A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland (1796): Including 77 Airs, Songs, and the Original Remarks on the Irish Harp

First published in 1796, this landmark volume marks the beginning of Edward Bunting’s lifelong effort to preserve the ancient harp music of Ireland. Issued by Clementi & Co. of London, this edition contains seventy-seven airs collected from the surviving harpers of the eighteenth century, along with Bunting’s early observations on the Irish harp, traditional performance practice, and the 1792 Belfast Harp Festival.This edition has been carefully restored from an original copy of the Clementi engraved publication, preserving the ornate title page, harp illustration, and engraved musical plates while improving clarity for modern readers and performers.Features include:High-quality restoration of the 1796 engraved pagesAll 77 original tunesBunting’s introductory and lengthy essay on the Irish harpLyrics and notes as they appeared in the first editionA vital volume for musicians, historians, and anyone interested in the heritage of Irish traditional music, presented here in an accessible, faithful reproduction.Suitable for piano, harp, and any melody instrument (tin whistle, fiddle, etc) Read more