Greetings! brand new on this blog from soggy NH, and after finally getting thru the grueling sign in procedures so I could participate, I am exhausted! That aside, I have recently gotten a new harp, so I have been retuning a lot, and getting used to the touch. It has a much brighter tone and bigger voice than my other harp, and I am loving the difference. I can really see why so many people have multiple harps, depending on the tune, the event, the venue...feeds into harp lust, I am afraid! Oh to be independently wealthy!
I am hoping this blog and you all will help me actually "play my harp today" nearly everyday! For some reason I have allowed other time consuming and not always so rewarding STUFF get in the way. I am focusing on regaining tunes I once had solidly memorized and under my fingers, but have pretty much lost. And working on some tunes in Sue Richards and Grainne's books. I need some more O'Carolan handy!
Wish me luck! Hope we don't all turn to moldy heaps in this weather!
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
June (Summer finally arrives in Yorkshire!)
Week 1 Finally we are getting some warm temps and sun here! I even was able to practice my harp in our back garden the other day. Getting my harp and me used to being and playing outside in preparation for my upcoming busking (maybe this week?).
Practicing loads today (harp and fiddle). Learning 'Limerick's Lamentation' on the harp (I already have it on the fiddle).
Mike and I took our instruments to our friends' BBQ on Saturday.
End of June I *have* been practicing, just not posting. Today I'm working out a one hour set for my upcoming gig at the Kirkstall Abbey. I'm trying not to repeat too many tunes from last year and the year before that. I've got a few new ones, so will only repeat a couple 'greatest hits' and comfy ones in case I need a security blanket.
Open mic night was last night and it went well. I played The Foggy Dew / Rights of Man, She Moved Through the Fair / Cooley's Hornpipe, The Downfall of Paris, Were You at the Rock?
Did I mention I'm re-working The Blackbird set dance? Coming up with some melodic variations as I listen to different versions of it.
Practicing loads today (harp and fiddle). Learning 'Limerick's Lamentation' on the harp (I already have it on the fiddle).
Mike and I took our instruments to our friends' BBQ on Saturday.
End of June I *have* been practicing, just not posting. Today I'm working out a one hour set for my upcoming gig at the Kirkstall Abbey. I'm trying not to repeat too many tunes from last year and the year before that. I've got a few new ones, so will only repeat a couple 'greatest hits' and comfy ones in case I need a security blanket.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
June is Carolan month.
I've treated myself to the Caitriona Rowsome opus plus 4 CD's with her rendering of every single verifiable Carolan tune - Here's the cover:
I've been listening and she has chosen, I think, to play the tunes simply and with very straightforward accompaniments. What a treasure.
Week One - Because I've been on the road I haven't played at all. I am home now, but yesterday was too exhausted to do anything much and today had endless errands and chores. But I might get a chance to play now! I seem to be focussing on, among other tunes Planxty Browne (with two lever changes in a lively tune, what am I thinking?) and also The Fairy Queen, which I've had my eye on for awhile. I think Rowsome may have struggled a bit with the latter because I'm having trouble in the beginning of the 2nd part hearing just what she was doing and matching it up with 'the dots' - it's one of those difficult spots where maybe as long as you end up on the right downbeat in the next measure it doesn't matter a whole lot what you do, but getting the timing right is hard. The final section (5?6?) is very very notey, but I've learned my lesson that looking at the music just means it will take me longer to really memorize it and get it into my fingers. I've also noticed that I work twice as fast if I learn a tune in the morning than late in the day......
Week Two (Which snuck up on me and is half way through....) I've somehow been distracted by concertina but I am trying, today, to get back into the Carolan program. I think basically, I've brought most of my repertoire more or less back to some acceptable place and I've been working hard to add Lord Inchiquin and Planxty Browne (which has wicked lever changes in the second half, but that's a good challenge, right - it's so much easier on the concertina, very tempting).
