I recorded a complete CD’s worth of O’Carolan’s harp music in Ewenny Priory, Wales, in August 2008. It’s a wonderful building and after a day’s hard recording and some editing, I made the reluctant decision that the sound wasn’t right. While the recording was great, the building is large and the sound didn’t seem right for this very intimate music.
It’s important that the recorded sound is congruent with the circumstances of Carolan’s work. While he may have played in large halls on his travels through Ireland in the late 1600s and early 1700s, his music was given as a gift to people in return for their hospitality. He is almost certain to have talked about the music and how it related to the people named in the titles of the pieces. While these conversations might be perfectly possible in large spaces, the sound of a large, empty building doesn’t seem right for this music, which (according to tradition) was played last thing at night to the household. So I’ve decided to abandon those recordings and start again.
Drawing by Christine Hiller
I was playing in a small historic house this lunchtime, and someone asked me if she could draw a picture of me as I played. She was there for a couple of hours - and I was hoping to be able to at least see a finished drawing. As it turned out we had a long conversation about the parallels - and differences - between the visual and musical arts. We spoke of the idea of spaces, and of the quality of the room we were playing in - a beautiful old stone property and a place where people felt at ease. Rather than just let me see her picture, she gave me her original drawing as a thank you for the music I played. For me this is an honour and felt more than just a transaction - not just something given in return for something else, but a genuine gift in thanks for the sharing of another gift. I’ll treasure this picture. It seems such an intimate gesture and left me feeling a warmth and connection which I imagine Carolan might have felt too, all those years ago, playing for his guests and enjoying their company, and out of our conversation, and her gesture, it seems right to have decided to abandon my earlier recording and go for a more intimate sound.
So this is my first, new, recording of Carolan’s “Farewell to Music”. I didn’t know this piece a year ago - and it was suggested to me by a YouTube viewer who loved the piece and thought I’d really like it. He was right - it’s become one of my favourites, and I’m very grateful to him for suggesting this piece. Enjoy!