O Carolan-Harp & Mandolin

**bjshear** · Jan-13-2012, 10:16am

Hi, I have a good amount of O Carolan music, most of it is duets for violin/mandolin. But I'd really like to find some arrangements for Harp and Mandolin. Does anyone know of any? Thanks!

-Ben

**Mark Robertson-Tessi** · Jan-13-2012, 11:23am

I wrote a simple arrangement of "Mr. O'Connor" for harp and mando. It's a relatively obscure O'C tune, nice minor sound. I'd post it right now, but I think I only have in on paper now, so I'd have to scan it. De Dannan has it on the Mist Covered Mountain album. Also, Daly and Finn playing a version on YT here. If you like the tune, let me know and I'll fire up the scanner this weekend.

Cheers
MRT

**bjshear** · Jan-13-2012, 2:15pm

Sure! I love the minor tunes. I'm sure there are others who would like it as well. So fire up the scanner if you get a chance! I am a lucky guy because I have TWO harp players that I can play with

**xntric** · Jan-13-2012, 4:05pm

Me too, please! My daughter's harp has been gathering dust in the corner; maybe I'll persuade her to try a duet with Dad next time she's home from school. Thanks!

**xntric** · Jan-13-2012, 4:08pm

And Ben, is that the Bridger I was watching at the Mandolin Store recently? Congratulations!

**Randi Gormley** · Jan-13-2012, 6:45pm

Any chance for a copy my way? My daughter's harp is at school right now, but it would be grand to send her a copy so when she's home this summer and it's back in the "music room" we can do a mother-and-daughter thing.

**bjshear** · Jan-13-2012, 8:36pm

Originally Posted by xntric

And Ben, is that the Bridger I was watching at the Mandolin Store recently? Congratulations!

Yes it is

it was too good a deal to pass up, and I'm glad I didn't! It's one very sweet instrument, I feel blessed to have it.

**Mark Robertson-Tessi** · Jan-14-2012, 9:15am

Ended up finding the Finale file on a backup CD. Here it is, enjoy!

Click image for larger version.

Name: MrOConnor-PDF.pdf
Views: 115
Size: 72.4 KB
ID: 80960

Cheers
MRT

**bjshear** · Jan-14-2012, 9:41am

very nice! I look forward to trying it out, thank you so much for taking the time to put it up for us.

**JeffD** · Jan-14-2012, 11:42am

This is of no help, but I share your enthusiasm.

Yesterday I played with a harper, who specialized in O'C and traditional Irish. We played a lot of tunes, just jamming, and she was very intuitive regaring appropriate harmonies and how and when to do a parallel melody. It was really extraordinary. I felt like I wished someone was recording it to transcribe it. She had a real ensemble feel to her playing.

Mandolin and harp make excellent duets. Just wonderful stuff.

**bjshear** · Jan-14-2012, 12:01pm

Originally Posted by JeffD

This is of no help, but I share your enthusiasm.

Yesterday I played with a harper, who specialized in O'C and traditional Irish. We played a lot of tunes, just jamming, and she was very intuitive regaring appropriate harmonies and how and when to do a parallel melody. It was really extraordinary. I felt like I wished someone was recording it to transcribe it. She had a real ensemble feel to her playing.

Mandolin and harp make excellent duets. Just wonderful stuff.

why no help? I play with two harp players. One is very beginner and needs the exact music written out, the other basically can chord and play melody and kinda improvise arpeggios ect. to make it sound good. I wish there was a good book out there that was designed for this type of playing, it is so much fun and it sounds so good!

**Randi Gormley** · Jan-14-2012, 10:59pm

Most excellent! Thanks!

**xntric** · Jan-15-2012, 8:28am

Great stuff! Many thanks, Mark!

**catmandu2** · Jun-12-2012, 11:25am

Originally Posted by bjshear

I wish there was a good book out there that was designed for this type of playing, it is so much fun and it sounds so good!

O'Carolan is my primary focus in music these days. I became immediately enchanted upon first hearing the repertoire on traditional clarsach (wire-strung harp) 25 years ago and have been pursuing this sound since. But since the harp was never at my disposal, I acquired and began arranging the tunes on hammered dulcimer. Since I love the tunes--and since HD is so inconvenient to play out with--I also play the tunes on fiddle, mandos, concertina, boehm flute, and now lever harp--as I finally acquired a harp a couple of months ago. I'm still hoping to someday acquire a wire harp. I used to play the repertoire on guitar--there is a popular publication of collected O'C tunes arranged for guitar that I used. As beautiful as nylon string harp is, this repertoire sounds divine and ethereal on sustaining wire

Since O'Carolan harp tunes are preserved mostly by single-line melodies and the player is more or less free to arrange for the left hand harmonies, it's easy to pick up the melodies by ear and arrange them for your instrument. (If you happen to devote yourself to this, perhaps YOU will compile such a book!)

**Jim Nollman** · Jun-12-2012, 12:49pm

JeffD wrote:

We played a lot of tunes, just jamming, and she was very intuitive regarding appropriate harmonies and how and when to do a parallel melody.

Please give us more detail.

**trebleclef528** · Jun-17-2012, 5:43pm

Originally Posted by bjshear

Hi, I have a good amount of O Carolan music, most of it is duets for violin/mandolin. But I'd really like to find some arrangements for Harp and Mandolin. Does anyone know of any? Thanks!

-Ben

Do you mean O Carolan music for harp and mandolin, or just general music for harp and mandolin?