Bunting: Ancient Music of Ireland

Ancient Music of Ireland

Title page of Bunting's Ancient Music of Ireland

Ancient Music of Ireland

Ancient Music of Ireland

Title page of Bunting's Ancient Music of Ireland

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Edward Bunting (1773-1843) was a passionate collector of Irish music. He is famous for his transcription of the music of the last of the Old Irish harpers at the Belfast Harpers’ Meeting in 1792. Bunting wrote down the music as the harpists played, and later adjusted it make it suitable for playing on the pianoforte.  

This is the third and final publication by Bunting. His first publication was A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music (1796), and his second was A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland (1809). The three volumes have been reprinted in 1969 and again in 2002.

Bunting’s introduction to The Ancient Music of Ireland contains a history of the Irish harp and biographies of some of the harpers. He also includes some descriptions of their playing techniques by drawing out tables of the fingering used for each hand. A commentary accompanies some of the music. The volume contains numerous scores of music, arranged for the pianoforte.

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