Tom Daun is one of the leading folk harp players in Germany: he is a regular performer at both Folk Festivals and Early Music events. Tom has published many CDs with solo harp music and with a wide range of bands and ensembles.
Tom studied classical guitar and piano at Cologne Conservatory. Later he spent a few years in Scotland as a postgraduate student taking degrees in Scottish Traditional Music, Early Music and Ethnomusicology at Edinburgh University.
On his return to Germany Tom started working as a music journalist for WDR, the country’s largest radio station. Ever since he has been
very busy as a producer and presenter of music programmes until today.
At the same time he started playing the folk harp, teaching himself, without ever taking lessons....
With his band LA ROTTA Tom was very succesful: for many years they toured round Germany – and abroad to places like Finland, Poland, Scotland, France. La Rotta’s colourful adaption of early music with modern rhythms and sounds is still very popular today. Their 4 albums are much in demand.
Tom also worked a lot with Swedish singer ANNA LINDBLOM; together with skilful players from Jazz and Folk backgrounds their quintet played some highly inventive and experimental music.
In contrast, BOIS de COLOGNE is a historically oriented trio playing Early Music from Medieval to Baroque times on recorders and early harps. Their two CDs received very positive resonance throughout Early Music circles.
Together with Germany’s legendary recorder player Dorothee Oberlinger Tom has formed the duo „Barrocco Celtico“ – presenting music from Ireland and Scotland.“
Still, playing SOLO is Tom’s main interest. His programme ranges from medieval harp melodies to beautiful arrangements of English renaissance tunes, Baroque music and sounds of the Celtic harp. Tom also writes his own compositions for harp – taking an individual, down-to-earth approach to his instrument, far removed from all esoteric ideas or pop ambitions...
His six solo CD albums give a good impression of the nature of his work:
„Tom’s harp music brings real notes of joy to the soul“ – (Early Music Review)