Cheryl Ann Fulton’s music feels like stepping into a sanctuary made of light and wood. It is defined by the unique, complex resonance of historical harps, particularly the triple harp, which offers a shimmering, multi-layered sound that modern pedal harps cannot replicate. The music is patient and unhurried, existing in a space where time seems to slow down, focusing on the natural decay of each plucked string.
What makes her work distinctive is the rigorous academic foundation paired with an intuitive, almost spiritual performance style. Unlike generic new age harpists, Fulton utilizes specific historical techniques and tunings that give her music a grounded, earthy quality despite its ethereal beauty. You can hear the physical mechanics of the instrument, the wood breathing, and the precise articulation of a master scholar.
Start with 'The Once & Future Harp' to hear her original compositions that blend ancient structures with contemporary sensibilities. It serves as a perfect introduction to the way she uses the harp not just as a melodic tool, but as a generator of immersive, resonant atmosphere.
Cheryl Ann Fulton is an American harpist. Fulton performs, records, teaches, and researches the harp. She is a performer of historical harps, and one of the few harpists to play triple harp, medieval harp, and lever harps. Fulton has performed on over thirty albums and soundtracks broadly ranging from medieval, baroque, orchestral, and contemporary music to Celtic music and film scores, on records labels such as PolyGram, Koch International Classics, Nonesuch, Gourd Music, and others. Her first solo album, The Airs of Wales, brought her recognition. She is a composer as well as a performer, and her original compositions from her second solo album, The Once & Future Harp (Gourd Music), have been featured on National Public Radio.
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