Seumas' first solo CD containing a mix of traditional and original songs in Scottish Gaelic as well as traditional dance tunes. Additional musicians featured on this recording include Christine Traxler on fiddle, Colin Isler on cello, Tom Fallat on percussion.
Upcoming Events
20 Nov
7:30pm
2024
Orchestral Debut!
Although I have a bachelor’s degree in classical harp, I’ve never played in an orchestra! No time like the present! I’m playing with Ravenna String Orchestras in their Fall concert.
presented by:
St. Andrew's Church
Seattle, WA
18 Jan
2:00pm
2025
Pender Harbour Music Society Concert
I'll be joined by my longtime music collaborator, Christine Traxler, and a cellist to be named later for an afternoon of sharing the riches of Gaelic music.
presented by:
Pender Harbour Music School
Madeira Park, BC
Discography
Prophecy and Blessing
Seumas was a founding member of Wicked Celts, who were active in the mid 1990s in Seattle. Christine Traxler has continued to collaborate with Seumas on many projects including his first solo CD, Baile Ard.
Current Workshops
Workshop and festival organizers! This is a list of my current topic-oriented workshops. I can also provide group instruction in level-based repertoire and style development in my area of expertise, Scottish Gaelic music.
All levels
Beginning Scottish Gaelic
Harp needed: No
Using the innovative Language Hunters teaching method, participants will be shocked and how much useful, conversational Gaelic they can acquire in just 90 minutes.
Four Great Gaelic Songs for Every Harper
Harp needed: No
In this workshop, participants will learn the melodies, suggested chords, and the words of the refrain to four great Scottish Gaelic songs. Prior attendance at Introduction to Scottish Gaelic For Singing Harpers would be very helpful.
Secrets of Classical Harp Technique
Harp needed: Yes
In the folk harp world we often hear pedal harpists talking about technique, but what does that really mean? In this workshop I teach just the basics of classical harp technique tailored for the folk harper. You'll learn about tone, hand and arm position, how to use a metronome to take your playing to the next level, no matter what level you are at now.
Spilling the Tea on the Sìth
Harp needed: No
In this workshop I share an in depth look at several pieces of literature and other original sources to examine what the intact Gaelic traditional knowledge system tells us about the Other People. It isn't all capes and wings, I'll give away that much!
Intermediate
Common Figures in Dance Tunes
Harp needed: Yes
In this workshop I teach a series of exercises that I developed to help harpers get some of the common melodic figures from Scottish and Irish dance tunes into their fingers. We'll progress slowly from a snail's pace toward performance tempo and see how far we get!
Rocking the Background
Harp needed: Yes
Guitar players can create tremendous energy and flow with the rhythms they strum when they accompany singers and tune players. We can do the same thing with our harps, and in this workshop I'll show you how without ever looking at a note of written music.
Waulking Songs on the Harp
Harp needed: Yes
The Scottish Gaelic song literature boasts several unique song forms; waulking songs among them. In this workshop, participants will learn a few of the traditions around this ancient tradition of wool milling and learn the refrains and melodies of several songs to take back to their harps.
Advanced
Cape Breton Fiddle Tunes on the Harp
Harp needed: Yes
A great source of dance tunes that are playable on the harp is the literature of Cape Breton fiddlers. In this workshop, advanced players will learn several Cape Breton tunes of difference types that Seumas learned from the playing of Wendy MacIsaac.