sleep problems and mild to moderate depression. 7. Ben Creighton Griffiths Ben’s fourteen years as a harpist has been an incredible journey. It has taken him across three continents to perform at many prestigious festivals, from the exotic locations of Rio and the Caribbean, to World Harp Congresses in Vancouver and Amsterdam. He had travelled across Europe performing in France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Croatia, Hungry, and most recently the Czech Republic. He has made TV appearances for the BBC, ITV, S4C, O Globo (Brazil), performed for Prince Charles, performed concertos and other works with orchestras and choirs. He is now in great demand for teaching jazz workshops and courses here and abroad. 2. Chris Blagdon Chris is the director of the Edinburgh Pilates Centre. He took over the studio from Jane Paris, Scotland’s first ever Pilates teacher in 1994. Chris studied with Alan Herdman, the fantastic teacher that brought Pilates to the UK. Chris has studied many different techniques from martial arts to dance. He was a professional dancer for twenty years dancing all over the world before teaching Pilates. Few people can claim to have more than 40 years full time bodywork experience. 5. Sixto & Juanjo Corbalán Since 2007, Sixto and his brother, Juanjo, have performed as the harp duo Hermanos Corbalán. This is unusual in Paraguay, but as each is an exquisite soloist, the duo is now extremely popular and in demand throughout Paraguay and abroad. Both brothers have a special focus on new compositions for the Paraguayan Harp, mixing their creations with different elements of other genres, innovating and giving them great musical versatility with traditional and exciting new repertoire. Their investigations and excursions into other genres turn this harp duo into a perfect harmony with a truly amazing sound. 8. Joshua Dickson Joshua Dickson is Head of Scottish Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Born and raised in Alaska, he arrived in Scotland in 1992 to study Scottish Gaelic at the University of Aberdeen. He then undertook doctoral research in the history of the piping tradition of the southern Outer Hebrides at the School of Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh, now published under the title When Piping Was Strong: Tradition, Change and the Bagpipe in South Uist (John Donald, 2006). He has performed publicly in the contemporary Gaelic music scene with Na Trì Seudan and Allan MacDonald’s award-winning Edinburgh Festival recital series, From Battlelines to Barlines. His ground-breaking anthology of piping studies in our time, The Highland Bagpipe: Music, History, Tradition, is published by Ashgate (2009). 3. Rory Campbell Rory Campbell was encouraged to play the pipes from an early age by his father, Roddy Campbell, singer and piper from the Isle of Barra. He was a prominent member of several successful and influential bands such as Deaf Shepherd, Old Blind Dogs and Caledon, among others. As well as this Rory has released a number of both collaborative and solo recordings featuring a large proportion of self-penned material alongside traditional material. Alongside the musical career Rory trained and worked as a nurse in the field of learning disabilities before studying for an MA in Music Therapy and switching careers in 2010. Rory is currently working full-time as a music therapist. 34 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 6. Marianne Cranston Marianne is a qualified member of the Dutch Societies of Holistic Pulsing and Astrology, with wide experience of working in Europe and the UK. Her goal as a spiritual astrologer and holistic pulser is to help clients become attuned with their inner selves, to help build up self-esteem, trust and self-belief. 9. Christine Edwards Christine grew up in Aberdeenshire and is an experienced performer, composer and dedicated harp teacher. She received training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in both concert harp and Scottish harp. She studied Irish harp at the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity College Dublin and holds a Licentiate of the London College of Music Diploma (LLCM) in Irish Traditional Music Performance. Christine is the music advisor to the North East of Scotland Branch of The Clarsach Society and directs the North East Harp Ensemble. She also teaches using video-calling software and has pupils all over the world. 10. Alison Frazer Alison is the Chief Executive Officer of Music in Hospitals in Scotland. A graduate in history from the University of Aberdeen, she trained as a teacher at Moray House College of Education in Edinburgh spending the next thirteen years in teaching and administration. She joined The Council for Music in Hospitals (now known as Music in Hospitals) in 1992, becoming Director (and later CEO) in 1996. She is delighted to have been invited to present a Music in Hospitals workshop at the 2015 Harp Festival, having greatly enjoyed the experience the first time round in 2005. 