Biographers in Conversation

Nancy Hurrell: The Egan Irish Harp

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In this episode of Biographers in Conversation, Nancy Hurrell, an acclaimed harpist and harp historian, chats with Gabriella about the choices she made while crafting The Egan Irish Harps: Tradition, Patrons and Players. Nancy also plays Carolin’s Concerto on her 1820 Egan Irish Harp.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

  • Why Nancy opened the book with a dramatic scene in 1813 involving the discovery of an ancient Gaelic harp buried in a peat bog.  
  • Nancy’s painstaking research strategy, where her research took her and her incredible discoveries along the way. 
  • Nancy’s portrayal of John Egan, the nineteenth century musical instrument maker who designed and crafted the Egan Irish Harp.  
  • The historical, social and political context in which John Egan invented the Irish Harp and how this was vital to the harp’s success. 
  • How Nancy crafted a vibrant narrative from complex technical and musical  information. 
  • Why Nancy ended The Egan Irish Harps with an epilogue about museum objects of  historical relevance. 

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