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Karen Marshalsay

@karenclarsach.bsky.social
502 followers 169 following 143 posts

Scottish harper & composer plays in The Cathal McConnell Trio, The Whistlebinkies & solo. Eadarainn a' Chruit : Between Us the Harp CD out 5th September 2025. www.karenmarshalsay.com

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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Newsletter going out tomorrow with details of my October/November online workshops, and round up of the summer among other things, and of course the thank you for reading freebie resource! Sign up here to make sure you get it www.karenmarshalsay.com/newsletter-s...
karenmarshalsay.com
Newsletter sign up — Karen Marshalsay
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I can't believe this London-based landowner is putting the iconic Glenelg to Skye ferry at risk. Support the local community - not millionaire financiers - and save the world famous Glenelg to Skye ferry by joining me and signing the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...
you.38degrees.org.uk
Save the Glenelg - Skye ferry!
This ten minute crossing is famous around the world - and is believed to be the last turntable style ferry anywhere. It's an iconic part of Skye's history, but it's under threat thanks to a wealthy la...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The Whistlebinkies are playing the Edinburgh Fringe tomorrow 6.30pm in St Marks Castle Terrace come along! www.edfringe.com/tickets/what...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I just backed Pibroch Unchained on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/ldc...
kickstarter.com
Pibroch Unchained
Simplifying Gaelic Scotland’s court and martial music from Art style to contextual roots.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Looking forward to this one! Claire Frances MacNeil | Debut Album Fundraising www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/claire-fra...
crowdfunder.co.uk
Claire Frances MacNeil | Debut Album Fundraising
Become a part of my debut album of traditional Gaelic songs by supporting the process. Thigibh còmhla rium!
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Getting more sheet music PDFs up on my website this week - there’s 4 new ones up now and more in the works! payhip.com/KarenMarshal...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
New gut harp arrangements up on my website today! A previously unknown Carolan tune from the Grier ms and one of my old favourites Carrill’s Lament. payhip.com/KarenMarshal...
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Rob Adams @rabjourno.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Thanks to The Arts Desk for this excellent review of Scottish traditional music legends The Whistlebinkies' Scottish Circus adventures with John Cage: shorturl.at/hCmDx (scroll down)
shorturl.at
Classical CDs: Clouds, body parts and algorithms
Sibelius: Symphonies 1-7 Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra/Jukka-Pekka Saraste (Ondine)Violin Concerto, Lemminkäinen Suite Ava Bahari (violin), Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra/Santtu-Matias Rouvali (Alpha...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Looking forward to this research and artistic development project on the bray harp - involving techniques, and repertoire old and new! Follow along to hear more ... www.karenmarshalsay.com/bray-harp
karenmarshalsay.com
Scottish Bray Harp Music — Karen Marshalsay
Scottish bray harp music, a research and development project by leading Scottish traditional harper Karen Marshalsay.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Thanks to Fife Today for the write up of the East Neuk Festival's big project on James Oswald - with workshops in Crail school and culminating in my festival gig on 2nd July in Crail - home of the local boy made good in the 18th century! www.fifetoday.co.uk/whats-on/thi...
fifetoday.co.uk
18th century Fife composer's life and music celebrated at East Neuk Festival
The rags to riches story of Crail born 18th century composer and music publisher, James Oswald, has inspired this year’s East Neuk Festival ‘Big Project’.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Thanks to West End Today for this feature on our Solstice Celebration gig on Sunday at Kelvinside Hillhead Church 7.30pm (tx on door) www.glasgowwestendtoday.scot/music/whistl...
glasgowwestendtoday.scot
Whistlebinkies set to play WestFest
Group is one of the longest-established on Scottish folk scene
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Whistlebinkies in the news ahead of Sunday's Solstice Celebration gig in Glasgow! www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottis...
glasgowtimes.co.uk
Scottish folk legends to mark 60 years with special Glasgow performance
The Whistlebinkies, one of Scotland’s longest-running folk groups, are set to perform at Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church on June 21.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
whatsonglasgow.co.uk/event/177118... Celebrate the Solstice with The Whistlebinkies 7.30pm Kelvinside Hillhead Church tx on the door
whatsonglasgow.co.uk
The Whistlebinkies at Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church, Glasgow West End | What's On Glasgow
Enjoy a performance of traditional Scottish music from The Whistlebinkies, one of Glasgow's longest-running traditional folk groups, at Kelvinside Hillhead Parish Church on Sunday 21st June! What's On...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 14/06/2026
Lovely afternoon playing with Alison Kinnaird for Sunita Staneslow’s harp tour in the grand surroundings of Leith Theatre on Wednesday!
