Clarsach means small harp in Gaelic; it is also known as the Celtic harp. While also played in Ireland, the clarsach is the traditional harp of the Scottish Highlands. The clarsash is a small harp which traditionally was strung with wire (most often brass) but that is not always the case today. It has a triangular design like most harps; the wire is attached to a soundbox which is usually carved from a willow log, it has a curved pillar, and a neck. It is played by the fingernails and produces a sharp ringing sound similar to a piano.In Clan society, being a harpist was an honored profession and Clan chiefs employed harpists or bands to write songs for them. With the decline in the Clan system, the clarsach declined in popularity. However, there has been a resurgence of its popularity since the 1970s; now there are more clarsach players than ever before.
Some of the better known players of the clarsach today are Jo Morrison, Cynthia Cathcart, Phamie Gow and Billy Jackson of the Scottish folk band Ossian.
There is a clarsach society called Comunn na Clarsaich. They promote the playing of the clarsach through local British branches and have organized the yearly Edinburgh International Harp Festival since 1980. The Festival features, among other things, courses in the playing of the harp, concerts, and workshops.
Keeping the playing of traditional instruments of Scotland alive is a great way to keep the history of the country vital and interesting today. Knowing the type of music our ancestors listened to is comforting in a way; it connects us more easily to their lives.
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