Category: Performances

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Somerset 2024 Workshops with Cindy Shelhart

Hey there! I’m looking forward to seeing you in person and online at the Somerset Folk Harp Festival this July. I’ll be teaching 4 workshops.

First, for ALL harpers, there’s a lead sheet arranging workshop called “On the Other Hand,” where we’ll create on-the-go arrangements with lead sheets and accompaniment patterns.

Then, 3 workshops especially for double-strung harps:

  • There’s a session on “Adapting Classical Music for Double-Strung Harp.” (You know it’s not just for pianos anymore, right?)
  • Another workshop, “The Double Effect,” gives you arranging tips and tricks to make your DSH sound more like a double.
  • And in “Pop Goes the Double,” we’ll explore modern sounds that you can add to any double-strung arrangement.

I’ll also be performing on the last day of the festival.

If you still need to register for Somerset, first of all, what are you waiting for? Come join us!

And, if you’re reading/watching this before May 1st, 2024, you can also save $100 on your festival ticket. Go to the festival website at SomersetHarpFest.com to learn more.

Hope to see you there!

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Performance Video: Planxty Drew for Double-Strung Harp (Turlough O’Carolan, arr. Shelhart)

Irish harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738) probably composed this tune for a unknown member of the County Meath-based Drew family. This arrangement is definitely more modern-sounding than O’Carolan’s original!

Filmed at my home studio and posted to YouTube in March 2024.

PS: Want to play it yourself? You can find this O’Carolan arrangement (along with 12 others) in my book Double the O’Carolan Tunes, book 2 in The Double Dozen series (PDF, or PDF/print book package): https://cindyshelhart.com/product/double-the-ocarolan-tunes-pdf/

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Performance Video: Eleanor Plunkett for Double-Strung Harp (Turlough O’Carolan, arr. Shelhart)

Irish harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738) composed this lovely air and its lyrics for Eleanor Plunkett of County Meath, along with tunes for other Plunkett family members. Personal note: This was my very first O’Carolan tune, back in 1986!

Filmed at my home studio and posted to YouTube in March 2024.

PS: Want to play it yourself? You can find this O’Carolan arrangement (along with 12 others) in my book Double the O’Carolan Tunes, book 2 in The Double Dozen series (PDF, or PDF/print book package): https://cindyshelhart.com/product/double-the-ocarolan-tunes-pdf/

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Performance Video: Sir Festus Burke for Double-Strung Harp (Turlough O’Carolan, arr. Shelhart)

Irish harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738) composed tunes for several members of the Burke family from County Galway, including this one for baronet Sir Festus Burke (d. 1730?).

Filmed at my home studio and posted to YouTube in March 2024.

PS: Want to play it yourself? You can find this O’Carolan arrangement (along with 12 others) in my book Double the O’Carolan Tunes, book 2 in The Double Dozen series (PDF, or PDF/print book package): https://cindyshelhart.com/product/double-the-ocarolan-tunes-pdf/

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Performance Video: Colonel John Irwin (aka Planxty Irwin) for Double-Strung Harp (Turlough O’Carolan, arr. Shelhart)

Irish harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738) composed this tune and wrote lyrics in honor of Colonel John Irwin (1680-1752) of County Sligo. Later, Edward Bunting collected this tune and published it as Planxty Irwin.

Filmed at my home studio and posted to YouTube in March 2024.

PS: Want to play it yourself? You can find this O’Carolan arrangement (along with 12 others) in my book Double the O’Carolan Tunes, book 2 in The Double Dozen series (PDF, or PDF/print book package): https://cindyshelhart.com/product/double-the-ocarolan-tunes-pdf/

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Performance Video: Molly’s Return for Double-Strung Harp (Cindy Shelhart)

This original composition was inspired by Mailí Bhán (Fair Molly), one of the first tunes taught to students of the ancient wire-strung harp; hence, this tune became Molly’s “Return.” You’ll hear the brief original tune at the beginning, which I learned from wire-strung expert Ann Heymann’s first tutor, Secrets of the Gaelic Harp .

Filmed at my home studio and posted to YouTube in February 2024.

PS: Want to play it yourself? You can find the sheet music (PDF) for this composition in my webstore: https://cindyshelhart.com/product/mollys-return-pdf/

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Performance Video: Carolan’s Welcome (to the Studio) for Double-Strung Harp (Turlough O’Carolan, arr. Shelhart)

Welcome to my new virtual performance stage! I’m excited to start a new phase of creating and sharing videos from my home harp studio. This is the first video filmed there (February 2024): my arrangement of the tune called “Carolan’s Welcome,” credited to Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738).

PS: Want to play it yourself? You can find this O’Carolan arrangement (along with 12 others) in my book Double the O’Carolan Tunes, book 2 in The Double Dozen series (PDF, or PDF/print book package): https://cindyshelhart.com/product/double-the-ocarolan-tunes-pdf/

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Performance Video: Con Cassidy’s/The Dusty Millar (Trad. Irish/Scottish, arr. Shelhart)

I learned this jig/slip jig set from Altan’s CD The Red Crow. Con Cassidy’s is an Irish tune, while The Dusty Millar is common to both Scottish and Irish traditions, and is related to a Robert Burns song by the same name.

Recorded in April 2021 at St. John’s United Church, Chesterton IN, for the 2021 Gebhard Woods Dulcimer and Traditional Music Festival.

Learn more at http://www.gebharddulcimer.org/.

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Performance Video: The Clergy’s Lamentation/Spagnoletta (att. O’Carolan/att. M. Praetorius, arr. Shelhart)

I think of these tunes as “The Attributed Set.” Very little is known about The Clergy’s Lamentation, which is popularly attributed to Turlough O’Carolan. Spagnoletta is likewise attributed to Michael Praetorius, publisher of the dance tune collection Terpsichore (1601), and composer of the Christmas carol Es ist ein Ros’ (Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming). All origins and arguments aside, they make a great set.

Recorded in April 2021 at St. John’s United Church, Chesterton IN, for the 2021 Gebhard Woods Dulcimer and Traditional Music Festival.

Learn more at http://www.gebharddulcimer.org/.

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Performance Video: Jamaica/Nonesuch (English Country Dances, arr. Shelhart)

This pair of English country dance tunes from the Playford collection has been a favorite of mine for many years. I learned Jamaica from the playing of Boston-based dance band Bare Necessities.

Recorded in April 2021 at St. John’s United Church, Chesterton IN, for the 2021 Gebhard Woods Dulcimer and Traditional Music Festival.

Learn more at http://www.gebharddulcimer.org/.