Turlough O'Carolan
Turlough O'Carolan , Irish Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin , contemporary pronunciation probably [ ˈtɔɾʲʝəl̪uːx oː ˈkʲaɾuːl̪ɑːnʲ ] (* 1670 in County Meath ; † March 25, 1738 in Ballyfarnon , County Roscommon ), was an Irish composer and harp player .
Life
In 1684 he moved with his family to County Roscommon , where his father, a simple farmer, found a job with Mrs. McDermott Roe. He contracted smallpox at the age of 18 and went blind. Since O'Carolan could not work blind , Mrs. McDermott sponsored him to study the harp for three years. Because of his age, he had difficulties mastering the instrument perfectly and shifted his activity more to composing. His works were influenced by both traditional Irish music and court European baroque music . With over 200 traditional compositions, he is still considered Ireland's greatest national composer . Only one of his songs is written in English.
He created the word Planxty ( plancstaí ) that appeared in his songs back then. The "Planxtys" are musical greetings that stem from the fact that O'Carolan, like all harp players, roamed the country and played his music in various rich households. As a thank you for special kindness, he dedicated thank you songs to the hosts (or ladies) and immortalized them with his music (e.g. Planxty Irwin, Planxty Plunkett, Planxty Fanny Poer, Planxty Burke, Planxty Maggie Brown).
O'Carolan is buried in Keadue Cemetery, County Roscommon, where a harp festival is held annually in July.
reception
More recently, Turlough O'Carolan became among other things the 2011 published novel for young people Saeculum of Ursula Poznanski awareness. In the plot of the book, which actually takes place in the Middle Ages, several of his songs are quoted, including Planxty Drew.
Works
Some well-known compositions by O'Carolan:
- Mrs. Anne Mac Dermott Roe, Princess Royal McDermott
- Welcome
- Farewell to Music ( Slán le Ceol )
- Planxty Lady Wrixon
- Morgan Magan
- All Alive
- Planxty Irvine
- Sídh Beag agus Sídh Mór
- Brighid Crúis
- Eleanor Plunkett
- Carolan's Concerto
literature
- Axel Klein: Carolan, Turlough. In: Ludwig Finscher (Hrsg.): The music in past and present . Second edition, personal section, volume 4 (Camarella - Couture). Bärenreiter / Metzler, Kassel et al. 2000, ISBN 3-7618-1114-4 ( online edition , subscription required for full access)
- Donal O'Sullivan : Carolan, The Life Times and Music of an Irish Harper. Two volumes. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London 1958. New edition in one volume: Ossian, Cork 2001, ISBN 1-900428-71-7 .
- Fiction
- Brian Keenan: Turlough. Novel . Jonathan Cape, London 2000, ISBN 0-224-04151-7 .
- Caiseal Mór: The Bard of the Emerald Isle. Novel. Translated from the English by Michaela Link . Knaur, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-426-62655-1 . (Original edition: Carolan's Concerto. Simon & Schulster, London 2002, ISBN 0-7434-2901-X ).
- Ursula Poznanski: Saeculum. Thriller. Loewe, Bindlach 2011, ISBN 978-3-7855-7028-9 .
Sheet music
- Nikolaus Newerkla : The Music of an Irish Harper. Tunes in arrangements for recorder and piano (harpsichord), Bärenreiter-Verlag, Kassel 2012
- Nikolaus Newerkla: Playford Dances and Carolan Tunes. Tunes in arrangements for recorder and harpsichord, Moeck-Verlag, Celle 2007
Web links
- Sheet music and audio files by Turlough O'Carolan on the International Music Score Library Project
- Gráinne Yeats: Carolan, Turlough. In: Grove Music Online (English; subscription required).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ursula Poznanski: Saeculum. Thriller. Loewe, Bindlach 2011, ISBN 978-3-7855-7028-9 ( limited preview in the Google book search).
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | O'Carolan, Turlough |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ó Cearbhalláin, Toirdhealbhach; Carolan, Turlough |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Irish composer and harpist |
DATE OF BIRTH | 1670 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | County Meath |
DATE OF DEATH | March 25, 1738 |
Place of death | Ballyfarnon , County Roscommon |