Abstract
Brian Boydell featured the harp in many of his compositions, including works for Irish harp, pedal harp, voice and Irish harp, chamber ensemble and orchestra. He collaborated with leading Irish harpists, including Gráinne Yeats, Mercedes Bolger, Sheila Larchet Cuthbert, Una O’Donovan, Caitríona Yeats, Denise Kelly and Teresa Lawlor.
His solo work for pedal harp, 'A Pack of Fancies for a Travelling Harper' (1970) is the focus of this lecture-recital. The work was written for Una O’Donovan for a performance at the Dublin Festival of Contemporary Music in January 1971. In five movements, it is written in tribute to the Irish harper and composer, Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). While there is an evocation of the sound world of the ancient music of the harpers and the music of Bach, the work also displays a more experimental character. Extended techniques are integrated in the central movements, including the inventive exploitation of the fingernail buzz described by Boydell as 'the harpist’s nightmare'.
The lecture-recital will consider reception of the work, Boydell’s compositional output for the instrument, his interactions with the exponents of the instrument in Ireland, together with an exploration of his compositional study of the instrument in both its forms: pedal harp and Irish (lever) harp. The lecture will conclude with a complete performance of 'A Pack of Fancies for a Travelling Harper' (1970).
His solo work for pedal harp, 'A Pack of Fancies for a Travelling Harper' (1970) is the focus of this lecture-recital. The work was written for Una O’Donovan for a performance at the Dublin Festival of Contemporary Music in January 1971. In five movements, it is written in tribute to the Irish harper and composer, Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). While there is an evocation of the sound world of the ancient music of the harpers and the music of Bach, the work also displays a more experimental character. Extended techniques are integrated in the central movements, including the inventive exploitation of the fingernail buzz described by Boydell as 'the harpist’s nightmare'.
The lecture-recital will consider reception of the work, Boydell’s compositional output for the instrument, his interactions with the exponents of the instrument in Ireland, together with an exploration of his compositional study of the instrument in both its forms: pedal harp and Irish (lever) harp. The lecture will conclude with a complete performance of 'A Pack of Fancies for a Travelling Harper' (1970).
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
| Event | Brian Boydell Centenary Conference - Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin, Ireland Duration: 23 Jun 2017 → 24 Jun 2017 https://boydell100.wordpress.com/concert/ |
Conference
| Conference | Brian Boydell Centenary Conference |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Ireland |
| City | Dublin |
| Period | 23/06/17 → 24/06/17 |
| Internet address |