Week Three An excellent festival this year - gorgeous weather and lots of enthusiasts. There is also a good deal of English Country Dancing - which one of the festival organizers loves - perhaps this year a bit too much. Besides the sessions, truly, I only wish to find a corner in which to huddle in some shady spot with one or two others to play - although I did help play the music for one of the dance classes and it was fun, very therapeutic to play Planxty Irwin ten times in a row. Mostly for that class I played the concertina anyway as we were moving right along. Of course, you come home resolving to work on all the tunes that could have been better...... I also learned (more like got acquainted with) two new tunes, Planxty Sweeney and George Reynolds, both of which are delightful. I also played Molly McAlpin a bunch of times on the sly.......
Week Four
I've been running around dealing with RL but I did get a chance to practice some - however - I haven't practiced those new tunes!! I am presently 'reviving' a few like Soft Mild Morning and the set dance Blackbird and so on in anticipation of playing with friends at Somerset. I'm fairly satisfied with the amount of harp playing of done this month and that's what matters!
My big news is that I am currently in process of signing up to play harp in the lobby of the big hospital in Burlington, VT - Fletcher-Allen. One of my session friends (flute) works there and told me about it. It is the kind of playing I like to do, not for an audience, just sort of sitting among the potted plants, take it or leave it.
My annoying news is an RL that I discovered a deer tick bite this morning. Grrrrrrr. I try to be very careful. I don't think it bit for long, but there is a little welt. Will see the doc tomorrow and no doubt have to take antibiotics. I knew it wasn't a regular tick the minute I saw it.
To round out the month - I did dedicate myself to Carolan, pretty much, and I'm happy. I've got Lord Inchiquin firmly under my fingers and I've added two new tunes, Planxty Sweeney and George Reynolds, although I do seem to be more attached to the latter. July's theme is a no-brainer - cos that would be SOMERSET!
I've been listening and she has chosen, I think, to play the tunes simply and with very straightforward accompaniments. What a treasure.
Week One - Because I've been on the road I haven't played at all. I am home now, but yesterday was too exhausted to do anything much and today had endless errands and chores. But I might get a chance to play now! I seem to be focussing on, among other tunes Planxty Browne (with two lever changes in a lively tune, what am I thinking?) and also The Fairy Queen, which I've had my eye on for awhile. I think Rowsome may have struggled a bit with the latter because I'm having trouble in the beginning of the 2nd part hearing just what she was doing and matching it up with 'the dots' - it's one of those difficult spots where maybe as long as you end up on the right downbeat in the next measure it doesn't matter a whole lot what you do, but getting the timing right is hard. The final section (5?6?) is very very notey, but I've learned my lesson that looking at the music just means it will take me longer to really memorize it and get it into my fingers. I've also noticed that I work twice as fast if I learn a tune in the morning than late in the day......
Week Two (Which snuck up on me and is half way through....) I've somehow been distracted by concertina but I am trying, today, to get back into the Carolan program. I think basically, I've brought most of my repertoire more or less back to some acceptable place and I've been working hard to add Lord Inchiquin and Planxty Browne (which has wicked lever changes in the second half, but that's a good challenge, right - it's so much easier on the concertina, very tempting).
Week Three An excellent festival this year - gorgeous weather and lots of enthusiasts. There is also a good deal of English Country Dancing - which one of the festival organizers loves - perhaps this year a bit too much. Besides the sessions, truly, I only wish to find a corner in which to huddle in some shady spot with one or two others to play - although I did help play the music for one of the dance classes and it was fun, very therapeutic to play Planxty Irwin ten times in a row. Mostly for that class I played the concertina anyway as we were moving right along. Of course, you come home resolving to work on all the tunes that could have been better...... I also learned (more like got acquainted with) two new tunes, Planxty Sweeney and George Reynolds, both of which are delightful. I also played Molly McAlpin a bunch of times on the sly.......
Week Four
I've been running around dealing with RL but I did get a chance to practice some - however - I haven't practiced those new tunes!! I am presently 'reviving' a few like Soft Mild Morning and the set dance Blackbird and so on in anticipation of playing with friends at Somerset. I'm fairly satisfied with the amount of harp playing of done this month and that's what matters!
