Annotation:Resurection (The)
X:0 T: No Score C: The Traditional Tune Archive M: K: x
RESURECTION (THE). Irish. A composition by harper Turlough Carolan, composed for a Mass on Easter Sunday at Belanagare. An article called "Biographical Sketch of the Life of Turlough O'Carolan, the Greatest Irish Bard (Accurately compiled from every available record)" by "Emerald" was printed in the periodical The Celt (1859, p. 180), remarked:
Carolan was naturally disposed to religion, and in the composition of his sacred music always imagined himself inspired. This fruitful idea was paramount, when, on Easter Sunday he attended mass, and at the elevation of the sacred host sung, and played on his large harp, a new piece (prepared for the occasion, which he named 'the resurrection') with such brilliant enthusiasm and effect, that the congregation were enraptured..."
This assertion was repeated by Grattan-Flood (The Story of the Harp, 1905). The original source for the story appears to have been Joseph Cooper Walker, who wrote about it in the appendix (p. 91) to his Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards (1786), who cites his source as a letter written by "Mr. O'Conor" to a friend.