Acacia Lyra

Acacia Lyra is a harp and voice duo with Janine Dudding and Susan Sweeney Hermon.

Based in: Ottawa, Ontario
Musical Genre: Traditional Celtic, French and Spanish
Instrumentation:
Janine Dudding - Celtic harp, guitar, voice, bodhran
Susan Sweeney Hermon - Celtic harp, guitar, voice, bodhran

Artist Description

Acacia Lyra is not your average harp and voice duo. Janine Dudding and Susan Sweeney Hermon sing in English, French, Spanish and Gaelic, accompanying themselves on Celtic harp and guitar. Their programme is a colourful journey of traditional and contemporary tunes from the Scottish Highlands to the Peruvian altiplano.

Janine and Susan grew up in different parts of the country, and only recently began performing as a duo. Their shared interest in Celtic and traditional music goes back to their respective childhoods. Each has a wealth of songs from different sources and their musical collaboration has resulted in the creation of fresh arrangements for harp, guitar and voice, and a first CD, Harmonic Curves.

Their debut recording is a “delightful, multi-layered musical offering”, says Ian Hepburn, artistic director of the Music Alive! Concert series.

“Not satisfied with keeping their fingers busy, the pair sing on 13 of the album’s 18 tracks”, Hepburn adds. Their songs, in several languages “are presented with elegance and ease”.

This duo has been kept busy since it began a few years ago, performing in concerts and private functions in and around Ottawa. Their very successful CD Launch Concert was sold out at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage in October, 2007.

http://www.acacialyra.com/