My big news is that I am currently in process of signing up to play harp in the lobby of the big hospital in Burlington, VT - Fletcher-Allen. One of my session friends (flute) works there and told me about it. It is the kind of playing I like to do, not for an audience, just sort of sitting among the potted plants, take it or leave it.
My annoying news is an RL that I discovered a deer tick bite this morning. Grrrrrrr. I try to be very careful. I don't think it bit for long, but there is a little welt. Will see the doc tomorrow and no doubt have to take antibiotics. I knew it wasn't a regular tick the minute I saw it.
To round out the month - I did dedicate myself to Carolan, pretty much, and I'm happy. I've got Lord Inchiquin firmly under my fingers and I've added two new tunes, Planxty Sweeney and George Reynolds, although I do seem to be more attached to the latter. July's theme is a no-brainer - cos that would be SOMERSET!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
We're having a heat wave...a trropical heat wave!
June - Week #1
I am a Gemini, and usually I enjoy the heat, but WOWZA, so far it's been quite a week. The humidity level is rght up there (so are the pollen levels..) and for a few days we were dehumidifier-less. So far only one broken string, but I'm going to leave the harp alone today to settle down after the delivery and set-up of the new water remover. My goal for the month is to play out more and fumble less. To that end, I've put another PR CD in the mail to a small local gallery, so we'll see what develops. Maybe we'll go out to the local Farmers' Market one Saturday if the weather improves. My only other goals this month - so far, at least - are to survive the last 10 1/2 days of school and to learn the Ray Charles 'America the Beautiful' piano part for this cover band I've joined. Wish me luck!
I am a Gemini, and usually I enjoy the heat, but WOWZA, so far it's been quite a week. The humidity level is rght up there (so are the pollen levels..) and for a few days we were dehumidifier-less. So far only one broken string, but I'm going to leave the harp alone today to settle down after the delivery and set-up of the new water remover. My goal for the month is to play out more and fumble less. To that end, I've put another PR CD in the mail to a small local gallery, so we'll see what develops. Maybe we'll go out to the local Farmers' Market one Saturday if the weather improves. My only other goals this month - so far, at least - are to survive the last 10 1/2 days of school and to learn the Ray Charles 'America the Beautiful' piano part for this cover band I've joined. Wish me luck!
Week #2
This was us last summer, playing at our local Farmers' Market. My hair was frizz city, and we were slobs about our music in the guitar case between us. And why didn't we put the harp case somewhere out of the picture??? Oh well, we had a good time and got some nice comments. 3 1/2 days of school left, yipppeeee! The cover band is taking up way too much practice time, but in just a few days I will be able to play the harp for an hour at a time, which will be wonderful. Have had to cancel my plans of going to the Carolan Festival in Vermont for this year :((. And so far this month have not played out even once. Well, I'll keep looking for venues.....
Week #3
School is out, scream and shout! It usually takes me a while to re-learn how to loosen up, and I have a lot of projects to complete. But today I DID download Grainne's Traditional Irish...Vol. 1. (God, I love downloadable books!) I'd like to learn/memorize O'Farrell's before the month is over. It looks a little easier than I thought it would, which is probably a sign that it will take longer than usual! I'm hoping that I can be a little less rigid about the syncopation than I usually am. Wish me luck!
Week #4
Haha, if I really think about it I can play the first of the 3 pages of Farrell's. No time, and I mean no time, to play the harp. Cleaning out a 40x40 flower bed and the carpal tunnel is wild Had a phone call from a bride looking for a harpist; sent her out our bio, the sample CD and a sample wedding contract. The response? Zilch. Sorry, I will try to be more positive. Somerset in about 4 weeks, woo woo. Getting a room by myself this year, with a 'fridge to boot. Juices on the house. So much to learn, so many wonderful concerts to attend! And I love driving down by myself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)