I wrote this piece after finding a picture of a young boy herding sheep on the Isle of Lewis in around 1961. He looked really happy with his lot even though it was clearly hard work. I wanted to portray that sense of real happiness which comes from doing something you love and so I wrote a Pipe March to show the spring they had in their step.

Herding The Sheep

As part of my Post Graduate studies I got the opportunity to write for and orchestra. In true Elinor Evans fashion I couldnt just write for plain orchestra so I added in the bagpipes. The piece is based upon a simple jig, and it is meant to portray a Highlander setting out on a great quest. 

The Highlander's Quest

This is a tune I wrote for my mother when she married Andrew in January 2014. They first met in 1979 in a local orchestra and
went on an orchestral trip to Brittany together. This tune has a Breton/Welsh feel to it as they are both originally from Wales which is very important to them. I wanted to portray this in the music.

A Single Kiss

Cân Y Lleisoniaid is a traditional Welsh slow air. It is sed to be a family tune that has been passed down through the generations. I made this arrangement after I heard it played by another harper as I thought it was a beautiful tune. 

Cân Y Lleisoniaid

Da Smugglers, is an old traditional tune from Shetland, believed to have been written about smuggling tobacco into Shetland, mostly from France, Holland and Spain. Shetlanders swapped fresh victuals and clothing for tobacco and brandy. Though this tune relates to tobacco, timber from Norway was the item most frequently smuggled, as Shetland has a distinct lack of trees. I found the tune Da Road to Houll in an old book of Tom Anderson tunes and transcriptions. Tom Anderson wrote “Dis tun was written in 1936, whin I came up ta Unst to visit a schoolmaster, friend o’mine. It happened that dat moarnin wis da prizeging an I wis axed ta play at it. I guid fir a walk an da tun cam in me head. Da place I wis walkin wis called Da Houll Road bit I tocht Da Road Ta Houll soonded better.”

Shetland Set

I found this slow air 'The Grey Heron' in the Nineties Collection written by a fellow Edinburgh resident Edith Clark.

Elinor Evans's Album

The Grey Heron

This is a live recording of Deborah Henson-Conants great contemporary harp piece Nataliana. It was recorded during a concert in St Stephens Church in Dublin on the 21st May 2016.

Unknown Album

Nataliana Live

This is a recording of my winning set from the Lorient Trophée Camac de Harpe Celtique, which I won in August 2015, making me the first Scottish player to have won. This set is made up of traditional music, all arranged by myself in their own unique country styles, from Brittany, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man.

Reflections

The Lorient Set

O Mio Babbino Caro (O My Beloved Father) is a soprano aria from Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi. It is sung by Lauretta after arguments between her father Schicchi and the family of Rinuccio, the boy she loves. The family arguments threaten to separate her from Rinuccio.

This recording  is from my Wedding Demo CD, this CD comprises of a selection the most popular pieces that I have been asked to play at recent weddings.

O Mio Babbino Caro

You Raise Me Up was originally composed by Irish-Norwegian duo Secret Garden, but later it was covered by Westlife, which gained the song its popularity. 

This recording is from my Wedding Demo CD. This CD comprises of a couple of the most popular pieces that I have been asked to play at recent weddings.

You Raise Me Up

Morning has Broken is a christian hymn that was first published in 1931. It is a popular hymn to be played/sung at weddings. 

This particular song means a lot to me as it was one of my Grandmothers favourite hymns. 

This recording is from my Wedding Demo CD. This CD comprises of a couple of the most popular pieces that I have been asked to play at recent weddings.

Morning Has Broken

This version of Bach's Prelude BWV 999 was arranged by Irish harper Anne-Marie O'Farrell. I particularly like the chromatic movement in this piece, it is clever the way all the lever changes have been worked out so they all fit in with the piece. I also call it the Emergency Prelude. 

This recording is from my Wedding Demo CD. This CD comprises of a couple of the most popular pieces that I have been asked to play at recent weddings.

Elinor Evans

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