Turlough O\' Carolan

Turlough O' Carolan (anglicisation of its Irish name: Toirdhealbhach Ó Cearbhalláin ) is one of the last Harpiste S professionals and type-setter of Ireland, born in 1670 close to Nobber (Comté of Meath) and dead on March 25th 1738 in the house of its Mécène Mrs. MacDermott Roe with Alderford (Comté of Roscommon)

Biography

Carolan was not famous for its skill in the toothing-stone, which he learned at 18 years, but for its many musical and poetic compositions. Supported by the rebirth of the Celtic toothing-stone in the years 1970, these melodies are still played today.

Employed at 14 years in the family McDermott Roe and already showing talents of poet, the young man was dealt with by Mrs. McDermott who gave him an education. At 18 years, it becomes blind after having contracted variola. In spite of its handicap, it starts a career of itinerant harpist, trade which it exerted during 50 years until 1738 when it returned to die in the house of his first Masters, McDermott Roe. Have regard to the popularity of death, death-watch lasted 4 days.

Music of Carolan

Musician and poet, Carolan had habit to write the music before the text, in opposition with the usual practice in Ireland. However Carolan estimated that poetry always had precedence of the music. It combined with wonder the two large musical currents of its time, the classical music and the popular music, being let influence by all and sundry. It integrated in its compositions of the elements of Baroque music inspired by Vivaldi and Corelli. It is known that he was a large admiror of Geminiani which he met almost certainly in Dublin at the time one of the stays of the Italian type-setter, in 1734 and in 1737. According to the oral tradition, a contest of composition would have been organized, O' Carolan gaining it with a part which one titrated “ O' Carolan' S Concerto ”, which has concerto of course only the name.

Only one copy of its music remained to us, in the form of a collection of airs comprising only the melody line. One thus does not know how it accompanied or harmonized his compositions. He wrote many airs in homage to his hosts and patrons, whom he named “planxty”. The term was taken again by the Irish group Planxty.

It composed at least 220 airs, of which much is still played today. Its work thus constitutes the most complete collection of music resulting from the oldest traditions harpists.

The man

Carolan was a man considered merry and sociable, liking the jokes and the backgammon. As much of harpists, he liked to drink and was coleric.

Carolan Maria with Mary Maguire and is established in a farm close to Mohill, county of Leitrim. They had 6 girls and a boy. One knows little thing about them. After his death, his/her son published his works in Dublin in 1747 then is established in London as professor of toothing-stone. A section not gone back and not titrated to 23 of its works is preserved at the Library National of Ireland. It is known under the name of " Compositions of Carolan" or " Carolan-Delaney" extract;.

Compositions

Complete listing of works, alphabetically:

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