Lily Neill's
The Harp Quarterly - Back-Issues

The Harp Quarterly (THQ) is a subscription-based learning tool aimed specifically toward players of the lever harp.  
THQ was created in 2014 and select back issues are available below for £12.00 per PDF issue.

* Any issues not listed below or available to purchase via this page can be purchased upon request *
If you are interested in subscribing to The Harp Quarterly more information can be found HERE.

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THQ AUTUMN 2014
FOLK MELODIES AND RIFFS
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER)
THQ WINTER 2015
EARLY SCOTTISH MUSIC
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER)
THQ SPRING 2015
SWEDISH POLSKAS
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER)
THQ SUMMER 2015 (11 PAGES)
RAGTIME
​(INTERMEDIATE)
This issue is centered around ragtime music and corresponding technique exercises.
Contains technique exercises and arrangements of the following piece:
“Black and White Rag" (George Botsford)
THQ AUTUMN 2015
ACCOMPANIMENT IN FOLK MUSIC
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
THQ WINTER 2016
LITHUANIAN MELODIES
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
THQ SPRING 2016
ELIZABETHAN REPERTOIRE
​(INTERMEDIATE)
Contains technique exercises and arrangements of the following pieces:
"Come Again" (John Dowland)
"The Earl of Salisbury (Pavane)" (William Byrd)

THQ SUMMER 2016
THOMAS ARNE AND TECHNIQUE
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
THQ AUTUMN 2016 (16 PAGES)
THE MUSIC OF JAMES SCOTT SKINNER
​(INTERMEDIATE)
James Scott Skinner had a profound effect on Scottish music during his life and his legacy arguably continues to shape the way it is performed today.  
There are some technique exercises in this issue that will be helpful in learning the rhythms and overall “dialect” of Skinner’s music, and arrangements of three of his tunes—a strathspey, reel and lament—are also included.
Contains technique exercises and arrangements of the following pieces:
“The Laird O’ Drumblair”
“The Baker”
“Hector the Hero”

£12.00​
THQ WINTER 2017
MIGUEL LLOBET'S CATALAN FOLK SONGS 
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
 THQ SPRING 2017
MODES AND IRISH DANCE TUNES
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
 THQ SUMMER 2017
IRISH DANCE TUNES. - HORNPIPES AND SETDANCES
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
THQ AUTUMN 2017 (20 PAGES)
MUSIC ASSOCIATED WITH WORLD WAR I
​(INTERMEDIATE)
Arrangements and accompanying technique exercises that explore music associated with WWI.
Contains technique exercises and arrangements of the following pieces:
“Move Eastward, Happy Earth” (W. Denis Browne)
“Dear Little Boy of Mine” (Ernest Ball)
"If You Were The Only Girl In The World” (Nat D. Ayer)
THQ WINTER 2018 (17 PAGES)
FINNISH-SWEDISH POLSKAS AND MINUETS
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
This issue explores music from Finland’s west coast, which is influenced by many centuries of shared history and culture with Sweden.
​The Finnish-Swedish relationship is complicated, complex, and enduring—and has yielded wonderful musical exchanges.
Contains technique exercises and arrangements of the following pieces:
“Minuet from Matts Lindbäck”
“Gammelstu Jakas Menuettin”
“Polska from Johan Jansson”
“Strändansin from Vilhelm Björknäs”
“Polska from Severin Strandberg”
“Sparven” from Karl Blomberg
​
£12.00​​
THQ SPRING 2018 (18 PAGES)
AMERICAN CLASSICS
(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
Spanning the late 1700s all the way forward to America’s Civil War and beyond, this Quarterly issue takes a look at four melodies from the United States’ patchwork history.  Those who have made America their home have generated new traditions from the country’s melting pot of cultures.
The four melodies in this issue have contrasting characters and come from different chapters of America’s history. They are now considered American classics, and have been interpreted time and time again. 
The melodies in this issue are used explore ways in which we can individualize interpretations and arrangements, particularly in phrasing and chord choices.
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
"Michael, Row the Boat Ashore”
“Wayfaring Stranger”
“Turkey in the Straw”
“June Apple”

£12.00​
 THQ SUMMER 2017
SPANISH VIHUELA REPERTOIRE
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
THQ AUTUMN 2018 (20 PAGES)
THE MUSIC OF TURLOUGH O’CAROLAN PART I
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
One of the recurring musical requests I’ve received since I began The Harp Quarterly in 2014 has been for arrangements of the music by the celebrated Irish harp player/composer/poet Turlough O’Carolan (1670-1738). Carolan’s music has been arranged and rearranged by players over the centuries who want to interpret it anew and, in this issue, we cast our eyes on some of his lesser-known works. Over 200 compositions can be traced to Carolan and the four pieces included in this issue bear his signature blend of tuneful melodic lines with nods to Irish and Scottish melodies, as well as Baroque music—the popular music of his day.
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
“William Ward”
“Mrs. O’Neill of Carlane”
“Mary O’Neill”
“O’Reilly of Athcarne”

£12.00​
THQ WINTER 2019 (19 PAGES)
THE MUSIC OF TURLOUGH O’CAROLAN PART II
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
This issue looks deeper into some of the music that Turlough O’Carolan composed through his career and at the influence on Carolan of the Baroque composers who were his contemporaries.
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
“One Bottle More”
“Charles O’Conor”
“Colonel Irwin”
“John Jameson”
“James Betagh”​​

