Harps Alive | Denis Hempson, the Harper and his Legacy presented by Mark Doherty & Fiona Pengrum

Harps Alive | Denis Hempson, the Harper and his Legacy presented by Mark Doherty & Fiona Pegrum

A look at the legacy of 16th century harper Denis Hempson with Mark Doherty and Fiona Pegrum and performances from Aoibheann Uí Dhoibhlin, The Causeway Ensemble with Phoebe Kelly, Hannah Thompson and Ensemble Director Katy Bustard, Scoil Ruaidhrí Dall Ensemble with Aoife Nig Uiginn, Carra Nic an Bhaird and Ensemble Director Nodlaig Ní Bhrollaigh.

Mussenden Temple (BT51 4RP) Saturday 9 July at 5pm - 8pm.

Tickets £35 (incl. supper buffet) at https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/denis-hempson-the-harper-and-his-legacy-presented-by-m-doherty-f-pegrum-tickets-348353654157

This is a joint project to commemorate the 1792 Harp Assembly.

Denis Hempson: The life, music and times with Mark Doherty and Fiona Pegrum QG.

Aoibheann Devlin will be taking us through Early Harp, Downhill and rendition.

Harp music from the Causeway Harp Ensemble led by Katy Bustard and the Roe Valley Harp School led by Nodlaig Brolly

Refreshments will be provided.

This will be the launch and main event for the Harp Festival celebrating the 230th Belfast Harp Assembly. This event will celebrate the life of Denis Hempson who was lauded as one of the last of the great Irish traditional harpers. The Mussenden Temple is a splendid location which Denis would have known as he played many times in the Downhill Demesne. We will celebrate the life and work of this fascinating local Magilligan man.

Causeway Harp School is based in Portballintrae on the North Coast of Ireland and is led by Katy Bustard. Educated at Queen’s University (BA, MSc), University of Exeter (PGCE) and London College of Music (dipLCM, ALCM), Katy has worked as a teacher for almost 20 years in classroom, one-to-one and group settings. It is her vision to connect her community on the north coast with their unique heritage of the Irish harp and to make learning this beautiful instrument more accessible.

Katy Bustard is delighted to be accompanying some of her young pupils at this event, as they perform music from the Bunting Collection, with a special focus on some of the favourite airs played by Denis Hempsey.

Harps Alive│An Chruit Bheo│Harps Leevin is a major collaborative festival to mark the 230th anniversary of the assembly of harpers in Belfast in 1792 and to celebrate the work of the renowned organist and collector, Edward Bunting, who played such a major part in the preservation of their music. The historic significance of the 1792 Belfast Harpers’ Assembly is not to be underestimated. It was led by the upper echelon of cultural leadership in Belfast, who united to stimulate public interest in what they deemed to be a tradition at risk. Its purpose was to revive an interest in harp music and to collect the music of the harpers and note their style of playing for future generations.