Rachel Hair takes Manx harp music to the USA
03 Sep 2014
Rachel Hair takes Manx harp music to the USA – report
I was thrilled to be invited to perform and teach at the "Somerset Folk Harp Festival" in New Jersey, USA. It's the biggest gathering of folk harpers in the Americas, so it was an honour to be one of only 3 European harpers invited to attend this year.
The festival this year had a real "Celtic" element to it as they had courses in Irish, Scottish, Breton, Cornish music, and thanks to my attendance, Manx music. As soon as I arrived I realised people were hungry for Manx music. Many had come across Charles Guard’s playing and book, and this had led them to want to know more.
For years, the festival has had workshops in Irish, Scottish and Breton harp, but this was the first time that there was a course in music of the Isle of Man. As a result, within 20 minutes of the opening concert finishing, all 20 copies of my Manx harp book "Claasagh" were snapped up, and I had a class of 26 the next day for my first workshop in Manx harp.
I had two Manx harp workshops over the festival weekend, but later in the week I managed to teach a further two Manx harp workshops in Vermont and Connecticut in Manx music during my travels. This means that around 80 people have learnt some Manx tunes and have also learnt a little more about Manx music, culture, and the island itself, that we all love. I was grateful to Culture Vannin for supplying me with lots of "I love Manx music" badges and I also brought over several tubs of Manx Knobs meaning people came away with lots of goodies as well as new tunes from the workshops.
While at the Somerset Folk Harp festival I also managed to have a natter with fellow Manx music enthusiast and mountain dulcimer player, Carol Walker.
It's always great to connect with people over the pond!
"The educational history of the island and the music of the island makes the tunes come to life. I feel I own a little piece of the island now. Thank you! " - Somerset Folk Harp Festival attendee
* PHOTO* Thanks to the August edition of KMJ, Carol Walker, author of “Tailless Tunes”, read that Rachel was teaching at this festival just 10 minutes away from her house in New Jersey. Carol jumped in the car and went to meet her!!
It’s a small world!!
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