Clairseach journeys into Irish heritage with harp music

There is more to the Irish musical heritage than meets the eye, or rather, makes it to the shelves. The New York-Celtic band "Black 47" is not all that there is when it comes to reinventing Irish music. Clairseach (pronounced KLAR-shuk) is the husband and wife duo, Ann and Charlie Heymann, that will be performing here at Oberlin tonight. The word "clairseach" is the Gaelic word for harp, and specifically refers to the Gaelic harp dating from the Medieval period. The harp has brass strings that were originally meant to be plucked with long fingernails. Because they are made of metal, special damping techniques had to be invented to control the length of the long ringing tones the harp produces.

Ann Heymann should know all about this, as she is one of the leading experts on the Gaelic harp. She has won several harp competitions in Ireland and has performed and lectured all over the world, from Leningrad to Northwestern, and even here at Oberlin. She has developed a technique unique to this instrument, and popular demand gave rise to her 1989 book Secrets of the Gaelic Harp.

Charlie Heymann is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he received a degree in ethnomusicology. He began his musical career with the guitar, and then went on to teach himself the button accordion, cittern, concertina and mando-cello. He started performing in an Irish folk group, the Dayhills Irish Band, with whom he toured for five years, and where he met his wife, Ann, who was also a member.

In 1979, the Heymanns formed their group Clairseach. Since then, they have released two recordings of their music on their own label, Let Erin Remember (1979) and Ann's Harp (1981). The two have toured extensively, performing in 38 of the 50 states, as well as in Western Europe and Taiwan. They have also appeared on National Public Radio programs such as Prairie Home Companion and Thistle and Shamrock, as well as on radio programs abroad.

The Heymanns, in this extensive circuit, are attempting to re-establish the Gaelic harp as a viable modern instrument. The harp was put down in the 18th century when Britain had possession of Ireland. The clairseach was abandoned by the English colonists in favor of other instruments that could modulate in key. The Heymanns have hunted down information on the clairseach and are perpetuating its promotion. The clairseach is more than just an instrument to the Heymanns; it is a part of Irish culture that was nearly lost, and now has a chance to regain its rightful presence in the Gaelic heritage.

As for the music itself, it is widely varied. It is not simply the clairseach that is played, but the cittern, harmonium, wooden flute, tin whistle, the Irish drum (bodhran), bones, concertina, mando-cello, guitar and button-accordion. Charlie Heymann also sings. The repertoire is comprised of both Irish folksongs - jigs and ballads - and original compositions by Ann Heymann for the clairseach. Performances have been described as rousing and toe-tapping, as well as aesthetically pleasing. The music that Clairseach plays comes from all over Ireland and from a timeless past. Songs of 18th-century courtship mingle with those about the present-day conflict in Northern Ireland. The clairseach proves itself to be a very flexible medium of communication, indeed. Celtic music will certainly be revitalized by this re-discovery.

Clairseach will perform tonight at 8 p.m.in the Wilder Main Lounge. Tickets are $4 OCID and $6 others. Sponsored by the Assemblies committee.