Elinor Bennett

Elinor Bennett

An opportunity to listen to music from the 18th and early 19th centuries played on two wonderful old harps, made in the same period. The story begins with the Triple harp, which was developed in Italy during the Baroque period and was played at the Royal Court in London at the time of Handel. With three rows of strings, the triple harp was difficult to play, expensive to string, and was forgotten by harpists in other countries. Paradoxically, it was adopted by the old Welsh harpists, and became the instrument of ordinary people in Wales. The harp played in this programme was made by the famous Triple harp-maker, John Richard of Llanrwst, circa 1755.

The old triple harp was replaced in most European countries  during the late 18th century by  new, beautifully decorated pedal harps from France and Germany, enabling harpists to use their feet to transpose to  many keys easily. The new harps became popular among  fashionable and wealthy ladies of the upper classes in  Europe.  The most renowned  maker was Sebastian Erard, who worked in the Court of  doomed  Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. Erard had to flee to  London  during the French Revolution and opened a workshop in Great Marlborough Street, where my harp was  made in 1807. It was renovated c. 1990  by Morley harps.

The programme includes music by Handel, Blind John Parry, Edward Jones (The King's Bard), Rosetti, Spohr  and contemporaries.

 

"  Having played the modern concert harp professionally for many years, I wish to share the joy of playing music on authentic,  original instruments -  discussing  aspects of playing  two historic harps from my collection.   I relied on the old harps - and music  from their time - to guide me. It has been a revelation -  as the sound and playing techniques are very different  to the modern harp. I  am grateful for  the help  that I have received from  distinguished early music experts and try to follow their advice."

Elinor Bennet

 

 

ARTIST PROFILE

Distinguished harpist Elinor Bennett has been at the forefront of music performance and education and has travelled worldwide giving concerts, recitals and masterclasses.   She studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London with the great harpist,  Osian Ellis and went on to perform with major British orchestras with some of the world’s finest conductors and composers,  including Benjamin Britten, Sir Colin Davis, André Previn. Among the composers who  have dedicated  music to her are Karl Jenkins, John Metcalf, Alun Hoddinott and Paul Mealor.   Elinor was awarded a Churchill Scholarship to travel to Australia to study Music Therapy and was the driving force in establishing the William Mathias Music Centre in Caernarfon, and the Wales International Harp Festival. She has appeared as performer and  jury member in harp festivals and competitions internationally - in Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Thailand and the United States.   She was Director of Harp Studies at Bangor University for many years,  and Visiting Professor of Harp at both the Royal Academy of Music  and the Guildhall School of Music in London. She  was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Music by the University of Wales.  She has made many recordings,  and appeared regularly on music programmes on radio and TV

£12 £10
02/10/25 7:30pm

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Get in Touch...

01685 722176 | swyddfasoar@merthyrtudful.org

Theatr Soar, Canolfan Soar, Pontmorlais, Merthyr Tudful, CF47 8UB

Lisbeth McLean, Prif Swyddog, lis@merthyrtudful.org
Eleri Walters, Swyddog Datblygu, eleri@merthyrtudful.cymru


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