A warm welcome to the website of the Northumbrian Branch of the Clarsach Society.

When We Meet and How to Find Us

We are a friendly bunch of players who meet on a regular basis. Most of our meetings are held at Stannington Village Hall, Main Street, Stannington, Northumberland NE61 6EL  which has a lovely bright, large room for our Saturday and Wednesday gatherings and a smaller side room for our Tuesday evening group, both with access to the kitchen for that all important social tea/coffee break between playing.

We have lots of playing opportunities on offer for all levels of experience from beginner upwards and also have harps available to hire.

If you are interested in joining us, in order to learn to play, or to continue playing, the Clarsach, click here.

We would love you to join us and if you do, as a member, you will have access to free group tuition co-ordinated by our musical advisor, Janet Bennett. This is generally held on the first Saturday morning of the month at Stannington Village Hall. An easier session for beginner level takes place from 10.00 until coffee time, and after that all-important refreshment break, more advanced playing until 1.00 pm.

Music is available in book form and can be either be borrowed on the day or purchased to take home for later practice.

Harps are available for members to hire on a monthly basis.

Additional meetings are held at Stannington Village Hall during each month – the second Wednesday of the month 10.00 – 1.00 pm is an untutored session, for those who enjoy ensemble playing and want to expand their repertoire. And a further session is held on the third Tuesday of the month in the evening 7.00 – 9.30 pm for those who are unable to make the daytime meetings, which is often used as a practice of the pieces which may be played at local events.

Courses and workshops are held regularly (please visit our What’s On page for further information) and those who wish to, are encouraged to play for local events and organisations in our performing group ‘Harps Northumbria’, seen in action below.

Harps Northumbria

"Harps Northumbria” is a small group of members who enjoy ensemble performance. They practice a pre-decided selection of tunes to play as a group when invited for various functions and charity events during the year. Familiarity with the repertoire is needed and some additional rehearsal times are arranged before a performance. (Many of the tunes are played on the Wednesday and Tuesday meetings). New members are welcome so please ask if you are interested.

 

All our regular events are announced through monthly emails by our Secretary along with any specific unavoidable changes. Come and join in whatever your level of playing, it is all to be enjoyed, and it’s free to Branch members.

History

The Clarsach (Scottish Celtic Harp) is Scotland’s oldest traditional instrument, having preceded the Highland Bagpipes by at least five centuries, the earliest surviving examples from the 15th and 16th centuries of which can be seen at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

The earliest ones were strung with wire, and then eventually with gut, allowing the harp to be played with the pads of the fingers rather than fingernails. ‘Blades’ were subsequently added which meant that individual strings could be altered by a semitone to allow key changes mid-tune or song. These blades then developed into a system of levers which meant for greater accuracy, and which are a familiar feature of the Clarsachs which are in use today. At one time, the Clarsach was viewed principally as a stepping-stone to the much larger pedal harp, although it is now valued as an instrument in its own right, with its own repertoire, and is used widely in both classical and traditional settings.

Comunn na Clarsaich (the Scottish Harp Society) was founded at Dingwall in 1931, and there are now thirteen branches throughout the UK, including the Northumbrian Branch. It was in the early 1960s when the clarsach was recognised as an ideal instrument for accompanying the Northumbrian Smallpipes, and by 1980 a small group of enthusiastic harpers met in each other’s houses to play. The outcome was the official founding of the Northumbrian Branch of Comunn na Clarsaich in 1984, and it now meets regularly in Stannington and is flourishing.

Betty Matthews (Honorary Life member of the Clarsach Society, and Founder member and Life member of Northumbrian branch) giving one of our members some useful advice at a recent workshop.
Betty Matthews (Honorary Life member of the Clarsach Society, and Founder member and Life member of Northumbrian branch) giving one of our members some useful advice at a recent workshop.

We hold WORKSHOP DAYS with visiting tutors several times a year and have an annual joint day with our neighbouring Branch from Edinburgh in the Autumn which is a lovely time to share pieces and play together. These events need to be booked in advance with a small additional charge to cover tutor fees and room hire but are a very reasonable way to develop skills and expand tune repertoire from leading performers.

How to Join Us

As our society is a branch of the nationwide umbrella organisation The Clarsach Society you will need to CLICK HERE to fill in their membership form, selecting Northumbrian Branch Membership as your branch.

Annual membership fees are currently as follows:

Adult £20
Family £25
Concessionary * £10
* 18 years and under, students in full-time education, unwaged, disabled or senior citizens

Members of the Northumbrian Branch of the Clarsach Society

A ‘complete beginners’ workshop is held in January of each year, which is open to all ages, and harps are provided on the day.

Private, professional teaching is also available from a number of tutors from within our membership.

Harp Hire & Tutors

Harp Hire

The hirer must be a member of our Branch. £50 deposit is required and the hire charge for a 34-string Clarsach is £20 per month, and £15 per month for a 31-string Clarsach.

For further information contact Jacqui Deans: jacquimdeans@gmail.com

Local Tutors

Janet Bennett
Email: janetbennettharp@hotmail.com

Jacqui Deans
Email: jacquimdeans@gmail.com

Claire Steel
Email: clairessteel@hotmail.com

Judith Anderson
Email: jud2bandy@gmail.com

Contact Us

For general enquiries please contact our secretary Morag Pugh 07977 014428

Email: clarsachnorthumbria@hotmail.com or fill in the form below:

Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Please type your message.
Taken at an annual Joint meeting with our neighbouring Edinburgh Branch at Bamburgh cricket pavillion

Meet Our Committee Members

Margaret Thompson

Margaret Thompson

Convenor
Morag Pugh

Morag Pugh

Secretary
Di Jevons 911px x 1110px

Di Jevons

Treasurer
Gill Martin

Gill Martin

Membership Secretary
Jan Bennett

Janet Bennett

Music Advisor
Jacqui Deans

Jacqui Deans

Harp Hire Secretary
Clarsach Harp

Veronica Gilbert

Committee
Clarsach Harp

Christine Cowan

Committee

Northumbrian Branch Report 2022-23

Our year started off at Bamburgh with the joint meeting with the Edinburgh Branch. 25 members attended and we had a very enjoyable day.

Our monthly Saturday morning meetings continue to be well attended and are attracting new members. We have two other monthly meetings when we learn new music and rehearse for performances.

Our December meeting is always popular. 22 members attended last Christmas and  we had a happy morning playing Christmas music and enjoying coffee and  mince pies!

We have had two courses this year. Savourna Stevenson visited us in October, followed by Rachel Hair in June. Two very different courses which were very much appreciated.

Harps Northumbria have been out and about playing throughout Northumberland. We joined forces with the Bridge Singers on March 1st to present a selection of music from Wales.

Playing at Felton for the Felton Music Festival is now a regular event. A lady from Exmouth told us we were the best thing she’d ever heard!!

I would like to thank all of the committee for their hard work this year. We have lots to look forward to in the coming year.

Margaret Thompson, Convenor