Music at Madden’s Podcast #038 “The Dangerous Harpist & The Secret Melodies of Trees” with Ursula Burns

Welcome to another episode of Music at Madden’s Podcast with me, Lynette Fay. This week I’m joined by acclaimed harpist Ursula Burns, also known as The Dangerous Harpist, for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation that moves between music, history, storytelling, and the natural world. Ursula shares the remarkable story behind Dougie MacLean’s iconic song Caledonia, and its unexpected connection to her own family in Lamhóid, offering a deeply personal insight into a song that has resonated across generations. We hear how Ursula quite literally fell into life as a harpist—touring with her mother before being handed a harp and quickly carving out her own path, leading to recording, touring, and developing a completely unique voice on the instrument. There’s a rich discussion around the cultural history of the harp, and how harpists were once seen as social commentators—voices of their time—something Ursula feels has been lost, but is still deeply relevant today. Her own playing, shaped by an unconventional background including circus performance, brings a fresh and distinctive energy to the tradition. Ursula also speaks about her beautiful album The Secret Melodies of Trees, exploring her connection to nature and the inspiration behind the music, as well as her current work on a powerful project centred on the life and legacy of Gráinne Mhaol—Grace O’Malley—the legendary Irish historical figure. A captivating conversation filled with music, history, and heart.