Toad Lane Concerts: Elinor Nicholson harp and clàrsach

Elinor Nicholson at St Mary in the Baum

Two for the price of one: this recital provided the rare treat of hearing live, not just the concert harp, with its 2000 intricate moving parts, but also the simpler clàrsach (Scottish Gaelic for Celtic folk harp). Both proved fascinating and captivating, due to Elinor Nicholson’s skilful playing and friendly engagement with the audience.

The prize-winning Scottish harpist graduated from the RNCM with first-class honours, followed by a master’s with distinction. She also won the RNCM Concerto Competition and was twice a finalist in the Gold Medal competition.

Professionally, Elinor regularly performs with such diverse luminaries as the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and Northern Ballet Sinfonia, as well as Nicola Benedetti, Katherine Jenkins and the rock band Evanescence.

She also belongs to the Polaris Duo (saxophone and harp), Meridiem (flute and harp duo), and the genre-defying harp quartet CLOUDS.

Elinor is passionate about performing music in outreach settings and regularly works for Yehudi Menuhin’s scheme ‘Live Music Now!’ in schools, care homes, hospitals and day centres, including a fellowship year in a special educational needs school.

During Elinor's performance on Wednesday 9 February, the audience were treated to gems from the concert harp repertoire: Romance in A flat by Welsh composer Parish Alvars, the folk song arrangement Watching the Wheat by John Thomas, and the contemporary work Perlau yn y Glaw by Mared Emlyn, along with classical works by Handel, Glinka and Ginastera.

Elinor demonstrated the difference with the clàrsach in Eriskay Love Lilt arranged by Ronald Stevenson and Tickled Pink by Savourna Stevenson.

Closing with a delightful jazzy number ‘Duke’ (as in Ellington) by Bernard Andres, Elinor clearly relished the superb acoustics of St Mary’s as indeed did the audience with this exquisite and enchanting recital.

The award-winning Toad Lane Concerts are every Wednesday at 12.30pm at St Mary in the Baum, Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL16 1DZ. Entrance fee is £6. No refreshments available at the moment, but the venue is Covid-19 compliant. Contact 01706 648872 for further information.

To see the February & March 2022 programme, click here.

Dr Joe Dawson