The Origins of Dangerous Harping

The story has it that Ursula Burns was born on a burning bus in Belfast in 1970. That is not true, however, the songstress's troubled relationship with her home town created enough tension to make her explore the image of the harp in romantic Ireland compared with the reality of her childhood during the troubles.

In 1995 when Ms Burns started to play, the only methods for learning were traditional and classical. But this musician wanted to create her own path. So began an epic journey.

With an artistic vision, she decided to deconstruct the image of the harp through songwriting and innovative performances. Over time, she developed her style of playing. Fusing elements of Paraguayan and Celtic techniques. This resulted in her flamboyant technique with a focus on self-expression. This approach allowed Ursula to play in new musical territories and push the boundaries to where no harp had gone before.

With her wild style, 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. She incorporated 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 burning fire escapes. From black taxis to The Albert Hall. The Palladium, Apollo and every size venue you can imagine. She also played unconventional stages in 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.

The Cloud Truck Theatre

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 artistic exploration, songwriting, performance, comedy and one-woman shows, Ursula Burns demonstrated the instrument's 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 to the modern day. Thanks to the first-ever Belfast Harpers Assemble and the Bunting Manuscripts, Irish 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 focused on 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.

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.

Ursula released seven albums and the full catalogue can be found on Bandcamp.

Bandcamp

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 with producer Dónal O'Connor

The Secret Melodies of Trees was released to great critical acclaim on 11 October 2024 and in the original ethos of The Belfast Bunting Festival, it documents her STYLE and COMPOSITION. You can listen on Spotify but it supports the artist if you purchase the album on Bandcamp!

spotify

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.

Thank you for reading!