11. Pete Grassby Pete has been playing and singing for most of his life. He is a well-known musician and folk dance caller and has performed around the world, especially New Zealand, Germany and Sweden as well as the UK. He repairs and deals in melodeons and accordions for a living and has now been self employed for over 30 years after leaving Alvis where he learned his engineering skills. Nowadays he runs ceilidh bands and writes songs and tunes about his travels. 12. Rachel Hair “One of the UK’s finest Celtic harpists and tunesmiths” (Songlines), Rachel has toured extensively through Europe, the USA and beyond both as a soloist and with her trio The Rachel Hair Trio. When at home, Rachel teaches harp at Douglas Academy National Centre of Excellence in Music and at the University of the Highlands and Islands in the Hebrides. She also journeys once a month to teach harp on the Isle of Man, where she is at the forefront of the revival of the Manx harp. She has released three critically acclaimed albums and published three books of harp music. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 35 BIOGRAPHIES (CONTINUED) 13 14 15 19 20 21 16 17 18 22 23 24 13. Meinir Heulyn Meinir is one of Wales’ most versatile harpists. Having graduated from University College, Cardiff, she continued her harp studies at the Conservatorio di Musica, Genova. She enjoyed thirty years as Principal Harpist for the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera where she performed internationally and recorded extensively with world renowned artists. Until 2011 she was Head of Harp Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She is also co-founder of both Coleg Telyn Cymru and Telynau Morgannwg. She is a prolific arranger which inspired her and her husband to establish Alaw Music Publishing. She has published over thirty volumes of harp music, many of these being volumes of Welsh traditional music. 14. Anne Macdearmid A highly respected clarsach teacher and an accomplished singer, Anne’s performance displays her wide range and knowledge of music and superb musicianship. She is a prolific arranger, composer and tutor, and is equally well-known as an adjudicator at festivals and The Royal National Mod. For twenty-five years, she tutored the Heritage of Scotland Summer School in Edinburgh. 15. John N. MacDonald John is a native Gaelic speaker from South Uist. He has been tutoring adult Gaelic learners for around five years in Edinburgh. 16. Calum Macleod Calum is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music where he studied pedal harp. Brought up as a fluent Gaelic speaker, playing and singing, and from a very early age he was immersed in the Gaelic culture. He has won many prizes, including the clarsach competitions at the Pan Celtic Festival in Donegal; both Harp and Recorder Medals at the Edinburgh Competition Festival; the Daughter of Dewar Award; and the RNCM’s Stan Barker Memorial Prize for Jazz improvisation. At the Dunoon Mod 2012 he won the An Comunn Gold Medal for Gaelic singing, and travelled to Washington, USA in September 2013 as a guest of the American Mod. Calum’s debut solo album will be released at the festival. 17. Helen MacLeod Helen grew up on the west coast of Scotland and began playing the harp when she discovered her love of traditional music. Helen went on to study pedal harp at St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh and then at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. She enjoys a busy freelance career, performing with many distinguished groups ranging from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, to pop groups Belle and Sebastian and The Fratellis. Chamber music is one of Helen’s most exciting musical pastimes and she formed her duo Hoot with flautist Emma Wilkins in 2005. They released their first album The Garden of Adonis in 2010. Highlights of 2014 included an invitation to represent Scotland at the Arts Festival of North Norway. 18. Mary Macmaster Mary has been harping in the Scottish music scene for the last thirty years, playing in duos, trios and bands of many hands. She was one of the early pioneers in the revival of the wire strung clarsach, though most of her more recent work has been on the Camac Electro harp. She loves performing and has toured round a good part of the world with some amazing people including The Poozies, Patsy Seddon and Sting. 