The tune of Caitlín Triall is known in the living tradition, both as an instrumental air and as a song. There are other related or similar tunes to this in the tradition, known by other song titles. 

The version of the tune that we will be learning in this class was collected from the harper Hugh Higgins by Edward Bunting, probably in 1792. Bunting's hand-written field transcription is not entirely clear, which leaves it open to interpretation. Bunting's published piano arrangement bears little resemblance to the manuscript, and likely comes from a different source. I have recently come back to Caitlín Triall. Since I worked on it previously, I have developed and consolidated the system of harp fingering, and gained a deeper understanding of the harmonic structure of Irish harp music, and my new setting is informed by these developments.

(part 1 of a two-part session)