A 192-page book with 52 illustrations, covering the history of the small harp of Ireland: its Celtic origins, its position in the Bardic tradition, as well as its near disappearance over the years and re-emergence in the 20th century. This carefully researched book includes a detailed look at the Irish harp in ancient and medieval times, its use and various forms in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, as well as its widespread influence in present day Celtic and Folk harp movements. Dedicated to the memory of the late Derek Bell, Irish harpist with The Chieftains, this new book is an important contribution to the study of Irish music.

Table of Contents:

• Celtic Origins of the Irish Harp ~ From the 3rd Century BC
• Glimpses of the Ancient Harp ~ In Ireland, the 9th to 15th Centuries
• Harpers, Druids, and the Bardic Tradition ~ Ancient Times to the 17th Century
• The Trinity College Harp and other Treasures ~ Historic Harps Preserved
• Suppression of the Irish ~ Historical Background, the 12th to 17th Centuries
• Turlough O’Carolan ~ Irish Harper-Composer, 1670 to 1738
• The Irish Harp Declines, Endures ~ The 18th and 19th Centuries
• Irish Loss, Survival, and a New Spirit ~ The Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries
• Mid-20th Century Revival of the Irish Harp ~ In Ireland and Around the World
• Performers Inspired by the Irish Harp ~ From the 1950s to the Present Day