Janet Harbison: By Strangford Water

Description

Immerse yourself in the world of the Irish harp with Janet Harbison’s beautiful and very personal album, released in 2020. Each track on the album has a story behind it, included in the sleeve notes. These include “Farewell Joël”, Janet’s tribute to Camac founder Joël Garnier. It was Joël who began designing the harp we made with Janet, which bears her name and which can now be found all over the world.

Joël did not live to see the harp finished. Janet composed this tribute to him “in gratitude for his love, support and generosity.”

Another story is that of Strangford Water itself, the title track of this album. “Strangford is the loch just south of Belfast”, says Janet. “It’s actually a tidal loch full of amazing wildlife, and it’s a protected world nature site. This tune was a gift for the eightieth birthday of my professor at the Institute of Irish Studies. He said that at the age of eighty, he wanted to sit in his chair peacefully and watch the tide ebb and flow, while waiting on the geese in the Spring. So this is about painting a picture of Strangford Loch in sound. It’s gentle water, and full of beauty, fertility and flow.” This piece will be the title track of Janet’s forthcoming album, that should be launched in October.

A book of sheet music is available to accompany this CD.