Montreal-based French harpist Cécile Delage is releasing a Celtic harp album on July 11. “The [album] title Éclats [meaning sparkles, radiance, or sudden bursts of light, color, or sound] stands for the sparkling sound of the Celtic harp, but also for the varied arrangements of the songs,” Delage says. “I wanted to bring the Celtic harp to the forefront, by proposing a repertoire combining traditional pieces and compositions arranged with a certain modernity.” The self-released recording will be available digitally via Bandcamp and major streaming platforms, as well as in CD format from Delage’s website.
The album features Delage’s duo Mont Roz, founded in 2015 with François-Xavier Dueymes (wooden flutes), which draws on Irish, Breton, and European traditions. “Our duo’s name, inspired by the Breton word ‘Roz’ (rose) and our Montreal neighborhood of Rosemont, reflects both our Breton roots and local grounding,” Delage says. The album also features guest artists William Edery (drums) and Isaac Beaudet Lefebvre (fiddle).
“The inspiration for this recording project came from traditional music sessions in Montreal. It was in this cradle that I discovered the richness of this music, and the desire to share the different themes I've learned over the years,” Delage says. “My influences also come from great artists in the world of traditional Celtic music, such as Martin Hayes, Gráinne Hambly, Michelle Mulcahy, and the group Lúnasa.”
Originally from Toulouse, Delage studied music at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Toulouse before moving to Quebec in 2012 to study musicology and classical harp. After completing her master’s degree with Caroline Lizotte, she has been devoting more time to learning the Celtic harp since 2017. As the harp is a lesser-known instrument in Quebec than in France, she has made it her mission to promote the instrument and demonstrate its full potential. She teaches through her own school, Aziliz Harp School, with which she took her student group, Borealys, to a harp festival in France in 2023. She also co-founded a harp association, the Société des Harpistes de Montréal, with which she organizes an annual Harp Day to introduce the instrument to as many people as possible. She can be heard with the group Orange Mist (with whom she recorded a CD in 2018), her duo Mont Roz (featured on Éclats), singer Ambre Ciel (with whom she recorded “Mirador” from the album Vague distance, 2020), and finally her Balfolk music trio Malvenn.
Watch the first single below:
