Ursula Burns was born in Belfast
The songstress's troubled relationship with her home town created enough tension to make her explore the image of the harp presented in Ireland. The reality of her childhood attending school on the Falls Road, during the troubles versus the romantic image of the harp was a massive contradiction.
In 1995 when Ursula started to play she observed the only methods for learning were traditional and classical.
With an artistic vision, she decided to explore the stereotypical image of the harp. The starting point was to create a hybrid style of playing by fusing elements of Paraguayan and Celtic techniques. This resulted in her unique style with a focus on self-expression. This innovative approach allowed Ursula to play in new musical territories and push the boundaries to where no harp had gone before.
With her wild style of harping, Ursula embarked on a journey that took the harp to unexpected places. She ventured into the realms of circus and theatre, infusing her music with storytelling, composition and performance. Ursula accidentally embraced the world of comedy by winning the Irish Musical Comedy Awards with her song "It Does not Rock" and subsequently developed her modern act. Incorporating harping skills, performance and wit to entertain audiences with her one-woman shows and comedic performances.
The Dangerous Harpist played venues and locations where harps were rarely seen or heard before. From Flee Pits to The Albert Hall, Palladium and Apollo theatres. She played unconventional performance spaces such as yurts, circus tents, and homemade theatres! In 2020, to maintain her self-employed status, she created Ireland's smallest mobile travelling venue The Cloud Truck Theatre, which still tours the UK and Ireland.
Ursula embraced the challenge of bringing her unique musical vision to worldwide audiences. From flying harps to figureheads, she went unconventionally everywhere with her harp.
Through her artistic exploration, songwriting, performance, comedy and one-woman shows, Ursula Burns demonstrated its versatility and adaptability across genres and mediums. Surprisingly, what she discovered had roots in the past.
On her 30th anniversary of breaking all the rules, Burns wanted to tip the hat to the bardic tradition of old. In the 1600s, Elizabeth 1st decreed to
"Hang the Harpers and burn their instruments"
They were considered dangerous! At that moment in Irish history, harping went underground.
In 1792 there was a call out for harpers to assemble in Belfast. Bunting documented the composition, style and repertoire of the remaining harpers, in a bid to save the dwindling art form. His work was pivotal and helped thread the ancient traditional music through to the modern day. Thanks to the first-ever Belfast Harpers Assemble and the Bunting Manuscripts, traditional harp music is thriving today.
In March 2024 for the Imagine, Politics and Ideas Festival, Ursula presented a show entitled How Many Bardic Harpers Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb? A study of what got lost in Ireland's harping history. The show sold out and received a standing ovation. This work explored the bardic harping culture which included elements of entertainment, humour, songwriting, stagecraft, satire, social commentary, history and performance. This was a deep dive into what got lost when the bardic harpers were driven underground in the timescale between 1600 and 1792. Ursula looked at what did NOT emerge at the Bunting festival. How the image and role of the harp changed in society.
Astoundingly, this work uncovered a fresh perspective. Remarkably, Ursula believes it resonates with her work as The Dangerous Harpist. The conclusions draw parallels between Ireland in the 1600s and 2020. How the arts and culture contribute to the social changes and orchestrated agendas. The consequences of cancel culture today and how it impacted her work as The Dangerous Harpist.
With this show, the artist's goal was to communicate the parallels between the history of what Ireland lost in the 1600s and what Ireland is losing today. Her vision was to breathe lost elements of the harp's past practices into today's entertainment culture by using composition, expression and performance. The aim is to re-establish bardic harping. To expand learning pathways of harp to include Bardic Harping alongside Classical and Traditional learning methods. Ursula has been living this work for three decades. Her life's work is an adventure in harp that explores and expands to reclaim lost elements.
To celebrate creating the unique technique that incorporates elements of Celtic and Paraguayan influences and her composition that is both Classical and Folk, Ursula released the critically acclaimed solo harp album The Secret Melodies of Trees on 11 October 2024
Ursula's Umbrella University is releasing a Course for Harp Expansion and Inspiration. Thinking outside the Box.