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
The second of my two new wire harp books Popular Trad & Session Tunes arranged for wire players - available on my website as book or PDF www.karenmarshalsay.com/popular-trad...
karenmarshalsay.com
Popular Trad & Session Tunes — Karen Marshalsay
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Two new wire-strung books are now on my website as printed copies or PDFs & the beginners book has a full set of mp3s to listen and play along to! Fixed Position Tunes and exercises for the beginner wire-strung harper www.karenmarshalsay.com/fixed-positi...
karenmarshalsay.com
Popular Trad & Session Tunes — Karen Marshalsay
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
www.robadamsjournalist.com/index.asp Preview of my East Neuk Festival James Oswald gig in my hometown of Crail in July!
robadamsjournalist.com
Rob Adams | Home
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Yes the last print delivery just arrived! My 4th new book of 2026 - think I need a rest now. This one’s for wire harpers wanting to play common trad session tunes. Available at the harp festival in Edinburgh then on my website - PDFs will be available then too
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
New book back from the printer yesterday and will be available from the Harp Festival in Edinburgh this weekend! Very apt as there’s 21 tunes with an Edinburgh connection in it arranged for gut harp - lever or pedal int/adv level. Available from my website as PDF as well as print books next week.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Today’s online workshop explores playing pibroch on harp (I’ll be playing my wire harp but you’re welcome to join in on whatever harp you have!) Come and learn The Little Spree. Workshop materials automatically download. Sign ups available on my website www.karenmarshalsay.com/buy/p/lwirew...
karenmarshalsay.com
Online wire harp workshop with Karen Marshalsay exploring pibroch — Karen Marshalsay
An online wire harp workshops with leading Scottish player Karen Marshalsay on 29th March 2026
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 19/03/2026
Second book announcement for wire harpers! In response to requests I’ll be publishing my arrangements of popular traditional and session tunes in April. 20 tunes to learn and play with others. Info going up on my website today #harp #clarsach #wirestrungharp #traditionalmusic #tradtunes
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Great to have a track played on Celtic Heartbeat on BBC Radio Wales with Frank Hennessy on Sunday - listen in on @bbcsounds to hear Flow Gently Sweet Afton/ Ae Fond Kiss/ Rory Dall’s Port! #harp #clarsach #scottishharp #robertburns #traditionalmusic
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Book launch on Friday 27th March Edinburgh Society of Musicians 5.30 for 6! I’ll be playing some tunes as will Alastair Hardie! Tom will give a short ore concert talk st mg East Neuk Festival gig too. www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/...
fifetoday.co.uk
New book on forgotten Fife composer James Oswald, who may have written God Save The King
A retired Fife journalist has written a biography of the little-known composer from the East Neuk who, it’s been claimed, wrote the music to ‘God Save the King’.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Newsflash! Tunes from the Patrick McDonald Collection Edinburgh International Harp Festival has just been opened up to players of ANY HARP - wire, gut, pedal or whatever - as long as you're interested in playing these tunes Sign up and info here tickets.harpfestival.co.uk/event/5986:4...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Lovely afternoon yesterday in West Lothian sharing some techniques and tunes with wire harpers in person! And the sun shone too ☀️ This was our second workshop with the group meeting up for practice sessions in between times. Get in touch if you fancy coming along to the next one.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
Key Techniques for Harp reprints are here so the books are back in stock online! 😊🎶 www.karenmarshalsay.com/buy/p/key-te...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Very happy to announce that my East Neuk Festival concert, Looking for Oswald, on 2nd July has sold out! James Oswald is Crail’s rags to riches hero who went on to be court composer to George lll. Music from the Caledonian Pocket Companion, which Oswald published in 12 vols in the 18th c.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
Key Techniques for Harp back in print! First published in 2012, but out of print only been available as a PDF for several years. There is a new cover and any resource info has been checked but otherwise it is the same as the previously available edition.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Growing up in a small Ayrshire town, Robert Burns was an early influence on me. I recorded this on my recent CD and I'll be sharing some Burns tunes with my online class Edinburgh International Harp Festival this April tickets.harpfestival.co.uk/event/5986:4... www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnlE...
youtube.com
Burns Set ~ Karen Marshalsay
YouTube video by Karen Marshalsay
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Heads up - there's a newsletter coming out tomorrow if you want to sign up now to make sure you get it in your inbox! (along with a freebie harp resource link too...) www.karenmarshalsay.com/newsletter-s...
karenmarshalsay.com
Newsletter sign up — Karen Marshalsay
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Tickets are going fast (and free!) for Saturday’s library gig - 11am-12noon in McDonald Road Library, Edinburgh. Looking forward to bringing the harps! bit.ly/4kMbJAs
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Wire harp online workshop 22 Feb looking at Uamh an Òir 4-6pm UK time & recorded to watch again. March 29th workshop looking at the pibroch The Little Spree - discount if you sign up for both! www.karenmarshalsay.com/online-harp-...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Delving into the Caledonian Pocket Companion all 12 vols pub by James Oswald from Crail for this concert at the East Neuk Festival 2nd July with trad fiddler/violist Kathryn Nicoll & the great Fife singer Chris Miles. Trad music & trad musicians tx going fast! eastneukfestival.com/events/looki...