36 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 19. Sarah MacNeil Sarah grew up in Falkirk and began playing the harp at eleven under the tuition of Rosie Morton and Ailie Robertson. Sarah is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where she obtained a First Class Honours degree, specialising in Scottish music with electives in classical pedal harp, composition and teaching techniques. Sarah has had the honour of playing at some fantastic festivals and events including, the 2012 London Olympics, the Papal Visit, Interceltique Lorient Folk Festival France, Celtic Connections, the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, Glasgow and Edinburgh International Film Festivals and many more. Sarah is a dedicated and experienced teacher and is currently the lead tutor at Feis Fhoirt, and also works for Feis Rois and Live Music Now. 20. Karen Marshalsay Karen is a master of traditional Scottish harp music, specialising on three Scottish harps -wire and gut-strung clarsachs, and bray harp. With a particular interest in pipe music, playing with Allan MacDonald in his acclaimed pibroch concerts, and for the National Piping Centre’s 2013 Ceòl na Piòba concert have been highlights in a career which has seen Karen perform in the UK, Europe, America and Australia. Previously clarsach tutor at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, and wire and bray harp tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Karen published her Key Techniques for Harp in 2012. 21. Isobel Mieras One of Scotland’s most experienced and successful teachers, Isobel has guided, taught and influenced many of today’s Scottish harp players. For many years she has enjoyed directing, arranging and composing for Na Clàrsairean, the Scottish Harp Orchestra, taking them to perform at three World Harp Congresses as well as venues in Scotland. It has been her privilege to work in many roles for The Clarsach Society and she is honoured to be its President. For more than three decades she has been a member of the organising team of the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, currently sharing the role of Artistic Adviser with Patsy Seddon. In 2012 she was inducted to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame and received the Hamish Henderson Award for services to traditional music 22. Michelle Mulcahy Michelle is justifiably regarded as one of the finest harpists in Ireland today. She is a regular performer and tutor worldwide and has toured extensively in Ireland, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Asia. Michelle’s solo harp debut album Suaimhneas was released under the Clo Iar Chonnacht label in 2012 and has been receiving worldwide acclaim as one of the top harp albums in Irish traditional music. Michelle has just recently graduated with her PhD at the University of Limerick. Her dissertation was titled Aistear: Performing Cultural Encounter: An Arts Practice Investigation of Karen, Burmese and Irish Harping Traditions. 23. Chris Newman Chris is “one of the UK’s most staggering and influential acoustic guitarists” (fRoots). A prolific composer, arranger and record producer, he’s played with luminaries of the folk (Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Boys of the Lough. Kathryn Tickell, Aly Bain, Danny Thomson, Heartstring Quartet), jazz (Stéphane Grappelli, Diz Disley) and comedy (Fred Wedlock) worlds – receiving a silver disc for producing Fred’s hit Oldest Swinger in Town. His fourth solo CD Still Getting Away with It, a celebration of his 40-year career, is “Astonishing - a must-buy for any guitar player” – Scotland on Sunday 24. Máire Ní Chathasaigh Máire is “the doyenne of Irish harp players” (Scotland on Sunday) and recipient of Irish music’s most prestigious Award, Gradam Cheoil TG4 – Traditional Musician of the Year – “for the excellence and pioneering force of her music, the remarkable growth she has brought to the music of the harp in Ireland and for the positive influence she has had on the young generation of harpers.” A multiple All-Ireland and PanCeltic winner, she developed profoundly influential techniques for harp performance of traditional Irish music, heard on her pioneering New-Strung Harp (1985) and subsequent seven recordings with guitarist Chris Newman, with whom she tours worldwide. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 37 BIOGRAPHIES (CONTINUED) 25 26 27 31 32 33 28 29 30 34 35 36 25. Aodán Ó Ceallaigh Aodán is from Rinn Ua gCuanach, the gaeltacht [Irishspeaking region] in Co. Waterford, Ireland. He was practically born singing and that would be no surprise since there were influential sean nós [‘old style’] singer ancestors on both sides of his family, including Polly Kelly and Sean McGrath. Indeed, his own mother, Áine Uí Cheallaigh, is perhaps the best living exponent of the region’s traditional vocal style. This young singer is therefore steeped in the traditions of his home place and is proud to present songs that have been preserved by his own relatives and others in the region. 26. Charlotte Peterson Charlotte is one of Scotland’s established talents in composing and arranging traditional music for the clarsach. Her compositions have delighted audiences around the world and have been recorded as soundtracks for several BBC radio plays. Charlotte has published a series of books containing her own arrangements and teaches clarsach and harp at schools around Edinburgh, including the City of Edinburgh Music School. Her warm stage presence and skilful communication make Charlotte a sought after performer and popular teacher in Scotland and abroad. 