The Clarsach Society/Comunn na Clàrsaich is delighted to announce the publication of a history of the organisation specially researched and written by musician and ethnomusicologist Dr Stuart Eydmann.
IN GOOD HANDS : The Clarsach Society and the Renaissance of the Scottish Harp was launched at the 2017 Edinburgh International Harp Festival held at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh, from 31 March until 5 April.
Based on extensive archival research, this is the first comprehensive exploration of the clarsach in Scotland in the modern period. The author charts the rediscovery of Scotland’s oldest national instrument by writers and artists of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries before its subsequent adoption by the Celtic Revival and those engaged in the promotion of Gaelic culture. We learn how this lead to the establishment of Comunn na Clàrsaich/The Clarsach Society in 1931, and how the organisation, mainly led by women, ensured that the renaissance of the small harp became one of Scotland’s most enduring and significant cultural achievements of the twentieth century. The activities and growth of the Society are detailed; its current flourishing is celebrated and there is discussion of the future directions and prospects of both the instrument and the organisation.
The author notes:
As a scholar of Scottish music with an interest in the history, use and revival of musical instruments in the modern era, I was delighted and privileged to be given the opportunity to pursue this project to map and share the intriguing story of those dedicated to its promotion of the clarsach and responsible for leading its renaissance. It is hoped that this first exploration of the harp in Scotland in the modern era will prove of value to students, learners and enthusiasts and serve as a base for further research by others. I am sure readers will share my conclusion that the revival of the clarsach is an achievement for which The Clarsach Society and its membership should be very proud.
The text of over 130 pages is illustrated throughout by a unique selection of contemporary photographs.
Copies are available directly from:
The Clarsach Society,
Studio G43,
Out of the Blue Drill Hall,
36 Dalmeny Street,
Edinburgh EH6 8RG.
£12.00 + £2 postage within UK (+£5.50 to Europe).
ISBN 978-1-5272-0729-5