Turlough O'Carolan

Turlough O'Carolan, Irish Ó Toirdhealbhach Cearbhalláin, contemporary debate probably [ tɔɾ ʲ ʝəlu ː ​​o ː k ʲ x ' aru lɑ ː ː n ʲ ] (* 1670 in County Meath, † March 25, 1738 ) was an Irish composer and harpist.

Life

1684 he and his family moved to County Roscommon, where his father, a simple farmer, a job with Mrs. McDermott Roe found. He fell ill with smallpox at the age of 18 and went blind. Since O'Carolan blind could not work, funded Mrs. McDermott him a three-year harp studies. Because of his age he was struggling to master the instrument perfectly, and moved its activities more on composing. His works were influenced both by the traditional Irish music as well as the courtly European Baroque music. Even today he is regarded with more than 200 surviving compositions as Ireland's greatest national composer. From his songs, only one is written in English.

He created the word Planxty that emerged at that time in his songs. The " Planxtys " are musical greetings that stem from the fact that like all O'Carolan harp player moved around the country and in various rich households played his music. As thanks for special kindness he dedicated the hosts (or ladies) songs of thanksgiving and immortalized them as with his music (about Planxty Irwin Planxty Plunkett, Planxty Fanny Poer, Planxty Burke Planxty Maggie Brown).

O'Carolan is buried in the cemetery of Keadue ( County Roscommon ), where in July held a harp festival in his honor every year.

Media

At the present time Turlough O'Carolan became, among other things by the book published in 2011 by Ursula Poznanski Saeculum awareness. In the plot of the book a number of songs to be played by him, including Planxty Drew.

Works

Some well-known compositions of O'Carolan:

• Mrs. Anne Mac Dermott Roe, Princess Royal McDermott
• Welcome
• Farewell to Music
• Planxty Lady Wrixon
• Morgan Magan
• All Alive
• Planxty Irvine
• Sidh Beag agus Sidh Mor
• Brighid Cruis
• Eleanor Plunkett
• Carolan's Concerto