27. Anouk Platenkamp Anouk started playing for people with Alzheimer’s disease at an early age and this had a profound impact on her choice to become a harpist. Anouk studied classical harp at the Maastricht Conservatory of Music and graduated from the International Harp Therapy Programme. Since then, she has developed her own method of playing healing music and teaches a course on it in the Netherlands. Her practical approach to playing healing music can be learned by anyone who has some experience of playing the harp. Learning how to improvise and play healing music has helped her as a performer. Anouk likes to play folk music from all over Europe, which has led to her to play Dutch folk music on the harp. 38 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 28. Tom Pow Dear Alice, Narratives of Madness won the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust Poetry Book of the Year in 2009, the same year In The Becoming – New and Selected Poems was published. Currently, Tom is Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Glasgow University Dumfries and a part-time lecturer on Lancaster University’s distance learning Masters in Creative Writing. In Another World – Among Europe’s Dying Villages was published in June. His most recent publications are A Wild Adventure - Thomas Watling, Dumfries Convict Artist and Concerning the Atlas of Scotland and Other Poems, the result of his experiences as Bartholomew Writer in Residence at the National Library of Scotland. 29. Ailie Robertson Ailie is a composer, arranger, teacher, and performer. “Her synthesis of Scottish, Irish and contemporary harping technique into an individual style represents the realization of otherwise unimagined possibilities for the Celtic harp”. A five-time Gold award winner at the Royal National Mod, she was the winner of the Live Ireland award for Instrumental Cut of the Year for her debut album First Things First, and awarded Instrumentalist of the Year in the 2014 Tradition in Review Awards. She has performed all around the globe, and is recognised for her unique fusion of Scottish, Irish and contemporary styles. She has published six volumes of harp music and has taught at harp festivals in Europe, Canada, the USA and Australia. 30. Tony Robinson Tony is a professional drummer and multi-instrumentalist well versed in the art of popular music and jazz performance. He is the author of several books for harp and currently holds an editorial position at Trinity College London. 31. Fiona Rutherford Fiona is from Edinburgh. She learned to play the harp with Sophie Askew, Isobel Mieras and Savourna Stevenson. She studied at The City of Edinburgh Music School and went on to gain degrees in Composition from Dartington College of Arts and Edinburgh University. She has written for theatre and film, including acclaimed feature films The Inheritance and The Space Between, and her instrumental compositions have been performed by groups such as London Sinfoinietta, Mr McFall’s Chamber and Drake Music Scotland. Her latest CD Sleep Sound showcases her writing for nine piece ensemble ‘beautiful, invigorating, meditative...’ – fRoots 34. Wendy Stewart Wendy’s relaxed but incisive style of teaching brings praise and results in equal measure. Through her layered arrangements and measured pace, she can bring a group of mixed ability learners together in confident, relaxed harmony. She is in demand for workshops and courses in the USA and Europe but is also dedicated to teaching Scottish traditional music and song in Dumfries and Galloway Primary schools through the Feis Rois/ YMI scheme. After a busy winter, juggling all of this with her many other local creative enterprises, her long promised new CD and new music books are finally out this year! 32. Patsy Seddon Patsy is known for her performances with the duo Sileas who were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2013. One of Scotland’s most innovative harp players, she has also been part of the groups The Poozies, Clan Alba and Madge Wildfire and has recorded over twelve CDs. Patsy is an active teacher and has taught at every EIHF except the first, at Feisean, at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Kodály musicianship for NYCoS. She has an honours degree in Celtic Studies and was Musician in Residence at the School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh University. 35. Esther Swift Likened to Kate Bush, Eddie Reader and Joanna Newsom, singer-songwriter and harpist Esther Swift is an up and coming musician in the Scottish folk music scene. Whilst being heavily influenced by her folk roots, Esther’s music also combines jazz, blues and minimalist references. With a passion for pushing the boundaries of folk and classical harp music she has become a prolific song writer. A deep love of Scotland, the Scottish Borders (where Esther grew up) and nature continually inspire and influence her music; the songs of her new EP The Mairches which features cojon, string quartet and trumpet, are based on her life growing up in The Scottish Borders. 