Who is the Scottish Harp Society of America?
The Scottish Harp Society of America, Inc. (SHSA) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the the Scottish harp, the clarsach and its music both ancient and modern. Members of the Society include musicians, harpmakers, and people who simply enjoy listening to the Scottish harp. Membership in the Scottish Harp Society of America is open to all. Yearly dues are $18.00. Membership includes a subscription to the Kilt & Harp, the quarterly journal of SHSA.
The idea for SHSA was conceived in 1980 when Christina Tourin met Herb MacNeil, the founder of the Scottish Clan Society of America. Dr. MacNeal heard Christina playing an Irish program in N.Y.C. After the concert he asked her, "Did you know the Harp was just as much a part of Scottish culture as in Ireland?" She replied, "Yes" and he said, "Well, what are you going to do about it!?" A year later Christina and 2 other people in Vermont signed the necessary paperwork to establish the Scottish Harp Society of America. Beginning in 1982, Christina contacted various artists from Scotland to come to Oberlin, Ohio to share their knowledge in a workshop format. SHSA began the first Scottish Harp Course with 11, moved on to 22 the second year, 33 the third, 44 the fourth, 66 the fifth year and 88 the last year they sponsored the course. The course is now sponsored by the Ohio Scottish Arts School and continues in its success.
Through the year, the Society sponsors performances, presentations, workshops and classes, competitions, and gatherings all over the United States and Canada. The Society is the sanctioning body for the U.S. National Scottish Harp Competition and qualifying regional Scottish harp competitions. The annual U.S. National Scottish Harp Competition includes the National Championship with its prestigious Herbert P. MacNeal Award, along with competition for all ages and category of competitor -- amateur, novice, beginner and juniors.
One of the events held at the early competitions was the "I Always Wanted to Play the Harp" competition. The idea came from by Angus Fallon MacGregor and Dr. MacNeal, who donated a Moser harp for use at those games. Prospective harpers who had never played the harp received group and individual instruction throughout the day of competition. The most promising student was awarded the loan of a Scottish harp for a year.
The harp has been part of Scottish culture since ancient times. Harps and harpers are clearly depicted on stone monuments as early as the ninth century, and appear in art, literature, lore and even financial records right up to the present day. Two of the world's most important surviving historical harps are the Queen Mary Harp, which according to tradition was owned by Mary, Queen of the Scots. The other ancient harp is called the Lamont Harp. The tradition associated with this harp states that it was brought by Lilas Lamont of Argyll to the house of Lude when she married Robertson of Lude around 1460.(1) It has been suggested however, that the Lamont harp actually belonged to Rory dall O'Cahan, an Ulster harp player who died in Scotland circa 1650. Both the Queen Mary harp and the Lamont harp can be seen at the National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh, Scotland.
(1) Rensch, R. The Harp: Its History, Technique and Repertoire. Praeger Publishers: New York, c1969.