Performance Practice Tunes Resources Harps Links
The links are to MIDI files of the named tunes. Please note that MIDI files give only an approximation of performance.
Irish Tunes
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Scottish Tunes
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| "Lament of Deirdre for the Sons
of Usneach" as given by Bunting associated with the Fenian cycle Derek Bell considers this to be the "oldest extant piece of Irish music" (liner notes, The Chieftains: The Celtic Harp) The words to Saint Patrick's Lorica were set to this tune, producing the hymn known as "Saint Patrick's Breastplate."
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"Da Miche Manum" / "Da Mihi Manum" /
"Tabhair dom do lamh" / "Give Me Your Hand" by Ruairi Dall O'Cathain, c. 1570-c.1650, Irish harper who emigrated to Scotland. James I/VI sent for O'Cathain due to the popularity of this tune. Appears in the Wemyss Lute Book, 1644 and other Scottish manuscripts. Dated in the Bunting collection to about 1603. Note that the tune is pentatonic until the final phrase. The mixolydian seventh appears four measures from the end, while the fourth does not appear until the final measure.
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| "Feaghan Geleash" or
"Try If It Is in Tune" as given by Bunting played by Hempson as a prelude to Scott's Lamentation
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"Port Rorie Dall" /
"Port Ballangowne" by Ruairi Dall O'Cathain appears in the Skene M.S. (c.1615-1625), Straloch M.S. (1627-29), and others. Note the delayed entrance of the fourth scale degree. |
| "Cumha Caoine an Albanaigh"
or "Scott's Lamentation" by John Scott, "contemporary with O'Cathain" composed in 1599 theme only, from the Bunting collection collected from Denis Hempson, 1695-1807, as he learned it from Bridget O'Cahan in about 1707.
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| "Cumha an Devenish" by John Scott, composed 1603 |
Welsh Tunes
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| "Give Me Your Hand" - see "Da Mihi Manum" in Scottish tunes |
in-progress possible interpretation of Gosteg Dafydd Athro first tune in the ap Huw manuscript
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| in-progress possible interpretation of Mac y Mwn Hir clymmau cytgerdd from the Penlyn section of the ap Huw manuscript
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| Marwnad yr Ehedydd traditional Welsh, associated with Owen Glyndwr (please contact me if you have more information) |
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This site is intended as a guide for individuals who wish to play the Celtic harp in the context of the Society for Creative Anachronism. It is not an official site of the Society and does not delineate SCA policy. This page was created and is maintained by Patricia
Vivien Yarrow, known in the SCA as Mistress Vivien o Caer Blaiddiau. Please contact
me if you have questions or comments at This page was last updated on 05/03/99. |
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