33. Kathy Stewart As an American who has lived in the Borders for 30 years, Kathy Stewart is a singer songwriter and composer, piano instructor, performer and recording artist. Co-founder of Borders based Junior Acoustic Music, she continues to facilitate vocal workshops for all ages and abilities and presently teaches at Merlin Academy of Traditional Music in Melrose. 36. Bill Taylor Bill Taylor is a specialist in the performance of ancient harp music from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and is one of very few players investigating these repertoires on medieval gutstrung harps, wire-strung clarsachs and Renaissance harps with buzzing bray pins. He is one of the foremost interpreters of music in the Robert ap Huw manuscript, and he has made two solo recordings of this repertoire using historical harps. Bill performs and teaches in the Scottish Highlands and works with Ardival Harps in Strathpeffer. He performs and records as a soloist and with several ensembles, including Canty, Graindelavoix, Quadrivium and Sinfonye. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 39 BIOGRAPHIES (CONTINUED) 37 38 39 40 41 42 36. Eleanor Turner Since her London concerto debut with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, aged just fifteen, Eleanor has gained a worldwide reputation for the warmth and passion that she brings to her performances. In the 2007 Cardiff European Harp Competition she won First Prize, which sparked an international career; concertos in New Orleans and Sydney, chamber music in the Berlin Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal and solo recitals across Spain and Italy. Eleanor won prizes at the Dutch International Harp Competition 2010 and Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition in 2011 and is proud of her 2010 Wingate Scholarship and funding from The Tillett Trust. Eleanor studied with Daphne Boden at the Royal College of Music Junior Department, then with Alison Nicholls; hugely inspiring preparation for a lifetime in music. 37. Irene Watt A popular figure on the Scottish folk scene as a singer, harper, and workshop leader, Irene is also an educationalist. She has been involved in many diverse music projects including Singing for the Brain Musical Memories aimed at those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease incorporating Cognitive Stimulation Therapy. She spearheaded the Child Development through Infant Singing project whilst researching the effect of singing lullabies to babies and young children. Irene also led Keek Back, Syne Haud Gaun (Look Back, and Continue Forward) for the Youth Music Initiative and the National Trust for Scotland, using music and the arts, cultural history, and research methodologies, to further educational goals. She has a PhD in Ethnomusicology and Folklore. She is currently based in Qatar where she teaches music and cultural studies. 38. Amanda Whiting Amanda has always had a love for jazz and after a classical upbringing, including a scholarship to Wells Cathedral school, an ABRSM Licentiate and Bachelors in Music, she recently obtained a Masters in Jazz and has since been appointed as Jazz harp tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and 40 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 Drama. She has performed alongside Jamie Cullum and recorded with Dannii Minogue, and has performed at many high profile venues, including, The Southbank, London and Millennium Centre, Cardiff. In 2013/14 she launched two new CDS Butterflies (with her jazz trio The Whiting on the Wall) and Memories (a nostalgic CD of well known songs) as well as a series of books for harpists. 2015 will see the release of a new book and CD with the trio. 39. Deej Williams Deej is an up and coming bassist from Cardiff and is the face of Jazztime at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He has recently studied at Anton-Bruckner Private University in Linz, Austria with Peter Herbert and will be graduating in 2015. 40. Gwen Màiri Yorke Gwen studied pedal harp at the RSAMD, which led to much orchestral and chamber work, but in the last few years her focus has been on traditional music. Gwen is based in Glasgow where she has many clarsach pupils at the Glasgow Gaelic School and is also Curator of Music at Renfield St. Stephen’s Church. She also visits Wales regularly to perform as part of the duo, Tornish, and also the ground-breaking Welsh traditional music project, 10 Mewn Bws. Her two clarsach books, Mist-Covered Mountains and The Dragon & The Thistle, are published by Alaw. 41. Heather Yule Heather is an established harp teacher in Scotland adept at working both with individuals and groups of all levels and abilities. She has taught and performed on the clarsach throughout Scotland and at various events in the USA and Cape Breton, Canada. Heather is involved in the Scottish traditional storytelling scene, which has its base in Edinburgh’s Scottish Storytelling Centre. She has performed in Europe, Scandinavia and North America as a traditional storyteller, enchanting audiences of all ages with her unique way of combining harp music and story. