What a wonderful musician who clearly loves music and wants to share the joy that she experiences with us. Excellent. Wonderful smile. The group playing before her, are Excellent. They might learn from this lady that the love of music that they share with us should show in their demeanour. It seems rather dull for them. A smile and a little engagement with us, would lift the performance, bringing us in to share the enjoyment which they surely experience, being excellent musician. This, I hope, will be read in the spirit in which it is intended.
We in Ireland are fortunate that this lady discovered O'Carolan and his music. I enjoyed this performance immensely and also learned a great deal about our musical heritage. Go raibh maith agat. 🙏
Late? Let me tell you about late: I started harp at around 60. I'll never be a virtuoso but I love playing it anyway. People love my simple renditions and don't seem to notice my mistakes. Your video is a joy, too.
I am in awe of O' Carolan's work. I could not help but see that you have such a great passion for the music you play. It is as if you are putting all your whole being into it. Thank you for presenting this extraordinary performance.
Went to Ireland about 6 years ago with a group of Swedish folk music students. A girl on Celtic harp and another on fife played something in a pub we stopped at that I recorded but that hadn't been identified. Overdramatic or not, it 'haunted' me. Was going to try it on guitar but only got so far as working it out on piano. Since Christmas last year it's almost never left my head, day or night. After a lot of trouble I finally learned last month that it's O'Carolan's Eleanor Plunkett. The dude was deadly.
Absolutely beautiful performance. Maija, thank you for the history and back-story while gracefully mesmerizing us with the lovely O'Carolan tunes. All the best!
Maija, Thank you for inviting us into your home while you play music. I was 70 when I seriously considered Irish Traditional Music as a vehicle to learn the mandolin. It is easier to play the melody because my arthritic hands have trouble with chords.
One of the nicest performances of this fave I've heard. I've been working on it for decades and haven't reached this fluency or expressiveness.... so jealous....
This O'Carolan music was so wonderful. It arrived at my house on Easter Sunday, and lifted up my heart in remembrance of all the harp music I've heard in Ireland. I do love those tunes. Thank you so much for sharing them so cheerfully.
This was so lovely. Not only the music, but they way you told O'Carolan's story. A dear friend of mine played lead guitar and I rhythm on all but the first of O'Carolan's pieces. He's going to love this as well.
What a gem of a video. So grateful to know there's someone out there keeping this music alive. Well done Maija. I've passed through nobber without realising O'Carolan was from there. Must stop next time. I see there's a harp festival in his name too.
Yes I often listen to your songs , find them very enjoyable and have heard them played often at the Ren. Faire. Thanks for sharing them again what great memories.🎶❣️😎🎶
I am a huge fan of O'Carolan's music. I love playing some of his pieces on the "Irish" D concert flute or on the fiddle. Often play "O'Carolan's Welcome", but as you, my absolute favorite is O'Carolan's Farewell to Music ! This music goes straight to the heart and the soul, doesn't it ?
Wow! How did they ever record those, especially the last one? He played it and left and that was it. Very fascinating, the way you tell it all! Thank you.
Marvelous Maija! Thank you for sharing your talent and the amazing music and life of O'Carolan with us. We would love to buy your CD's and see your performing. Where could we find information on that? Thank you!
I've recently discovered and fallen in love with Carolan's work, and though I've learned some of his tunes on my mandolin, it's hard to beat the sound of a harp! You play beautifully and I sure look forward to discovering more of his work, thanks.
Lovely, and informative too 👍🏾 I play a lot of O'Carolan and find his music very rewarding, but there aren't a shedload of books about his life, unfortunately . . . 🙏🏽
Toirdhealbhach (Old Irish: Tairdelbach) is a masculine Irish given name. Forms of the name include Tarlach and Traolach. It is often anglicised Turlough. The name ultimately derives from Irish: toirdhealbh "prompting", and originated as a byname meaning "instigator" The Irish name O'Carolan claims descent from the O'Connors in Donegal where "Carlan" (from the Irish "carla" meaning a "wool-comb" and "an" meaning "one who" which roughly translates as "one who combs wool") was in Irish O'Carlain or O'Caireallain
Great! years ago bought collection attributed to him, a trove of treats, tune about his neighbor? "Blind Mary" is one of my favorites. Thanks for renditions and tidbits and keep smiling!
I play in a trio with flute, guitar and cello in nearby NH, and we play most of these tunes. I love your renditions and your stories. Good show, very enjoyable. I'd love to see you perform live. Midcoast? I used to live in Belfast... miss it.
Really great playing and a fascinating video. It was great to hear the stories behind the songs and also to have the H. Purcell song in there aswell. I liked the last song aswell the music is very evocative and well played! Thanks for sharing!
This video is absolutely delightful and highly informative. I have been studying up so I can get back to learning Fanny Powers with my Celtic viola teacher (Mairead Nesbit, some will recognizer her) and I was led to this video...
That was lovely, and it's great to learn a little about O'Carolan. I'm learning the harp and am working on Carolan's Dream, which is a slightly different version of Molly McAplin by Thomas Connellan, from what I understand. O'Carolan loved the tune so much that he played it constantly in his repertoire.
@@paulduffy4585 from what I've read, Molly McAplin was written by Thomas Connellan (or his brother), who were contemporaries of O'Carolan. The story is that O'Carolan loved the tune so much that he added to his own repertoire, and it's been associated with him because of that. I also can't verify (nobody can) if it's true that O'Carolan declared that he wished he'd written that tune because he thought it was so awesome. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Connellan
I think the algorithm brought me here because of all the harp videos I watch but I recognised the name from si bheag si more (not sure if I spelt that right) in the guitarists bible
That is wonderful music, so deftly played and flowing. Thank you! 'Planxty' is most likely an Anglicization of the Gaelic word, 'sláinte,' meaning 'health' in the sense of drinking a toast to the patron's health as a tribute, or in this case, dedicating a song. Traditionally, the Gaelic language was pronounced way back in the throat (like Japanese) making it most confusing to an English-speaking ear, as the Anglicizations of Irish surnames amply show. Turlough O'Carolan's name was actually 'Torbheallach O'Cearbhalláin.' Try pronouncing that one from the back of the throat! The sounds of 'L' and 'R' were not particularly distinct, and could easily be heard as the other, and it was similar for the sounds of 'P' which could be heard as 'C' or 'Q,' and vice versa. For similar reasons, the 'S' sound of 'sláinte' might be taken for a soft 'P' sound. There are tunes, notably Hulet's Health, which show the original intention of the titles.
