Postgraduate Researchers

PhD Research Student - Conservatoire

The Irish Harp Book: A Tutor and Companion by Sheila Larchet Cuthbert: Context, Practice and Impact 

Project abstract :  

This project centres around the seminal pedagogical resource, The Irish Harp Book: A Tutor and Companion by Sheila Larchet Cuthbert, first published in 1975, which informed a particular direction in harp performance and teaching in Ireland that is still vibrant today. Historical, pedagogical, and analytical perspectives and methods reveal the depth and richness of its scope in repertoire and instruction, its wider cultural resonance, and its impact and influence on harp practice in Ireland. The repertoire, technical exercises and studies are analysed and recorded in their entirety for the first time, including works by several of Ireland’s leading composers. This comprehensive, digital collection for the Irish harp continues the ethos and legacy of The Irish Harp Book. This research deepens the understanding and knowledge of art music pedagogical methods, ideologies, and resources in the context of Irish harping. It also impacts and enriches the living tradition of Ireland’s national emblem and instrument. 

Supervisors: Prof. Clíona Doris, Dr. Helen Lawlor 

Funder: Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland under the Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship Programme 

ORCID profile: 0000-0002-4488-6216