So you want to be a Dangerous Harpist?
Part 1 (Jan 2025)The flamboyant style and technique through popular tunes.
Sign up on Patreon -Open for registration.
Part 2 (June 2025) Play the melodies from "The Secret Melodies of Trees"
Part 3 (2026)So you want to be a Dangerous Harpist? This course focuses on the business, composition and performance with the harp: Tricks of the Trade: Making your living from harp. To enroll for Part 3 You have to complete Part One or Two.
Each course includes nine teaching videos on Patreon and 2 support lessons on Zoom.
Quotes The Secret Melodies of Trees
1 Charles Smyth Melody Maven FRANCE
this piece marks a significant moment in Burns' impressive career, highlighting her outstanding harp skills in a way that feels both innovative and deeply connected to tradition.
Burns' performance is both complex and fluid, her fingers gracefully navigating the strings with almost supernatural finesse.
What makes "The Secret Melodies of Trees" particularly moving is its ability to evoke feelings without uttering a single word.
this illustrates her bold artistic vision. She marks a triumphant return to her roots, highlighting a talent for mixing contemporary composition and traditional influences. The album highlights not only technical skill but also a deep understanding of the harp as a way to tell stories.
"The Secret Melodies of Trees" is a timeless work that redefines composition for harp.
2 Daniel Records MEXICO
"She captures timeless Irish fragrances, shows a great mastery of introspection and an excellent creative performance....
it is a spectacular experience, the neatness of her work is indispensable at some point in our lives, n this case classical music and Folk are the elements that will make us contemplate a majestic and uplifting colorful canvas.
The Secret Melodies of Trees is a Folk and Classic project that will make a significant change in your spirit...!
3 Rising Artists LOS ANGELES
" The Secret Melodies of Trees,” is a unique and captivating body of art. It demonstrates that music can speak volumes without words, featuring eleven distinctive and dynamic tracks showcasing Burns’ iconic harp playing.
This album is a contemporary composition of the instrument. The angelic sound that Burns creates transcends decades, serving as both comfort to the listener and a captivating way of storytelling–without words, of course.
4 End Sessions MEXICO
A formidable release..... we have loved that its sounds have a classical essence and the magic of the contemporary, it is a timeless mix that will leave you stunned"
"A new word in the harp musical heritage and everyone who loves classical and folk music should listen to this record.
5 INDI DOCK LONDON
There is no doubt that with the release of the solo album of the Belfast harpist Ursula Burns, the possibilities of such an instrument as the harp have been revealed with even greater force"
6 Indi Oclock BRAZIL
"It is sweet and powerful, alive like we have never seen before, it takes us out of our reality, overflowing with talent and quality, it is full of attitude and charisma, delicate, human, divine, a gift to the world."
7 Mike Mineo Obscure Sound UNITED STATES
"a display of the artist’s tremendous talents as a harpist"
"The Secret Melodies of Trees is an immersive achievement from Ursula Burns".
"Complete with intelligent arrangements, exquisite musicianship and magical melodies The Secret Melodies of Trees is an album that will stand the test of time Ursula Burns is a formidable artist who needs to be heard" FV Top Album Picks
8 ALLEN PETERSON REVIEWS
" For those who enjoy the music of Loreena McKennitt, Clannad, or Joji Hirota, Burns’ latest composition is an essential addition to any playlist."
9 IGGY MAG FRANCE
With The Secret Melodies of Trees, Ursula Burns asserts herself as one of the most captivating artists on the contemporary music scene.
This work is distinguished by its deeply intimate approach, but also by the technical mastery of’ Ursula Burns, whose compositions seem to speak an ancient language, that of the elements.
10 Os Gotomos de Liverpool BRAZIL
Linna Santiago 11/07/2024
can be considered as a timeless masterpiece of contemporary music.
Comments