Annals of the Irish Harpers (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from Annals of the Irish HarpersIn preparing for publication the "Annals of the Irish Harpers," my constant aim has been to do justice to the memory of Edward Bunting, who rescued from oblivion the last authentic records of ancient Irish Minstrelsy. The honour of this achievement belongs rightly to him and is shared, moreover, by the town of Belfast. Here he listened to the strains of the last minstrels; here, cheered and encouraged by an enthusiastic band of fellow workers, he lived and laboured from childhood till middle age. It is a somewhat remarkable fact that the capital of the Ulster Plantation Colony should have been the scene of such efforts to preserve the relics of the civilisation of native Gaeldom.Edward Buntings collections of Irish music were first brought to my notice by one who is now amongst the most venerable of Belfast citizens, the Bight Hon. Robert Young, P.C. I had then just recently completed my musical studies on the Continent, and had come home to settle in Ireland. It was news to me that this commercial centre had anything to boast of in connection with music.When in course of time I became Hon. Secretary of the Irish Folk-Song Society (founded 1904), Mr Young contributed to our journal an article on Bunting and his work, which awakened great interest. Meantime through the medium of the Feis Ceoil and the Gaelic Revival in Ireland renewed attention was directed to the harp.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com Read more