“The Secret Melodies of Trees is a thing of beauty, a cross-fertilisation of Irish and Paraguayan harp styles” - Irish News / Robert McQuillen Interview

Thanks for the interview, Robert!

“In January 1603, an edict of the Lord President and Council of Munster required the marshal of the province to “execute by martial law in and throughout the whole province of Munster all Idle men, sturdie beggers, vagabonds, harpers, Rhymers, bardes...”

So things have never been easy for the harpers of Ireland. They were once members of a powerful bardic caste whose poems and songs consolidated the power of the Gaelic aristocracy, but they were seen to be dangerous and rebellious - adjectives that Belfast harpist Ursula Burns, I’d imagine, would be happy with.”

Read the full interview here: https://www.irishnews.com/entertainment/irish-harpists-have-never-had-it-easy-DBOPBWVUAJA5RKP33A7TDCHDHQ/