Harpists' debt of gratitude

It was good to read Jim Gilchrist's excellent article about young harp player, Ailie Robertson, and the ever growing revival of interest in the small harp or clarsach (Scotsman Review, 4 July). Rightly, she acknowledged and thanked the superb Scottish world-class role models who inspire our new generation of harpers.

However, all these established performers, the emerging young players and those of us who have been around for longer than we care to admit, owe a huge debt to the Clarsach Society which, by its quiet steady work behind the scenes over 77 years, has enabled a prodigious development of teachers, students and performers to take place. Without the society's supply of harps for hire, subsidy of courses and staging of events, most notably the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, few of these performers would be around to-day.

Yes, as Jim Gilchrist points out, in Scotland at present most harpers are female, but he will be pleased to hear that there is a growing band of plucky men ready to join King David and Harpo.

ISOBEL MIERAS
Swanston Avenue
Edinburgh