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 41 www.salviharps.com A SALVI HARP FOR YOU . Wherever your music takes you, there is always a Salvi harp to make it special through quality, reliability and perfection in the detail. N.S.M. s.p.a. • Via Rossana, 7 • 12026 PIASCO (CN) • ITALY Tel. +39 0175 270511• Fax +39 0175 270512 [email protected] • www.salviharps.com EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 43 HARP MAKER Now available: - Replica Erard Single Action Harp Replica 18th & 19th century Welsh Triple Harps 22, 31 & 34 string Clarsachs Music Stands & Stools; Restoration & Servicing Tel. & Fax: +44 (0)1822 840820 http://www.harpmaker.eu [email protected] Tavy Court, Bere Ferrers, Nr. Yelverton, Devon. PL20 7JX www.welsh-harps.com [email protected] 01559 363 222 The UK’s Leading Harp Specialists for: Pedal and Lever Harps Sheet music and CDs Extensive range of strings Comprehensive range of harp accessories Harp rental packages available 58 Hopton Street, London SE1 9JH t. +44 (0)20 7928 8451 e. [email protected] www.holywellmusic.co.uk An Comunn Gàidhealach ORGANISERS OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL MÒD Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail | 2015 The Royal National Mòd MÒD AN ÒBAIN 9-17 DÀMHAIR OBAN 9-17 OCTOBER 2016 MÒD NAN EILEAN SIAR 14-22 DÀMHAIR WESTERN ISLES 14-22 OCTOBER 2017 MÒD LOCH ABAIR 13-21 DÀMHAIR LOCHABER 13-21 OCTOBER For Provincial Mòd dates and more go online: www.ancomunn.co.uk REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: SC001282 Harps from The Early Music Shop Camac Pedal & Lever Harps EMS Student Lever Harps Strings & Accessories Interest Free Credit over 18 months! Salts Mill Victoria Rd Saltaire BD18 3LA Tel: 01274 288100 E: [email protected] 10/12/13 08:58 Page 2 WWW.EARLYMUSICSHOP.COM Affairs of the Harp external pub 1-2 Unique gifts for harpists now available from Affairs of the Harp. Tee shirts Aprons and tea towels Tote bags Stationery Excellent quality. Superb artwork. Quality gifts at affordable prices Available only from www.affairsoftheharpshop.com or by phoning 01727 872372 www.affairsoftheharp.com for the largest selection of secondhand harps R IGHT F ES T AL IV HA P W N O 7th - 11th October 2015 Concerts, Workshops, Lectures, Harp Showroom & Much More!!! Ryde - Isle of Wight T. +44 (0) 1983 730930 - www.harponwight.com HOW TO BOOK A’ GLÈIDHEADH ÀITE Online: harpfestival.co.uk By telephone: +44 (0)131 473 2000 (Monday - Friday 10.00am – 5.00pm) By post or in person: Hub Tickets, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE Please note: a transaction fee of £1.50 will be added to all advance bookings. Payment can be made by all major credit cards (except Diners). Accommodation at Merchiston Tickets can be delivered to the Festival Office and be available for collection on arrival at Merchiston. If you prefer your tickets to be posted to you, this will incur an additional charge of £0.80 per order. During the Festival, tickets for all events may be purchased, subject to availability, from the Festival Box Office at Merchiston. All prices are per room per night and include breakfast Concession tickets EIHF aims to be open, accessible and affordable to all. Concessions are available for certain events – ticket price in ORANGE on event listing. Shared Facilities Accommodation Single room: £31.45 (rooms are not secure / no key available) Available to: • Under 18s • Full-time students • Unwaged • People over 60 • Disabled people and companions. • EIHF Participants* *People who have booked a course costing £72 at EIHF 2015. Laidlaw House Single room, en-suite: £46.00 Double / Twin room, en-suite: £82.25 Note: Laidlaw House has 6 rooms adapted for people with disabilities. Booking form available on the reverse. Completed forms should be sent to: Alison Hanna, Merchiston Events & Hospitality, Merchison, Castle School, 294 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH13 0PU. Tel: +44 (0) 131 312 2258 Email: [email protected] Ticket Discounts Young people Under 16s can enjoy up to 50% off on selected concerts. Ticket price in RED on event listing. Concert series Benefit from a 12% discount when you purchase one ticket for each of the concerts excluding Heather Yule’s Storywalks (C1, C2) and the Opening Gathering (C3). Ticket prices: £109 (full) • £97 (conc.) • 58 (U16s) Group bookings We are delighted to offer a 12% discount on bookings of 8 people or more. EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 57 By bus Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR Name(s): There is a bus stop right outside the