A Harper's Favourites
18 traditional and new tunes arranged for elementary to intermediate gut-strung harp players.
This book features some of Karen’s favourite tunes, along with some of her own compositions. The pieces are arranged for elementary to intermediate gut or lever harp players, with grace notes written in as Karen plays them, and some suggestions for fingering and playing tunes in sets. Stories about the tunes or where Karen got them from give context to the pieces and can help inform repertoire choices and introductions. This varied selection is mostly Scottish with tunes from the Eliza Ross ms., the Straloch lute ms., the Angus Fraser collection, pipe strathspeys, an Irish jig learnt from Cathal McConnell, a Northumbrian air learnt from playing with The Whistlebinkies, a Church of Scotland hymn, and others learnt over the years from various players, sessions and travels.
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CONTENTS
Mühlentahl */ Ravelston Woods */ A’ Fàgail a’ Bhàt’ aig Port Rìgh (Leaving the Boat at Portree) / Bonny at Morn / O C’aite ’m Bheil u Rhúin (Oh, Where are you my Love?) / Fareweel tae Tarwathie / Branle d’ Ecosse / Emma (waltz) / Love Divine All Loves Excelling (hymn: Hyfrydol) / A. A. Cameron’s Strathspey / O’er the Bows to Ballindalloch (strathspey) / The Zoom Fire’s Reel * / Salt Pie Lane * (polka) / The Old Favourite (jig) / A Tune for Bex * / The East Neuk o’ Fife (hornpipe) / Oran nan Spleadh ’s na Fìrinn (The Song of Truths and Hyperboles) / Wo Betyde Thy Wearie Bodie (with variations *)
*composed by Karen Marshalsay
About this music
This is a collection of some of my favourite tunes, much loved pieces which I’ve played for many years along with some more recent additions to my repertoire. They come from various sources such as old manuscripts and collections including the Straloch lute ms., Arbeau’s Orchésiographie, the Eliza Ross ms., and the Angus Fraser Collection; tunes learned from playing with Cathal McConnell (The Old Favourite Jig) and The Whistlebinkies (Bonny at Morn); two pipe strathspeys learned from Dougie Pincock at a Fèis Rois many years ago; a hymn from the Church of Scotland; Gaelic and Scots songs, and other tunes I’ve picked up from players, sessions, and travels over the years. And there’s a few I’ve written myself in there too!
There are some performance notes given overleaf, but above all I hope you enjoy playing these tunes and making them your own.
Karen Marshalsay
Edinburgh 2023