“Janet Harbison’s composition is considered as
important in musical terms as the late Sean O Riada’s works”
IRISH INDEPENDENT
"As Riverdance popularised Irish
dancing and Brendan Voyage brought the uilleann pipes to a wider
public, so the Belfast Harp Orchestra is animating a huge
interest in the Irish harp. And it's almost entirely due to
Janet and her modern mix with tradition...."
THE IRISH NEWS
Although trained in
classical composition, Janet has developed her own style of
original music which is a blend of traditional Irish, classical
and rock music. Her most influential mentors were JS Bach and
Stravinsky, Denis Hempson and Sean O Riada, Sting, Dire
Straights and Kate Bush – all of whom were absorbed into her
very distinctive creative style
that features odd,
innovative and constantly changing or absolutely absent rhythms,
with long and florid or pithy melodies in large formal
structures. For all this 'modernism', the harmony and tonality
are basically simple. The modal nature of Irish music is
maintained - mainly because the diatonically tuned harp can't
easily employ semitones in the course of performance; and the
performers, who are mainly traditional oral musicians, need to
have totally logical and memorable independent parts to
contribute to a complex musical whole.
The unique medium of Irish harps with their illustrious history
and national importance has created a very different kind of
Irish composer in Janet Harbison whose work is reaching an ever
increasing audience of solo harp players, folk and classical
ensembles and a world wide public who are eternally enchanted by
the spirit of the instrument.
Large Scale Unpublished Works:
Colmcille - A Columban Suite (1997)
(Available on CD - click for more info)
Oratorio for Soprano, Chorus and Harp Orchestra; (80 mins)
narrative follows
the life and times of the 6th century Irish saint, including
some of St.Colmcille's own poetry. Also arranged with visual
projections. (Published on BHO CD: Colmcille).
A Christmas Cantata
(1993)
Suite for Soprano, Alto and Baritone solos, full chorus and harp
orchestra (70 mins) 12 old Irish Christmas songs (including 2
Wexford Carols) and 3 original songs in Irish, English and Latin
(some Macoronic). Available on commercial video.
Aifreann d'Arainn
(Mass for Aran, 1983)
Irish mass for voice, harp, piano and traditional instruments
(40 mins), also adapted for RTE film music of "Posadh in Inis
Oirr"
Ulster Symphony
(1994)
(15 mins) for harp ensemble (min.8 parts) with solo fife, lambeg
drum, fiddle
Battle of Alasdair
(1992)
(17 mins) for harp ensemble (min.8 parts) with solos: uilleann
pipes based on the epic harp composition on the death of
Alasdair McDonnell (17th century), Lord of the Isles, at the
Battle of Cnoc na nOs.
(on
BHO 001, Belfast Harp Orchestra 1792-1992)
Many published by Irish Harp Centre Publications
(IHCP)
Click here for the full catalogue of available
scores.
Medium scale works:
Perpetual Movement (1999)
(16 mins) for multiple harps (min.4 parts)
St. John's March (1984) (Solo of
this piece on Wedding Album)
(12 mins) for multiple harps (min.3 parts) originally composed
as harp solo for wedding of Thomas and Anne Donaghy at St.John's
Abbey, Kilkenny
Saoire Samhraidh (1983)
(12 mins) Choral work. Based on the poem by Maire Mhac an tSaoi,
for unaccompanied SSA choir, won Oireachtas prize for new works
for choirs, 1983
Earth Water Wind & Fire (1992)
Recorded on BHO 005 ‘Carillon’ (11 mins) For harp ensemble in 8
parts. IHCP 3003
Bright New Morning
(1995) For harp ensemble in 3 parts with optional
uilleann pipes and other traditional instruments Recorded on
Polygram ‘Celtic Harpestry’ and IHCP O10 ‘A Christmas
Collection’ (7 mins) IHCP 3013
Liurach Padraig – The Deer’s Cry (1979) (Featured
on Live in Downpatrick)
(9 mins) for solo voice and harp, or choir and multiple harps
(on BHO 003, Live in Downpatrick, BHO 008, Prayer) IHCP 4012
Walk on Belfast (1999) Recorded on
Polygram ’Celtic Harpestry’ (7 mins) and IHCP 010 ‘A Christmas
Collection’. Originally titled Walk on Cave Hill, the mountain
overlooking Belfast city IHCP 3014
Laganside (1997)
(7 mins) for harp ensemble in 4 parts; composed for opening of
The Belfast Waterfront Hall
Fanféir an tÚachtaráin
(1999)
(7 mins) for multiple harps (min.3 parts) composed for reopening
of Magee College, Derry. Dedicated to an tÚachtaráin Mary
McAlleese President of Ireland. Also arranged for harp solo
IHCP 4004
Carillon (1992) on BHO 005
‘Carillon’
(7 mins) Composition for multiple harps (min.4 parts), dedicated
to Derek Bell (of the Chieftains) based on the idea of a peal of
bells. Also arranged for harp duo, and harp solo IHCP 3004 (Ens.),
4001 (Solo)
Tribute to O'Neill (1985) on BHO
002, ‘O'Neills Harper’ (6 mins) For harp ensemble in 4 parts;
also arranged as harp solo. IHCP 4009
Mo Mhathairin (1984) on BHO 002,
‘O'Neill's Harper’ (4 mins) Harp Solo Dedicated to Janet's
mother IHCP 4002
Meditation for Absent Friends
(1985) on BHO 006, ‘The Wedding Album’ (4 mins) Dedicated
to Prof. Basil Wilson (RIP) IHCP 4010
Suantrai
(1998) on BHO 007, ‘Colmcille’ with BHO and in
solo version on BHO 008, ‘Prayer’ (4 mins) A Lullaby for the
comforting of Janet's brother and his wife on the death of their
son Daniel. For harp solo. Also arranged for multiple harps (in
3 parts) 3007
Love's Comfort – Love’s Torment
(1991) on ‘Harpestry’
Polygram (4 mins) Composed when homesick on tour in the US 4006
Also hundreds of arrangements and other works. .
Click here for the full catalogue.
