The Harp Of Ireland History book by Grainne Yeats: Harp History Books

The subtitle of this book by Gráinne Yeats is The Belfast Harpers’ Festival, 1792, and the Saving of Ireland’s Harp Music by Edward Bunting. It traces the ancient tradition of harping in Ireland, and sets out the reasons for its gradual decline until the Belfast Festival of 1792. There is a detailed account of the Festival, making use of contemporary sources, as well as a critical discussion of the work of Edward Bunting in writing down the harp music for the first time, thus saving it for posterity. There are chapters on the harper-composers, with particular reference to the greatest of them all, Turlough O'Carolan. Also, biographical details are given for each of the harpers who played at Belfast. 71 pages, paperbound.

Grainne Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland where she nurtured a deep love of both classical and traditional music. As she studied piano, voice, and harp at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, she was also learning traditional songs of the Gaeltacht areas of Ireland. She is credited as one of the first musicians to revive the wire-strung harp and has written extensively about its history and music. Grainne Yeats has recorded many songs and harp solos throughout her career. She has retired from her international concert career, but still coaches in workshops, master classes, courses, and festivals.