Celebrated local musician Wendy Stewart and four of Scotland’s leading harpers will perform The Song of the Oak and the Ivy at Moniaive and Castle Douglas as part of this year’s Dumfries and Galloway Art Festival.
Wendy, along with Mary Macmaster, Bill Taylor, Heather Downie and Corrina Hewat will use nine different harps between them to a wonderful 45 minute piece.
The Song of the Oak and the Ivy was written in 2011 by Corrina Hewat. Commissioned by the Edinburgh International Harp Festival to celebrate their 30th anniversary and the 80th anniversary of the Clarsach Society.
It premiered at the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, April 2011 and has also been performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, August 2011; Cromarty Arts Trust, September 2011; Victoria Halls, Dunblane, September 2011 (included two days of school workshops); Celtic Connections, Glasgow, January 2012; Lorient Interceltic Festival, Brittany, August 2012;Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival 2013.
The group is currently applying for funding to make a studio recording.
Wendy said: “If you thought you didn’t like harps but love jazz, classical, traditional or any good music, come and have a listen.
“Expect contrapuntal fireworks, tender jazzy waltzes, electric harp storms and homecoming reels.
“Don’t expect your usual harp concert, though the first half will satisfy that need very adequately with Gaelic and Scots song, ancient wire harp pibroch and dance tunes.
“Do come for a truly great concert of clever, clever music.”
The first concert takes place in Castle Douglas Town Hall on Saturday. The second takes place at Glencairn Memorial Institute, Moniaive, on Sunday. Both concerts start at 7.30pm.
Tickets to both concerts are available from the Midsteeple Box Office, Dumfries, tel: 01387 253383.
