The Harps of JOHN EGAN(fl )

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1 The Harps of JOHN EGAN(fl ) John Egan was Ireland s leading harp maker in the early 19 th century. In the Regency era, as in the novels of Jane Austen, harp music filled the drawing rooms of London, Dublin and the great country houses. Aristocratic ladies like the Duchess of Richmond played Egan harps, and by 1821 Egan was Harp Maker to His Majesty George IV, with an Egan harp now even in the hands of Princess Augusta, the king s sister. Trained as a smith, the self-taught maker invented new harps in interesting shapes, sizes, and colors with innovative mechanisms of ring stops and ditals. His Portable Irish Harp, a small gut-strung harp decorated with golden shamrocks, was copied by succeeding generations of harp makers as the inspiration for the popular Celtic harp. He also joined the movement to revive the ancient Irish cláirseach, or wirestrung harp, making instruments for the Dublin and Belfast harp societies for poor blind boys to play. Egan harps survive today in museums and private collections. Splendidly decorated, they are important both historically and as works of art. Nancy Hurrell came across an Egan harp in 2002 and discovered little was written about the harp maker. She has now studied countless harps in museums and castles, creating a database of almost one hundred Egan harps worldwide. She continues to assist museums, including the National Museum of Ireland and The National Trust, with information on harps in their collections. Her ground-breaking recording, The Egan Irish Harp, reveals for the first time to listeners, the clear bright sound of harps produced by this historic maker. Nancy s forthcoming monograph on Egan chronicles the period, the players and the impact of Egan s work on Ireland s harp tradition. Published Articles John Egan, New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments, The Celtic revival, Mary McMaster and Nancy Hurrell, in HARP, New Grove Dictionary of Musical Instruments, A DROGHEDA HARP: instrument and icon, History Ireland (Jan/Feb 2013) Thomas Moore s Harp: the Royal Portable Harp of John Egan, in Siobhán Fitzpatrick (ed.), My gentle harp: Moore s Irish Melodies, (Dublin: Royal Irish Academy, 2008). Mythical Beasts to Floral Bouquets, Folk Harp Journal, no. 139 (Summer 2008). A Harp of Erin Rediscovered in the Horniman Museum, Folk Harp Journal, no. 130 (Winter ). Historical Harps: Shamrocks, Roses, and Thistles, Folk Harp Journal, no. 129 (Fall 2005). The Royal Portable Harp, Journal of the Historical Harp Society Vol. XIII No.2 (Spring 2003). A Harp from 19 th century Ireland: the Royal Portable Harp by John Egan, Folk Harp Journal, no. 119 (Spring 2003).

2 Conference Papers & Lectures July 2012, Pre-concert talk, John Egan and the Irish Harp Revival, Birr Castle, IRELAND. May 2012, Golden Shamrocks and Winged Maidens: the Harps of John Egan, AMIS-CIMCIM Meeting, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. July 2011, The Harp of Erin: the divergence of new harp forms and the romantic ancient harp imagery in nineteenth century Ireland, Historical Harp Society Conference, Parsippany, NJ. June 2011, The Belfast School Harps by Egan, Early Gaelic Harp Conference, HHSI and The Boston Conservatory, Boston, MA. July 2010, Sing, sweet harp, some song of ancient days: John Egan and the Irish harp revival, First International Conference of Irish Music and Musicians, University of Durham, ENGLAND. June 2010, John Egan and the Irish Harp Revival, John J. Burns Library, Boston College, Boston, MA. July 2008, Sing, Sweet Harp, Some Song of Ancient Days: Moore s Harp, John Egan and the Irish Harp Revival, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, IRELAND. August 2007, The Irish Harp in the 19 th Century, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA. Press /Interviews 2010 Interview, Boston Irish Reporter August 2009, Interviews on Egan, The New York Times and The Irish Times 2008, RIA, Royal Irish Academy Birr Castle Lecture

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6 News & Events at Birr Castle Demesne 2012 Programme of Events July Sunday July 22 Birr Castle, Harp Concert In this historic concert, the splendid Portable Irish Harp made in 1821 for Lady Alicia Parsons is once again heard. Harpist Nancy Hurrell performs harp music from the period, re-creating the atmosphere of the early nineteenth century music room. The harp, made by John Egan, had been commissioned by Sir Laurence Parsons ( ) for his daughter to play in the newly built Gothic music saloon at Birr Castle. A pre-concert talk, John Egan and the Irish Harp Revival, will be presented by Nancy Hurrell. Nancy is a harpist and harp historian, presenting concerts, workshops and lectures across the US, Canada, Ireland and Britain. As a harp consultant at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, she presents gallery talks and performs on harps in thecollection. Nancy has lectured on Egan at the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin (2008) and at the First International Conference on Irish Music at the University of Durham in England (2010). Classically trained on the pedal harp, Nancy has a Masters Degree in Harp Performance, and she is a faculty member of The Boston Conservatory. In Boston, Nancy has performed for visiting dignitaries and royalty, including Prince Edward and Princess Cristina of Spain. Gates open 19.00hrs Concert starts 19.30hrs Single tickets: 30 Pair of tickets: 55 To include wine and drinks before the concert and during the interval. Evening dress encouraged. Booking essential, tickets purchased from: The Estate Office: estate@birrcastle.com Please note this concert takes place in Birr Castle and provides a wonderful opportunity to view some of the finest rooms in the castle, insluding the saloon, dining room & yellow drawing room.

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12 New Historical Harp CD: THE EGAN IRISH HARP ~ Nancy Hurrell THE NEW INVENTED PORTABLE IRISH HARP possessing great brilliancy and sweetness of Tone - Freeman s Journal, 1819 JOHN EGAN invented the Portable Irish Harp in 1819, and this unique CD is the first ever recording of two hundred year old Egan harps. Nancy Hurrell plays pieces from 19 th century music collections, including traditional Irish tunes and popular art music of the day arranged specifically for the Portable Irish Harp. Egan was Ireland s leading harp maker in the early 1800 s and he became harp maker to the king, George IV. His Portable Irish Harp was copied by succeeding generations of makers and is the model for the modern Celtic harp. Today, most of these rare harps survive in museums and historic houses. The Egan Irish Harp CD re-creates the sounds once heard in Regency music rooms in Dublin and London, in the time of Jane Austen. THE HARPS on the CD: Portable Irish Harp, c.1820 Royal Portable Irish Harp, No. 1938, c.1823 (in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) To order send a check for $18 (includes postage): Nancy Hurrell 82 Parkside Avenue Braintree, MA Or Paypal ($18) to: HurrellHarp@aol.com (Account ID); include your address. NANCY HURRELL is a performer and harp historian in Boston. She is a consultant for the Musical Instrument Collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and teaches at The Boston Conservatory. Nancy has published articles on Egan and presented lectures on the maker in the US, England and Ireland. The CD is produced in connection with an exhibition, Four Centuries of Furnishings, at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin, where a John Egan harp is on display in the 19 th Century Music Room.