entrance to Merchiston. Lothian Buses No. 10, 18 and 45 pass here. Standard fare £1.50 (correct at the time of printing) Lothian Buses: 0131 555 6363 Route Planner - lothianbuses.com Address: By train The Scottish Storytelling Centre is half way along the Royal Mile, downhill from the Castle and North Bridge. The Centre is a short walk from Princes Street and Waverley train station, and there is a taxi rank close to the Centre on the Royal Mile. Edinburgh’s main railway terminal is Waverley Station. From here you can take a taxi or bus to Merchiston. Travel time is approximately 30 minutes. By air By car Thursday 9th April Friday 10th April Monday 13th April Saturday 11th April Tuesday 14th April Sunday 12th April Wednesday 15th April m eda P WC WC NORTH DEN PublicPublic Parking Parking On Driveway On Driveway As Directed As Directed B ay ing B Re EIHF Load Permit Only ENGLISH BLOCK Permit Only WC Room RE1 ENGLISH BLOCK Rooms 1 to 4 Public Parking On Driveway As Directed T L AR OO H SC Parking GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR tion Recep Recep tion Recep Hall ll orial al Ha Mem Memori Up e Stag LOCK SH B ENGLI m 1 to 4 Roo ry en Kitch Serve l k g Hal Dinin Info, Des c, g, etc ch So Clarsa ting, Dinin Mee 58 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 e and Offic Lounge ’ Tutors b al Hu Festiv e Tel: +44(0)131 312 2258 Fax: +44 (0)131 441 6060 Up e Stag Up LOCK SH B ENGLI m 1 to 4 CK Roo BLOCK LISH BLO SH m1 ENG ENGLI m 1 to 4 RE Roo Roo Serv Up e andegaend Offic OLo icn unge ’ ffu TutorsTutors’ Lo b al Hu Hub FestivFestival Stag tion LOCK SH B ENGLI Room 1 RE BLOCK SH ENGLI Room 1 RE l k g Hal Dinin Info, Des c, g, etc ch So Dinlin Clarsa ting, k g Hal Mee Dinin Info, Des c, g, etc ch So Clarsa ting, Dinin Mee ery en Kitch ery en Serv Kitch Parking at Merchiston is free but limited. There may be a short walk to the venue from some of (cheques to Merchiston Castle School) the parking available on campus or on adjacent roads. Staff will be on hand to direct traffic during Credit / Debit Card: busy times. A loading bay is available to the Card type Visa Mastercard Maestro right of the main building to upload and unload harps, and disabled parking is available in front Card number of the main building and by the Theatre and Napier building. Please note that vehicles must Name on Card be parked in designated areas and should not Expiry date Security code obstruct any entrances or exits. Parking is not permitted adjacent to the Theatre or Napier building, except in the case of disabled users (a Merchiston Events & Hospitality, Merchiston Castle School 294 Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH13 0PU disabled badge must be displayed). MAIN ING UILD on cepti Clu NG Total £ Payment method I enclose a cheque for £ DOW 6A DI per night e or St H b- IL t) BU s par N om n ( SO Ro itio e RT tice hib tor BE Prac rs’ Exarp S RO ke l H ma eda P nights at £ WC p ar rp Total cost S ER M AL ST CH EA oo ssr 10 Cla 5 to AA Route Planner - theaa.com RAC Route Planner - rac.co.uk RoomsRooms 1 to 4 1 to 4 rp n Ha ibitio h Ex ms Ha PAYMENT ENGLISH BLOCK ENGLISH BLOCK ER PI ING NAILD kers’ rt) BU ma (pa T L AR OO H SCT L AR OO H SC E TR G EA IN TH ILD BU LAIDLAW MAIN GIN G MA DIN LAIDLAW BUIL BUILDIN SOUTH ay ay B ing B Load Loading n o ti ecep eception R Permit F Permit EIH EIHF R Only Only ENGLISH BLOCK ENGLISH BLOCK Permit Room Room RE1 RE1 Permit Only Only S ER M AL EST CH W From the West: From the M8, do not follow route to Forth Road Bridge, but continue on to the City Bypass, following southbound signs. Exit at Dreghorn Junction, (Colinton exit). Follow signs for Redford Barracks: Merchiston is opposite these, on the north side of Colinton Road. WC WC e or ore St t rp rp S a Ha b- b-H u l u C l 6A 6A C rp Single Room B&B @ £31.45 per room per night Rooms not secure as no keys available Ha NON LAIDLAW HOUSE SHARED FACILITIES H ibit Ha itio h hib Ex Ex s oo om ssr 10 sro 0 Cla 5 toClas to 1 5 NG DI IL t) BU s G par N omINn ( SO RoLDitio e ) RT ticeUIhib tor art BE raNc B’ Ex mrps Sn (p RO TSPOakeres Rl oHoa itio re R m ticda hib to BEarp racPe ’ Ex rp S RO H Pakers l Ha Single Room B&B @ £46.00 per room per night Twin Room B&B@ £82.25 per room per night Double Room B&B @ £82.25 per room per night S ER M AL ST CH EAERS M AL ST CH EA LAIDLAW HOUSE EN-SUITE FACILITIES From the South: A1, A7 and A68 all lead to the City Bypass. Follow signs for the Forth Road Bridge and Airport. Leave Bypass at Dreghorn Junction (Colinton exit). Follow signs for Redford Barracks: Merchiston is opposite these, on the north side of Colinton Road. S ER M AL EST CH W ERS M AL EST CH W ROOM REQUIREMENTS ER R PI INGIE G NAILDNAkPeLrDs’IN rt) ers’ t) BU rpBmUa In (pma ak (par a io rp n E TR G RE EA IN AT NG TH ILDTHE LDI I BU AREAS ACCOMMODATION BU ms CONCERT AREAS LAIDL AW LA IDLSO UTSO AW H UTH DEN DOW DEN DOW From the North: After crossing the Forth Road Bridge, follow signs to M8 and Glasgow. Take slip road