“Although many of the words were unfamiliar, Charis gathered that he sang about a beautiful valley and all the trees and flowers and animals there. I present the scene here as a view into what it might have been like in the ancient world to be in the presence of a master harpist: In the end, both are drawn to each other. In his novel, Taliesin, Stephen Lawhead presents a scene in which Charis is drawn to hear the young man, Taliesin, as he plays the harp. To access the second video in a different way, click here. After listening to this, you can see why a Celtic harp, well-played, accompanied by a poet, could be a powerfully enchanting instrument: Follow this link to hear Mark Harmer playing “Carolan’s Dream”. Turlough O’Carolan was a blind 18 th century harpist, sometimes thought of as the unofficial national composer of Ireland.
Irish harp music all but died out in the 19 th century, but revived in the 20 th. 
The harp was so pervasive as a Celtic musical instrument that it’s featured on the Guinness Brewery label and is a chief symbol of Ireland. It’s unclear when metal strings replaced animal gut strings. Metal strings made for a clearer, louder sound, but also required a strong shoulder and neck. A larger harp, called the clairseach, could have 30 strings. A smaller harp was easily carried and was called a cruit. And their skills did not even earn them status as freemen. Note that pipers, horn players, and jugglers were seated at the corner by the door, beside the mercenaries. So poets and harpists had seats at the table opposite the king. Envoys are placed to the west of him guest-companies after them then poets then harpers.’” ‘The personal surely for the king’s base vassals west of these. “The door faces east, and beside it are the king’s bodyguard of four mercenary soldiers: From The Course of Irish History, by T.W. It describes a seating protocol, with closer proximity to the king and larger portions of meat depending on the guest’s status. Best Seats at the BanquetĬeltic harpers and poets ranked so high in Celtic society that the twelfth century Book of Leinster records an imaginary seating chart of the great banquet hall of Tara as it might have appeared of old. Skill with the harp and poetry automatically classified both as freemen. A chief poet had equal status with a bishop and the ruler of a tuath, or clan. A harpist, accompanied by a poet, held a place of honor in Celtic society, ranking so high they were considered equal with aristocracy. 
Harpists were the most respected musicians of the ancient Celtic world.
Celtic Harpist Celtic Harpers and Celtic Poets Had High Status
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