Donal O’Sullivan’s biography of Turlough O’Carolan is a priceless record of a remarkable life (Carolan: The Live, Times and Music of an Irish Harper, London: Ossian Publications Ltd., 1958, 2001).
Carolan (1670-1738) is acknowledged as Ireland’s national musician. Blinded at age 18 by smallpox, he took up the harp, with the encouragement of a kind patron, and soon began traveling around Ireland, composing songs, seeking patrons, and entertaining many.
He was a prolific composer. Over 200 of his songs survive today, and O’Sullivan has included them all, with notes and explanations, in his wonderful book. A great many of Carolan’s songs can be heard on YouTube, played by a variety of instrumentalists and groups. I encourage you to listen to as much of it as you can.
Carolan’s music is alternately happy, sad, mysterious, catchy, and loving. It is at all times enjoyable, and especially if one imagines this blind harpist, being led around Ireland by his attendant, arriving to his destinations with glad welcomes and commodious hospitality, and playing long into the night for patrons and their guests.
Many of his tunes stand out as melodies anyone can learn, hum, whistle, and enjoy. Among these are Planxty John Irwin, Planxty Drew, Hewett, Eleanor Plunkett, Fanny Power, O’Carolan’s Concerto, Sheebeg and Sheemore, Captain O’Kane, and Bridget Cruise 4 (all these can be found on YouTube). Many of his tunes lend themselves to singing and could be useful for versifying psalms. I have included an example of Psalm 1 set to a Carolan melody.
Carolan was a Christian, it seems, but he tended to be more earthy than spiritual. He did marry and raise a family, but he loved the drink and carousing with friends. When he died, clergy and laity from both Catholic and Protestant traditions attended his funeral.Carolan challenges and encourages me. He did not allow his handicap to keep him from doing what he believed God had created and called him to do. He is for all of us an inspiration of how determination, faith, and friends can help us achieve a legacy to bless the generations.