​£12.00​
THQ SPRING 2019 (19 PAGES)
TECHNIQUE ISSUE
​(INTERMEDIATE)
The technique exercises in this issue are meant to help iron out underlying issues that we face as we practice, so that the challenges surmounted in the exercises translate to more straightforward learning of actual music. 
There are several different—and sometimes overlapping—themes throughout the exercises in this issue, including: tone and texture, contrary motion, timing and rhythmic stability, and overlapping meters.  These themes will be addressed over several different exercises, often building upon one another.
THQ SUMMER 2019 (20 PAGES)
MUSIC FROM THE LIFE AND WORKS OF THOMAS HARDY (INTERMEDIATE)
This issue looks at music connected with the English poet and writer, Thomas Hardy (1840-1928).  Much of Hardy’s work centers around rural life in Britain’s “West Country”.  Music played a major role in Hardy’s life and features strongly in his stories and poetry; simple yet reflective and joyous melodies belie the bittersweet undertones of some of his greatest works.
This issue delves into repertoire that Hardy himself played—for his own reflection, as well as at dances, church, and social gatherings—and that he refers to in his novels.  
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
“The Break O’ the Day”
“The Banks Of Allan Water”
“Jockey to the Fair”
“Gypsey’s Hornpipe”
“Lord Nelson’s Hornpipe”
“Enrico”
​
£12.00​
THQ AUTUMN 2019 (20 PAGES)
THE MUSIC OF ROBERT SHIPBOY MACADAM
(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
This issue explores the music of Belfast Renaissance-man, Robert Shipboy MacAdam (1808–1895), many of whose compositions are held in the “Beath Collection” in Belfast’s Linen Hall Library.  
Robert Shipboy MacAdam was a preternaturally bright man whose family was involved with the Belfast Irish harp societies.  He was—among many things—an industrialist, antiquarian, linguist, entrepreneur, historian, composer, and collector of music, stories and proverbs.  MacAdam’s life coincides with a small but significant chapter in the history of the Irish harp, and several of his compositions appear to be inspired by the old Irish harp tradition.
Contains arrangements of the following pieces by MacAdam:
“At Perth”, 1867
Planxty, 1869
Jig or Quickstep, 1868
Planxty, 1865
Planxty, 1854
Waltz, 1867

£12.00​
THQ WINTER 2020 (20 PAGES)
ROMANI MELODIES
​(INTERMEDIATE)
The music in this issue spans four Romani melodies.  As you will find, Romani music is a vast umbrella of sprawling styles and musical dialects and, when researching Romani culture and music, one finds an enormous range of facts, fantasy, and contradictions.  Hopefully this issue may inspire you to learn a little more about the music and story of the Romani people. 
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
"Zöld az erdő"
"Borino oro" 
"Keren savorále drom" 
"Mariana" 
​
£12.00​
THQ SPRING 2020 (20 PAGES)
AMERICAN TUNES & RHYTHM/TIMING PRACTICE
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
This issue brings us “back to basics” as we uncover ways to improve rhythm—specifically with our melody-playing hand. The style through which we’ll explore this is music from the United States.  These are time-tested melodies that can be played not only at ferocious, blistering speeds but also in a more laid back manner with a strong emphasis on groove. 
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
"Old Joe Clark" 
"Buffalo Gals" 
"Cripple Creek" 
"Shady Grove" 
"Midnight on the Water" 

£12.00​
THQ SUMMER 2020 (SPECIAL DOUBLE ISSUE - 30 PAGES)
KLEZMER MELODIES
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
This issue explores the music of Jewish communities in Eastern Europe and Russia at the turn of the 19th century. Nowadays this repertoire/style is often referred to as “Klezmer” music, with influences from the Balkans through to the repertoire of the military bands from Imperial Russia and Romani music.  Repertoire that was recorded in the early 20th century—such as that recorded by Belf's Romanian Orchestra (in this instance, “Romanian” implies “Jewish”), the Abe Schwartz, Max Leibowitz, and Harry Kandel orchestras, and notable clarinettists Naftule Brandwein and Dave Tarras—is central to this issue.
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
"Varshaver Freylekhs" 
"Reb Dovidls Nign" 
"Der rebe’s niegele"/AKA "A Yor Nokh Mayn Khasene" 
"Araber Tantz" 
"Nokh a Glezl Vayn"

​£12.00​
THQ AUTUMN 2020 (20 PAGES)
KLEZMER MELODIES PART II
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
This issue continues the summer 2020 theme of Klezmer music, with technique exercises and arrangements of five Klezmer melodies.  It is recommended that you are familiar with THQ summer 2020 issue, as much of the material in this autumn Quarterly builds on it.
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
“Khupe March”
“Bosnian Waltz”
“Yikhes”
“Khsidishe Nigunim Medley”
​
£12.00​
THQ WINTER 2021 (23 PAGES)
MELODIES ASSOCIATED WITH ROBERT BURNS
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
A look at melodies associated with Robert Burns (1759–1796).  Recognized around the globe for his literary achievements, Burns also contributed—gratis, and with great enthusiasm—to James Johnson’s vast collection, the “Scots Musical Museum”, which is still considered one of the greatest printed sources of Scottish songs and melodies. 
Contains arrangements of the following pieces:
"Corn Riggs"
"The De'il's awa' wi' th' Exciseman" 
"The Slave’s Lament"
"Ae Fond Kiss"
"Auld Lang Syne" 
"Anderson, My Jo"

​£12.00​
 THQ SPRING 2021
THE MUSIC OF FRANK HIETALA
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
 THQ SUMMER AND AUTUMN 2021 (DOUBLE ISSUE)
IRISH SLIP JIGS
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
 THQ WINTER 2022
JAMES SCOTT/RAGTIME
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)
 THQ SPRING 2023
FIFE MUSIC FROM THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
​(ADVANCED BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE)