Rob Adams Journalist

Leading Scottish harper Karen Marshalsay releases the Yule Log Polka
as a digital single on Monday 1st December to celebrate Christmas and
share the exciting news that her latest album, Eadarainn a’ Chruit ;
Between Us the Harp will feature in a concert at Celtic Connections in
Glasgow in January.

The opening track from Eadarainn a’ Chruit : Between Us the Harp, the Yule Log Polka was written during Lockdown for a Winter Solstice concert live from Karen’s kitchen. “I love the idea of the Yule Log burning down, bringing merriment and light and laughter to the dark nights of winter and symbolising the return of the sun,” says Karen. “And the modern chocolate cake version is pretty good too!”

Eadarainn a’ Chruit : Between Us the Harp celebrates connections between the Scots, Scottish Gaelic and Irish musical traditions and although the Yule Log Polka is a solo harp performance, the album features guest appearances from leading figures in traditional music.

Irish music legend and the sole surviving founding-member of the world-renowned Boys of the Lough, singer and flautist Cathal McConnell, Scottish harp doyenne Alison Kinnaird, master piper and Gaelic singer Allan MacDonald and fiddler-violist Kathryn Nicoll all feature on the album and will appear with Karen at the Celtic Connections concert at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow on Saturday 31st January.

The follow-up to Karen’s 2019 release, The Road to Kennaicraig, Eadarainn a’ Chruit : Between Us the Harp has been described as “a statement of tradition” (Music News Scotland).

Comprised of traditional tunes and songs and original tunes composed in the traditional style, it also showcases the three distinctly different harps associated with Scottish music: the modern lever harp, the wire-strung clarsach of the Gaels and the buzzing bray harp from the renaissance and baroque periods.

“Having recorded a solo album in The Road to Kennacraig, I wanted the second one to reinforce the musical partnerships that have been such an important part of my musical journey,” says Karen. “I’ve always enjoyed playing with Alison, Allan, Cathal and Kathryn, as well as playing solo concerts, and their contributions enrich the music on the album just as their friendship and musicality have enriched my experience.”

The Yule Log Polka is paired with Planxty Luchóg Beag, a tune that Karen wrote for a mouse that appeared at a harpmaker’s exhibition where she was trying out what became her new main instrument, a Harrington harp.

“It kept scurrying out to see what was going on, have a wee dance and disappear again,” says Karen. “So I thought it deserved a tune and Planxty Luchóg Beag seemed to sit well with the Yule Log Polka.”

Eadarainn a’ Chruit : Between Us the Harp is released on Cramasie Records and is available from Bandcamp.