marked Edinburgh and City Bypass (A720). Follow Bypass southbound sign. Exit at Dreghorn Junction (Colinton exit). Follow signs for Redford Barracks: Merchiston is opposite these, on the north side of Colinton Road. Edinburgh International Airport is only 15 minute taxi ride from Merchiston, while Airlink 100 express bus service runs every 10 minutes from the airport to Waverley Bridge, next to Waverley Railway Station in the centre of Edinburgh. ROGERSON Bldg. DATES REQUIRED EVANS Bldg. Tel: There is no allocated parking; however, there is pay-and-display parking on Jeffrey Street and Canongate, plus a multi-storey car park on St. LAIDL John’s Hill. Visitors may drop off only on the High AW LA IDL NO AW RTNO H RTH Street outside the Centre. EVANS Bldg. Email: EVANS Bldg. 294 Colinton Road Edinburgh Midlothian EH13 0PU ROGERSON Bldg. A’ FAIGHINN GU MERCHISTON Harp Festival, 10-15 April 2015 ROGERSON Bldg. HOW TO GET TO MERCHISTON Merchiston - Booking Form Mem all H orial EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 / 59 Up VENUE INFORMATION AND ACCESS FIOSRACHADH MUN ÀITE & FAIGHINN ANN Eat and drink Festival Café - an array of meals, snacks and drinks are available daily – the perfect place to eat, drink and chat with friends. Harp store Merchiston There are steps to access Reception, the Memorial Hall and Café. Due to the nature of campus buildings some courses and workshops will have restricted access. A stair climber is available for wheelchair users to access the Memorial Hall – please advise the Box Office when booking. For more details or assistance accessing other areas of the campus, please contact us in advance of the Festival on +44 (0) 131 554 0212 or on +44 (0) 7794 792951 during the festival. Harps may be stored, at the owner’s risk, in the 6A Club (opposite the Theatre Building). Information will be provided at the Festival about access arrangements. All instruments and cases must be clearly named and insured by the owners. EIHF and The Clarsach Society do not accept any responsibility for loss or damage to any personal effects sustained during the Festival. Harp hire A small stock of lever harps are available for hire at the Festival. These are generally intended for those coming from abroad who may have problems in transporting a harp to the Festival. Bookings for harp hire require to be made in advance. Call us on +44(0)131-554 0212 or email [email protected] for more details and bookings. The Theatre is fully accessible. Accessible toilets are located in the adjacent Napier and Robertson buildings. Both buildings are locked at the close of Practice rooms the Harpmakers’ Exhibition each day at 5:30/6:00pm. Practice Rooms are available to participants but must If you require access after this time, please speak be pre-booked at The Clarsach Society Information to a member of our stewarding team. Desk at the Festival Hub in the Main Building. Please advise the Box Office when booking if you require a wheelchair space at one of our events. Accessible accommodation is available on campus – please see previous page on accommodation for booking details. Merchandise Our well-stocked merchandise stall is perfect for browsing. Any profits made go straight back into the Festival. Stewarding Stewards play an important role in the smooth running of the Festival. Volunteer stewards are very The Scottish Storytelling Centre is fully accessible much welcomed! In return for stewarding events and accessible to wheelchair users via the John Knox complimentary vouchers are issued for concerts House. Please advise the Box Office when booking if or workshops (conditions apply). For further details you require a wheelchair space at one of our events. please email: [email protected] Scottish Storytelling Centre Festival team Mary ScottCo-ordinator Douglas Kerr Harpmakers’ Exhibition Isobel Mieras Joint Artistic Adviser Annette Lambourne Lead Steward Patsy Seddon Joint Artistic Adviser John Macleod Gaelic Adviser Michelle Kelly Festival Administrator Mary Macmaster Stage Management Eleanor Marshall Administrative Assistant Anthony SpiersMerchandise Rachel Hair Media and Merchandise Laurina Strachan The Clarsach Society Katie Harrigan Fundraising and Information Desk Sponsorship Sheona UreFinance Stephanie Stewarding and Stage Harrison-BoondManagement 60 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015 Camac’s new 34-string travel harp will be unveiled at the EIHF 2015 “The perfect balance of strength and tone” ? Distributor of Camac harps in the UK and Ireland 116B Pantbach Road, Birchgrove, Cardiff CF14 1UE 00 44 (0)29 2062 0900 www.camacharps.co.uk Book online harpfestival.co.uk Book by phone +44(0)131 473 2000 Book in person or by post Hub Tickets, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE Scottish Charity Number: SC011819 Illustration: Jenny Bowers 62 / EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL HARP FESTIVAL 2015
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