(Engraving of Hempson, c. 1805)

By the early nineteenth century Denis Hempson [also Hampson, or O'Hampsey] was considered the keeper of many older styles of harp playing. He was the only player at the famous BELFAST HARP FESTIVAL in 1792 who still used the finger-nail technique. He preferred the old music, and had some unusual harp tunes and studies in his repertoire. He traveled widely in Ireland and Scotland (Vallely, ed., *Companion to Traditional Irish Music*, p.172). The obituary for Hempson published in the Gentleman's Magazine mentions the interesting account of the blind poet given by Miss Owenson in her Wild Irish Girl (*Gentleman's Magazine* 77 [1807], Part II, p.1232).

from Claire Connolly and Stephen Copley's notes to *The Wild Irish Girl* (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2000)