11 Carolan’s Concerto - Belfast Harp Orchestra - In Concert 1992

11 Carolan’s Concerto

Carolan’s Concert was first published in Bunting’s 1796 collection.  The story is told that on one occasion Geminiani, who was staying at the house of an Irish nobleman, was challenged by Carolan to a trial of skill. Geminiani had just performed Vivaldi’s fifth violin concerto and Carolan was able to repeat it note for note on his harp. Further, to ensure his applaud, he composed, there and then, the well-known piece ‘Carolan’s Concerto’.