Annual festival, organised by the Clarsach Society (Comunn na Clàrsaich), that has now been running for over a quarter century. Six days of concerts, jams, workshops (ever wanted yodel?), ceilidhs, and more devoted to harp and related music, from contemporary Celtic to Spanish Baroque.
View 2010 Harp Festival information
The 2009 programme will see what Festival co-ordinator Mary Scott calls "a heady mixture" of 10 concerts, 20 workshops and 35 classes by internationally renowned Scottish players as well as musicians from the USA, Europe and Scandinavia.
The various harp-players' musical influences vary from jazz and South American, to classical pedal harp and early music.
In recognition of Homecoming 2009, Scotland's turbulent history will be told using traditional and original music in "The Sleeping Warrior", a suite composed and conducted by Edinburgh International Harp Festival's Artistic Adviser, Isobel Mieras. The Festival Orchestra with members of na Clarsairean will be joined by the RSAMD Harp Quartet, led by Alina Bzhezhinska.
2009 Harp Fesitval Concerts
Friday 3 April, 7.30 - 10.00 pm
The Festival opens with Wendy Stewart and Gary West combining the two oldest traditional Scottish instruments - harps and bagpipes - alongside Jopie Jonkers and Koen de Cauter playing dazzling Latin American music for harp, voice and guitar.
Saturday 4 April, 7.30 - 10.00 pm
Meinir Heulyn traces the story of the harp in her native Wales and Ireland's Anne-Marie O'Farrell presents an eclectic mix of music from Bach to Carolan.
Sunday 5 April, 3.00 - 4.00 pm
Brandywine Harp Orchestra from Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. This 16 member Celtic Harp Orchestra perform a varied and vibrant concert of music, song, poetry and dance from many musical traditions.
Sunday 5 April, 7.30 - 10.00 pm
In keeping with the international nature of the Festival, Catriona McKay explores the possibilities of the clarsach with Olov Johansson playing the Swedish nyckelharpa while Austria's Monika Stadler uniquely improvises using jazz, classical and world music in her own ingenious way.
Monday 6 April, 3.00 - 4.00 pm
The theme of old and new continues with the voice and harp of Janet Bennett from Northumberland with Bill Taylor's evocative music on historical harps including the Highland wire-strung clairseach.
Monday 6 April, 7 - 8 and 8 - 11 pm
The talented Campbells of Greepe, including the revered singer and teacher Kenna Campbell, harpist and radio presenter Mary Ann Kennedy along with Maggie Macdonald, Wilma Kennedy and Seumas Campbell start off our Family Evening of Music, which continues with a Ceilidh Dance.
Tuesday 7 April, 3.00 - 4.00 pm
Audiences can enjoy afternoon tea with an exciting programme of traditional and contemporary music including Gaelic harp and song by Gillian Fleetwood, Fraya Thomsen (The Duplets) and rising star Calum Macleod.
Tuesday 7 April, 7.30 - 10.00 pm
Internationally renowned Scottish harpers, Mary Macmaster, Patsy Seddon, Corrina Hewat and Maeve Gilchrist are joined by percussionist Donald Hay in Harp Nouveau, a powerful celebration of new music for the small harp.
Wednesday 8 April, 3.00 - 4.00 pm
The Festival Orchestra with members of na Clarsairean will perform "The Sleeping Warrior". They are joined by the RSAMD Harp Quartet, led by their teacher, Alina Bzhezhinska.
Wednesday 8 April, 7.30 - 10.00 pm
The Festival's closing concert brings an opportunity to hear the greatly respected Michael Rooney and June McCormack playing fine traditional Irish music on harp and flute. The concert also features a three way musical conversation between Ailie Robertson playing harp, with Paul Jennings and Ewan Robertson.