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Copyright
Helen Forder
2004
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The
Harp, by Brinley Richards ...
continued
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page 8
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Another famous harper was
Rory Dall (time of James I). He, however, was of a very different class
from O'Kane. He was a man of good family, and when he travelled in Scotland
"was attended by the retenue of a gentleman
of figure". He has been
immortalised by Sir Walter Scott "as
the most famous harper of the Western Islands", in the Legend of Montrose, where he is
represented as the instructor of Annot Lyle.
In glancing thus briefly at the annals of
harp-playing, our object has been to stir up the Cymry to a higher
appreciation of their national music as expounded by the harp, and to
induce them to cultivate an art so closely connected with their history.
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If Charlemagne deemed it of importance,
for political influence, to write the 'chants populaires' of a nation, it
can hardly be thought less momentous to stir up anew in the Welsh a love
for their music and harp. That harp has, in times past, led them on to
victory in their battles for freedom; it has made their hills to re-echo
with glad songs of contentment in the days of peace. And are its tones now
to cease?
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"Harp of the mountain-land, strike forth again,
As when the foaming Hirlas-horn was crowned,
And warrior hearts beat proudly to thy strain,
And the bright mead at Owain's feast went round;
Strike with the spirit and the power of yore;
Harp of the ancient hills, be heard once more."
~~~~~
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Rhes Ganol
Triple Harp Choir
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