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Music Amuses
Did you know that the Prince of Wales has taken England back to the VICTORIAN age by appointing a Royal Harpist? The earliest known Royal Harpist in Great Britain was Robert ap Huw, who served King James I in the fifteenth century. The post was last granted by Queen Victoria to John Thomas in 1871. In 2000 the Prince of Wales revived the ancient royal tradition by appointing Catrin Finch as harpist to his household. Catrin is a native of Wales. At the time of the appointment she was only twenty and a second-year student of a four-year course at London's Royal Academy of Music. Prior to the appointment she had never met the Prince, though she played at his fiftieth birthday party at Buckingham Palace and he congratulated her in a letter. The Welsh harp is considered the national instrument of the country. It is a very important instrument in Welsh culture. The Prince issued the following statement when re-creating the post: "I hope that by re-establishing this position I can not only give support and recognition to a young harpist of ability like Catrin, but that I can help to encourage appreciation of the harp and its importance to Welsh culture and tradition." A Royal Harpist must play for the Prince of Wales about four or five times a year at various functions. A new harpist to the Prince, who must be Welsh and aged between nineteen and twenty-five, will be appointed every two years by a selection committee. Though the appointment was to last only two years, Catrin was reappointed for a second term and served in the post until 2004. Catrin Finch will be the featured soloist in the CCOHK's upcoming Queen of Harps concert. Don't miss the concert!
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