Biography
Chris Caswell is one of the finest performers and builders of the Celtic harp today.
There is a spontaneous flow to Chris’s concerts. The structure grows out of what is alive in him together with the atmosphere shared with his audience. In his “Quest for the Celtic Harp,” the listener may experience a trip into history, or into different cultures, or simply a light-hearted celebration of tunes and anecdotes.
The beauty of an evening with Chris develops in the moment. That naturalness is a necessary element; an ever-evolving part of his art form, the underlying aim of which is to move us out of our expectations towards a direct experience of music.
Chris is a raconteur, knowledgeable historian, and musicologist. His performances cast a bright spell through the music and his obvious delight in playing. His music is infused by his Welsh heritage, the world traditions of Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.
Growing up in the Scottish pipe band milieu, he began playing the harp in Scotland in 1971. In 1976, Chris was became the first person after Alan Stivell to record and tour with the ancient Celtic harp as part of Robin Williamson and His Merry Band. In 1980 he formed Caswell Carnahan with Danny Carnahan (Wake the Dead). He has since toured with Bonny Rideout's nationally acclaimed Scottish Christmas show andbeen a featured artist at Live from the National Geographic. He has recently been a guest performer with the Chieftains as well a number of regional folk festivals.
A seminal presence in the American Celtic music explosion of the 1970s, he studied pipes with Donald MacPherson at the College of Piping in Glasgow and later with Donald Shaw Ramsay. In the early '70s he studied harp with Allison Kinnaird in Edinburgh, and worked with English folklorist Peter Kennedy. He was a music composition major in college and continued his studies with William Allaudin Mathieu.
In the past thirty-five years, Chris has built over 1000 harps for musicians around the world. Caswell Harps are considered among the finest available and are known for their blend of tradition, craftsmanship and innovative technical design.
Between his own playing, touring and harp building, Chris has found time to teach. Currently he teaches privately in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as offering workshops as an entertaining and educational adjunct to his concert appearances. A natural and joyful teacher, he has held harp retreats throughout the country, and has taught for years at several major music camps including Lark Camp in Mendocino, the Golden Toad Camp in Sonoma County, and Alasdair Fraser’s Valley of the Moon Fiddling School.
HOLY WOOD (2001) is Chris’ solo bronze-strung harp CD. The rare and hauntingly beautiful instrument is presented in a mix of music from The British Isles and France. CELTIC TIDINGS is his well-loved holiday CD. In addition, Chris is featured on more than thirty recordings including Bonnie Rideout’s multi-award winning GIMME ELBOW ROOM and Grammy nominated KINDRED SPIRITS.
Quotes:
“He's really an extraordinary person. I tour all around the country and I'm always meeting people who are students of Chris'.” (Patrick Ball, Celtic Harpist & Storyteller)
"We invite artists to appear at our venue because we believe they will bring something unique to our stage. While we appreciate and revere all artists that appear at the GarageMaHall; occasionally we are rewarded with an exceptional performance. Outstanding musicianship accompanied by an intimate relationship with his instrument is one way we would describe Celtic musician and harp builder, Chris Caswell. Chris has a casual way of introducing the history and versatility of his instrument. His banter artfully takes us from Wales to the Middle East; from the French countryside to Latin America. Why am I surprised; studying in Britain as a teenager Chris stayed with English folklorist Peter Kennedy at his Centre for Oral Tradition. Mastering his craft since he was nine years old, Chris brings to the stage his harp (which he made), his pipes, his whistles and his wit. Your audience will be delighted. We highly recommend that you consider Chris Caswell for your next concert. Did we mention the Bodhran lessons?" (GarageMaHall, Las Vegas – Hosted by Richard & Betty Stewart)
“Chris is incredibly well-read and conversant with so many of the myths and legends of the Celtic world. It's not just pretty music. It's music with a cultural and historical context.” (Danny Carnahan, Wake the Dead)
"Chris is well-known worldwide as a maker of fine harps and he's an incredible performer as well." (Plowshares Newsletter, San Francisco)
Concerning the early days:
"Not all the current crop of harp albums feature the harp as a lead voice. Caswell Carnahan's new LP "Borderlands" shows the harp in quite a different role. Chris Caswell, one of this country's leading harp makers, plays one of his harps on much of the album, but he uses it in the arrangements like a string section–or more aptly like the Celtic equivalent of the ubiquitous Rhodes piano. It seldom stands out, but if you listen for it, you'll hear it in the mix, tying everything else together, smoothing out the seams." (Jim Hatlo, Frets Magazine)
“A prolonged residence in the United States during the 1970's saw the formation of Robin Williamson's Merry Band, a group who combined the early instrumentation and musical intricacy of The Chieftains with the drive and immediacy of American roots music. In so doing, they provided the blueprint for Loreena McKennitt and a host of others in the creation of what's commonly regarded as North American "Celtic music" today. (thebeesknees.com)
www.chriscaswell.net
www.caswellharps.com
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/clarsar
Email: ccaswell@sonic.net
Cell phone: 707-874-9045
Booking assistance: Beverly Riverwood: briverwood@hotmail.com
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