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Rob Adams @rabjourno.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Lovely to hear Uamh an Oir from harper Karen Marshalsay's Eadarainn a' Chruit : Between Us the Harp album on Caithream Ciùil on BBC Radio Nan Gaidheal. Karen has just been announced as appearing at East Neuk Festival this summer, celebrating Crail-born James Oswald's contribution to Scottish music.
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Rob Adams @rabjourno.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
It’s #BandcampFriday when the online music company waives its fees in favour of the creators. A great day to buy the music of Karen Marshalsay playing all three Scottish harps karenmarshalsay.bandcamp.com/album/eadarain…
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Rob Adams @rabjourno.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Great to see East Neuk-based harper Karen Marshalsay in the East Neuk Festival. Karen’s concert with singer Chris Miles and fiddler Kathryn Nicoll highlights the contribution to Scottish music of Crail-born James Oswald theqr.co.uk/2026/02/02/eas…
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Rob Adams @rabjourno.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Karen Marshalsay (harp) soundchecking with violist Kathryn Nicoll and Cathal McConnell (flute) for tonight’s concert in The Tron Theatre, Glasgow for Celtic Connections. Starts 7:30pm.
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Rob Adams @rabjourno.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Karen Marshalsay (voice and harp) and Fionnlagh Mac A’Phiocar (voice and small pipes) soundchecking for tonight’s Celtic Connections concert in The Tron Theatre, Glasgow. Starts 7:30pm.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Tonight at the Tron 7.30 we’re playing the whole album live with Alison Kinnaird, Cathal McConnell, Kathryn Nicoll and Fionnlagh Mac A’ Phiocair at Celtic Connections! With special duo, trio and whole band versions of some of the solo album tracks www.celticconnections.com/event/1/kare...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Tonight at the Tron 7.30 we’re playing the whole album live with Alison Kinnaird, Cathal McConnell, Kathryn Nicoll and Fionnlagh Mac A’ Phiocair at Celtic Connections! With special duo, trio and whole band versions of some of the solo album tracks www.celticconnections.com/event/1/kare...
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Eddie McGuire @eddiemcguire1.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
@karenclarsach.bsky.social @karenmca.bsky.social
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Rehearsal snippet adding another harp and viola to a solo track on the album - come and hear this special edition live at Celtic Connections 31st January at the Tron Theatre 7.30pm All 4 harps plus guests Alison Kinnaird, Fionnlagh Mac A’ Phiocair, Cathal McConnell & Kathryn Nicoll #ccfest
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Rehearsal snippet adding another harp and viola to a solo track on the album - come and hear this special edition live at Celtic Connections 31st January at the Tron Theatre 7.30pm All 4 harps plus guests Alison Kinnaird, Fionnlagh Mac A’ Phiocair, Cathal McConnell & Kathryn Nicoll #ccfest
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
It’s getting closer to booking time and full event announcement for the Edinburgh International Harp Festival! Looking forward to performing and teaching this year #harp #clarsach
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
We’re playing my album live @celtic_connections 31st January at the Tron! Eadarainn a’ Chruit : Between Us the Harp listed in the Scotsman’s top 5 folk albums of the year live with all 4 harps & guests Alison Kinnaird, Cathal McConnell, Kathryn Nicoll and Fionnnlagh Mac A’ Phiocair
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 17/01/2026
Happy to announce that I’m now a Harp Column Artist so you can find my digital sheet music there now as well as my own website! There’s 4 originals and one set of arrangements up at the minute but more will be added. harpcolumn.com/music/all-mu...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Out today! And up on my website now as both printed books and PDFs! Haiku On the Shore - a suite of 3 compositions for harp starting with The Grey Heron Stands which was Harps North West JaNEWary offering www.karenmarshalsay.com/haiku-on-the...
karenmarshalsay.com
Haiku On the Shore — Karen Marshalsay
3 new compositions for lever harp at intermediate / advanced level published in January 2026 by Karen Marshalsay, available in print and PDF.
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Listen to Uncle Hugh's Lullaby on the Celtic Connections 2026 playlist! Really looking forward to doing this live on 31st January! open.spotify.com/playlist/4Oc...
open.spotify.com
Celtic Connections 2026
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
Tickets available now for The Whistlebinkies in Glasgow Saturday 24th January 7pm at the G20 Youth Project Maryhill - only £10! www.tickettailor.com/events/g20yo...
tickettailor.com
Buy Tickets – Whistlebinkies – G20 Youth Project
Whistlebinkies – G20 Youth Project, Sat 24 Jan 2026 -  Join us for a musical evening with The Whistlebikies folk group this January. The band features composer and musician Edward McGuire, who was bor...
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Karen Marshalsay @karenclarsach.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Preview of the cover of my new book just off to the printers today! If you’re enjoying learning The Grey Heron Stands with Harps North West's JaNEWary project you might like to add in the other 2 parts of the suite. More info soon or check my website!
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