from James Oswald, Caledonian Pocket Companion, c. 1750. ©NLS, by-nc-sa

The Repertory section of this website presents articles and research projects about the music played in the old Gaelic harp tradition.

Overview - an article from 2005, discussing the nature of the old Gaelic harp music. More...

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Genres - a series of short web pages comparing and illustrating the most important genres of old Gaelic music, including song, ceol mor, and liturgical music. Written 2009-10, Includes video clips. More...

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Tunes - A research project starting in 2014, looking at individual tunes from the repertory in turn, discussing sources and influences and stylistic issues. More...

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Sources - This major research project attempts to catalogue and describe the written sources for Gaelic harp repertory from the earliest manuscripts in the 1620s through to the last collectors with any link to the old tradition in the early 19th century. Many of the sources described are presented with tune lists and there are links to online and printed facsimiles or editions where possible. This project was started in 2004, and continues to be updated.

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Recordings - a listing of modern revival recordings featuring Gaelic harp, from 1937 to date, ranging from close interpretations based on the historical sources to free use of elements of the tradition in folk and contemporary music. More...

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Tutor books - a listing of modern method and repertory books for historical Gaelic harp music.

Simon Chadwick